FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
San Jose, Calif.- Possessing a proven track record for outstanding recruiting and long-time ties to Northern California and the Bay Area, Dave Nakama is the new San Jose State University baseball head coach. Gene Bleymaier, the university’s director of athletics, made the announcement.
Nakama comes to the Spartans from the University of Washington where he was the associate head baseball coach. In a 20-plus year college coaching career, the Honolulu, Hawaii native has 13 seasons of experience in the Pacific-12 Conference divided between Washington (2010-12) and Stanford (1997-98, 2002-09).
“We’re very pleased Dave Nakama is joining the Spartan family,” says Bleymaier. “Dave has extensive Bay Area ties and his coaching background makes him the ideal person to lead our baseball program.”
Four times since 2002, Baseball America rated Stanford’s recruiting classes in the top-10 nationally. Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball ranked Washington’s 2012 class among the best in the West.
In his 10 seasons at Stanford, the Cardinal won four Pac-10 championships, five NCAA Regional crowns and appeared in the College World Series four times (1997, 2002, 2003, and 2008).
Nakama has head coaching experience at San Jose’s Mission College (1992-96) and three seasons at San Francisco State (1999-2001). In five seasons at Mission College, his teams qualified for the 1995 and 1996 California Community College state championships.
“San Jose State always has had a very good baseball reputation. I’m excited to continue this tradition and return to the Bay Area – a great place to work and live,” says Nakama.
The 1984 graduate of Willamette University in Salem, Ore., earned his master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1986. As a college player, Nakama was an infielder for the Willamette Bearcats.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Northern Colorado in 1984 and worked at the University of Iowa, Yavapai College and DeAnza College.
Nakama succeeds Sam Piraro who retired in July 2012 after 25 seasons and 806 victories as San Jose State’s baseball head coach.
