SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Former University of Washington assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Donegal Fergus has agreed to terms to become the associate head coach at UC Santa Barbara, head coach Andrew Checketts announced on Monday afternoon.
Fergus, a former assistant at Seattle University and head coach at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., joins the UCSB staff after spending the past five seasons at the University of Washington.
“I am excited that Donegal and his family will be joining us,” Checketts said. “Donegal has a reputation as a relationship builder and is a proven winner with a pedigree of success. He will bring energy and experience with him and I look forward to working together to get the Gauchos back to the postseason and beyond”.
Upon Fergus’ arrival to Washington following the 2013 season, the Huskies enjoyed one of their most successful stretches in program history. In 2014, Fergus’ first season as hitting coach, Washington snapped a 10-year postseason drought after going 41-17 and advancing to the NCAA Regionals. The Huskies also achieved their highest ranking in team history, reaching the No. 5 spot in the Baseball America, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Poll.
Washington proceeded to advance to three NCAA tournaments in five seasons with Fergus on staff, including an appearance in the College World Series in 2018 after the Huskies won their first ever Super Regional.
“My family and I could not be more excited to join the Gaucho family,” Fergus said. “Coach Checketts and his family could not be more welcoming to my clan. I’m fired up by the opportunity to be at a place that combines incredible educational opportunities with progressive player development. Coach Checketts has shown that he can recruit and grow players as well as anyone in the country and I am honored to be a part of that and I can’t wait to get started!”
Fergus’ recruiting talents have shined through during his tenure as Washington committed the fewest errors in program history in 2017, recording the third-best fielding percentage (.982) in the nation. Furthermore, the Huskies have had more All-Pac-12 position players honored over the past five seasons than any other five-year stretch in program history.
In 2016, Fergus assembled the top recruiting class in Washington history after being ranked No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 9 by Perfect Game. His 2015 recruiting class came in at No. 15 by Baseball America. His eye for talent also translates at the next level as Washington has had 26 players selected in the Major League Baseball draft since Fergus’ arrival, including a school record eight selections in 2014.
As a head coach at Lower Columbia College in 2013, Fergus led the Red Devils to a 34-14 record and a trip to the West Region playoffs. He also served as an assistant at Lower Columbia where he helped guide the team to four division titles, a NWAACC championship and a 2005 recruiting class that had seven players selected in the MLB draft.
Fergus also spent time as an assistant at Seattle University and was a head coach at Tacoma CC for five years.
A native of Powers, Ore., Fergus played baseball at Linfield College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and later earned a master’s degree in homeland security from American Military University. Fergus is married to his wife, Kim, and they have three children, Seamus, Finnegan and Maclean.
