BERKELEY – Cal head baseball coach Mike Neu announced Wednesday a pair of coaching moves aimed at continuing the positive momentum gained from a successful first year back in Berkeley as Damon Lessler has been promoted to assistant coach and former Cal standout Matt Flemer has joined the program as volunteer assistant.
“I’m extremely excited to have Damon and Matt in the fold for the 2019 season,” Neu said. “We feel like we made a number of positive strides forward in 2018 and Damon played a huge part in that, so to have him continue the work he was already doing with Noah (Jackson) and Pat (Shine) will help to keep that moving. At the same time, getting the chance to bring Matt back into a program he has meant so much to is also a big step in the right direction. His knowledge of Cal as well as his experience pitching professionally is going to add a lot to what we’re doing at Evans Diamond.”
After serving as Cal’s volunteer assistant in 2018, Lessler assumes the role vacated by Shine, who returned to his native Pacific Northwest to pursue opportunities outside of baseball and be closer to his family.
A native of Castro Valley, Calif. who grew up in a family of avid Cal fans, Lessler made an immediate impact in his first year on Neu’s staff. In addition to working with catchers and coaching first base, he also played a part in the Bears’ evolution into one of the Pac-12’s top offenses.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity,” Lessler said. “To have the chance to continue working for Coach Neu at Cal is a dream come true for me. I look forward to working with our players and coaching staff.”
Flemer returns to Cal after a professional career that saw him reach Triple-A in the Colorado organization after seven seasons in the minor leagues. He pitched in 139 games and compiled a 43-40 record with a 4.42 career ERA and nearly 700 innings pitched.
He will be best remembered by Cal fans as a crucial contributor during the Bears’ storybook run to the 2011 College World Series. Serving as Cal’s top option at the back of the bullpen, the right-hander from El Cerrito, Calif. went 4-2 with a 1.83 ERA and six saves in a team-high 30 appearances. He spent his senior season as a starter in 2012 and went 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA in 111.2 innings and finished his Golden Bear career with 80 appearances and 233.1 innings pitched.
“I’m excited to be back at Cal as a member of the coaching staff,” Flemer said. “This program means so much to me, so the opportunity to coach and develop these players is something I’m really looking forward to. Very thankful to Coach Neu and the rest of the staff for welcoming me back to the program. Having been a part of some great teams here as a player, I know how good this program is and where this program is headed under the current staff. The chance to be a part of the future here is truly awesome.”
Lessler and Flemer will team with Noah Jackson to comprise Cal’s 2018 assistant staff. Jackson will remain Cal’s recruiting coordinator while also taking on additional responsibilities in heading the Bears’ game plan on offense.
