WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth Baseball Head Coach Dean Ehehalt has announced the hiring of Josh Epstein as an assistant coach. Epstein will be MU’s pitching coach and joins the Hawks after three seasons at Lincoln Memorial University.
“We are really excited to welcome Josh and his family to our Monmouth program,” said Ehehalt. “Josh has done a great job at his previous stops and has been a pivotal part of their success. His pitching staffs have performed at a high level, while his ability to teach, mentor and lead student-athletes is exemplary.”
Epstein joins a Monmouth program that comes off a 2018 MAAC regular season title and championship round appearance, led on the mound by the league’s Rookie of the Year, RHP Dan Klepchick as well as All-MAAC Tournament choice Ryan Lillie.
“I’m really excited to join the Monmouth Baseball program, and am grateful to Coach Ehehalt, Dr. McNeil, and Jeff Stapleton for this wonderful opportunity,” said Epstein. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Epstein helped the Railsplitters to consecutive SAC titles in 2017 and 2018, while the team’s pitchers broke the school’s single-season strikeout record, recording 480 punchouts in 479 innings. He coached SAC Pitcher of the Year Ethan Elliott to a 10-3 record and a program high 124 strikeouts. In 2018, LMU matched the program mark for wins with 36.
2017 saw the Railsplitters post the lowest team ERA in eight years of 4.78, walking just 159 hitters in 444 innings pitched to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Prior to that with LMU, Elliott was named the SAC Freshman of the Year.
Epstein was an assistant coach for two seasons at Bloomsburg, helping their 2014 staff to a 3.16 ERA with just 100 walks in over 347 innings. The Huskies set a school record with a 20-8 record in conference play, with a pair of players named All-League selections.
Before Bloomsburg, Epstein spent six seasons at Ramapo College, his alma mater. He spent the final three as the pitching coach and was also the Roadrunners’ recruiting coordinator, and coached two All-NJAC players in 2012. Ramapo went to three NCAA Tournaments while Epstein was coaching, compiling a 95-45-1 record overall in three seasons. His first season saw the team post a 3.44 team ERA en route to a 30-win season, before winning 35 games the next year with another sub-four earned run average. His final season as Ramapo’s pitching coach resulted in a 3.24 team ERA and another 30-win campaign.
A native of Cleveland, OH, Epstein graduated from Ramapo in 2006 with a business marketing degree. He played all four seasons with the Roadrunners, being named captain as a senior. He was selected 11th overall in the inaugural Israel Baseball League draft by the Petach Tivka Pioneers in 2007, playing one season.
Monmouth Baseball opens fall practice in September.
