Mike Batesole Position: Head Coach Experience: 7th Year Alma Mater: Cal State Fullerton '90

Mike Batesole enters his seventh season as head coach at Fresno State. Batesole and the Bulldogs had a historical 2008 season. After defying the odds and beating six ranked teams and facing six elimination games, the `Dogs won the program's first ever National Championship.

The Bulldogs captured their third consecutive WAC championship and finished the post season run with an overall record of 47-31. Tanner Scheppers, Justin Wilson, Erik Wetzel, Justin Miller, Steve Susdorf, and Clayton Allison were all drafted in the 2008 Major League draft. Batesole earned four Coach of the Year accolades from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, American Baseball Coaches Association, FieldTurf and the National College Baseball Writers Association.

In 2008, Fresno State had five players earn First Team All-WAC honors. Under Batesole, Stephen Susdorf earned WAC Player of the Year, Danny Muno named WAC Freshman of the Year, and Tanner Scheppers became the WAC Pitcher of the Year in 2008. In all, the Bulldogs have had 27 players drafted, 28 first-team All-WAC selections, one All-American and four Freshman All-Americans under Batesole's watch. Batesole also shared the WAC Coach of the Year title. The 2008 post-season run was the `Dog's fourth appearance at the College World Series and first National Championship. The Bulldogs were the lowest seeded team in history to ever win an NCAA National Championship.

The Bulldogs took home a WAC Championship in 2007 with a 17-7 conference mark and a 38-29 overall record. Fresno State captured the title in 2006 producing one of the best records in school history, at 45-18. In addition, Batesole has continued the success producing quality prospects.

In 2007 four members of the Fresno State program were drafted in the major leagues with Steve Susdorf, Brandon Miller, Brian Lapin and Ozzie Lewis. Batesole also generated six first-team All-WAC selections which was one less than last year's 2006 team. The Bulldogs earned two Regional wins over Minnesota and No. 4 San Diego in 2007. Fresno State also placed Tommy Mendonca, Lewis, Danny Grubb, Tanner Scheppers, and Susdorf on the San Diego All-Regional team.

In 2006, the Bulldogs reached the postseason for the second time since 2001 with one win against San Diego and another against Minnesota and two losses against Cal State Fullerton. The 2006 Bulldog team closed out the year with the program's 31st straight season at .500 or above.

Under Batesole, the Bulldogs have had two players selected in the first round of the MLB draft. Right-handed pitcher Matt Garza was selected was selected as the 27th overall pick with the Minnesota Twins. Moving quickly through the minors with short stints Double-A affiliate New Britain and Triple-A Rochester, Garza finished his first season with the Minnesota Twins.

Garza made the move to the Tampa Bay Rays and helped pitch the Rays from last to first in the 2008 season. Garza and the Rays made an appearance at the World Series and after the Rays were crowned the ALCS champs, he was awarded MVP honors. Outfielder Richie Robnett was also picked in the first round by the Oakland A's after an All-American campaign with the Bulldogs in 2004.

Batesole continues to keep the program's talent level high both entering and exiting the program. The Bulldogs have had 16 players drafted in the top 20 rounds in the last four years, including at least three each year, which is the most since 1990. Batesole has also stocked the current program with talent, bringing four top 20 recruiting classes to Fresno, making it seven out of the last eight years that he has recruited a top 20 class dating back to his time at Cal State Northridge. Among the players in those classes are four Freshman All-Americans in outfielder Nick Moresi and infielders Beau Mills, Christian Vitters, along with All-American Richie Robnett.

In 2003,Batesole became the third head coach at Fresno State since 1948 and the eighth skipper overall in the program's 82-year history. In his first year, Batesole guided the Bulldogs to their 27th consecutive winning season and 16th straight campaign with 30 or more wins with a 30-29 record. A season high nine-game winning streak that included the school's 13th Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic title highlighted the year. Under his tutelage, five Bulldogs earned All-WAC honors.

Batesole joined the Bulldogs after spending seven seasons as head coach at Cal State Northridge. During his tenure, the Matadors captured a Western Athletic Conference (1996) and Big West Conference (2002) title. Under Batesole, the Matadors made two NCAA Tournament appearances and eliminated by J.D. Drew and Florida State in the NCAA Tournament Regionals in 1996.

In his final season at Northridge, Batesole guided the Matadors to a Big West title with a 19-5 conference mark, earning him Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors. In 2002, the Matadors finished first in the conference in home runs (89), RBIs (392), slugging percentage (.503), on-base percentage (.413) and walks (298). The squad featured nine All-Big West selections, including the conference's Player of the Year, Eric Verbryke. The Matadors were ranked as high as 15th in the national polls.

From 1997-00, Northridge was forced to compete as an independent after the program was cut, then subsequently reinstated in 2001. Despite the time the program spent in limbo, Batesole still was highly successful, compiling a 129-101-1 record.

His career record of 256-158-1 at Northridge ranks him second all-time in program history. His .620 winning percentage also ranks as the best ever in school history. Batesole reached the 250-win mark May 5, 2002, with a 10-3 victory against Pacific.

In Batesole's seven years at Cal State Northridge, 37 of his players made it to the professional ranks. Currently, 16 of his former players are playing professional ball, including American League All-Star Robert Fick and infielder Adam Kennedy.

During his rebuilding efforts at Northridge, Batesole solidified a conference affiliation with the Big West in 2001. He also attracted three consecutive nationally ranked recruiting classes with the 2000 recruits ranked 22nd, the 2001 newcomers ranked 15th and his final Matador recruiting class ranked 20th by Collegiate Baseball.

His desire to win was evident the moment Batesole took the helm at Northridge, when he led the '96 squad to 19 wins in its first 20 games. He reached the 100-win and 200-win plateaus faster than any other coach in Northridge history.

In 2001, Batesole set out to get his team battle tested before its first season in the Big West by assembling one of the toughest schedules ever for the Matadors. He guided a young team that started as many as seven freshmen through a schedule that saw six opponents ranked in the top 25. The squad posted 23 wins for the non-conference slate against the likes of UCLA, Long Beach State, Missouri and Nevada. The Matadors tallied a 34-22 overall record and finished fourth in the Big West.

In 1998, Batesole led a team made up primarily of freshmen and junior college transfers to a 37-19 record. Although predicted to be a rebuilding year for the Matadors, the squad set a program record by winning 16 consecutive games and finished the season ranked in the top 30 by several publications. Northridge won 25 of its final 27 games, including wins over Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA. For his team's incredible turnaround, Batesole was named Collegiate Baseball's National Coach of the Year.

Batesole's drive to take Northridge to the College World Series can be traced to his first season as head coach in 1996. That season, he led the Matadors to their first ever Western Athletic Conference title. The team defeated Mississippi State and Stanford before falling one day short of the College World Series in a loss to Florida State in the West Region Final. The squad set 43 school records, highlighted by 52 wins, 129 home runs and 576 RBIs. Cal State Northridge was ranked as high as third in the nation and finished the season ranked tenth in three polls.

Northridge continued its winning ways in 1997 by breaking eight school records and finishing with a 42-20 record. Despite starting five freshmen, Batesole's club managed impressive wins over Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine and USC. The team defeated a total of six teams that advanced to the NCAA Regionals.

In his first two seasons at Northridge, the squad led the nation in total wins with a record of 94-38-1.

Before taking the reins as head coach, Batesole was an assistant for two years under Bill Kernen, where he worked with the Matador infielders and ran the offense.

Batesole also coached for five years at the junior college level. He was an assistant coach at Cypress (Calif.) College, where he helped lead the Chargers to a 29-18 record and the second round of regional play. He also served as the assistant coach at Orange Coast (Costa Mesa, Calif.) College.

Batesole earned a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton in 1990 and received his Master's Degree in Biomechanics in 1992. During his stay at CSF, Batesole became an instructor in the Department of Health and Physical Education. His teaching experience also includes time at Cypress College, the North Orange County Community College District and Orange Coast College.

A major reason Batesole has been one of the most successful coaches in the nation comes from the lessons he learned on the field as a professional and All-American player. As a hard-hitting third baseman, Batesole spent four seasons playing professionally in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system from 1985-88. He was named to the Florida State League All-Star team in 1987 and played for the Dodgers' Double-A team in San Antonio, Texas in 1988.

Batesole earned Summer League All-America honors and became a member of the U.S.A. Baseball Team in 1984. He put together an impressive season as a member of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in 1983, finishing with 12 home runs and 68 RBI.

A native of Anaheim, Calif., Batesole played shortstop for Garden Grove High School where he earned All-Garden Grove Conference and All-Orange County honors. He finished his senior season in 1982 with an incredible .500 batting average and 24 doubles. Batesole then was a standout player at Oral Roberts where he finished his tenure ranked third in school history in career home runs.

Besides his awards as a player and coach, Batesole has also received recognition for his work in the community. He has twice been awarded ('97 and '99) the prestigious Performance Salary Step Increase Award from the California State Board of Trustees for "meritous performance in the area of teaching, professional accomplishments and service to the university community."

Batesole lives in Fresno with his wife Susie and their four children, Kassy, Kally, Kody and Korby.

Mike Batesole's Year-by-Year Record Year School Record (Con. Record/Finish) 1996 CS Northridge 52-18 (21-9/First-WAC) 1997 CS Northridge 42-20-1 1998 CS Northridge 37-19 1999 CS Northridge 27-29 2000 CS Northridge 23-33 2001 CS Northridge 34-22 (9-9/Fourth-Big West) 2002 CS Northridge 40-17 (19-5/First-Big West) 2003 Fresno State 30-29 (14-16/Third-WAC) 2004 Fresno State 29-29 (17-12/Second-WAC) 2005 Fresno State 30-29 (16-14/Second-WAC) 2006 Fresno State 45-18 (18-6/First-WAC) 2007 Fresno State 38-29 (17-7/First-WAC) 2008 Fresno State 47-31 (First WAC/ National Champions) Overall: 475-323-1 (219-165)

Coaching Accomplishments

• In 2008, guided Fresno State to its first National Championship title in school history.

•Had the school's first ESPY nomination for "Biggest Upset".

• Produced five First Team All-WAC selections and six MLB draft picks in 2008. Also, earned Coach of the Year honors, and had players garner titles that include, WAC Player of the Year, WAC Pitcher of the Year, WAC Freshman of the Year, and CWS MVP

• Earned four Coach of the Year awards in 2008 from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, American Baseball Coaches Association, FieldTurf and the National College Baseball Writers Association.

• Earned their third straight WAC Championship.

Wac tournament championship

• In 2008, guided Fresno State to its third consecutive WAC Championship with a 47-31 record overall.

• Produced six First-Team All-WAC selections and four MLB draft picks in 2007. The six selections on the first team are the second most for Fresno State in its school history of WAC play dating back to 1993.

Recorded his 400th career win at home March 13th against the Iowa Hawkeyes by a 14-6 score in the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Tournament.

• Had seven First-Team All-WAC selections and six MLB draft picks in 2006. The seven selections on the first team are the most for Fresno State in its school history of WAC play dating back to 1993.

• Recorded his 350th win as a Division I head coach with a 13-9 win over Utah Valley State (2/17/06).

• Batesole joined Pete Beiden (601 wins) and Bob Bennett (1,302 wins) as the only coaches to reach 100 career victories at Fresno State when the Bulldogs beat Portland 16-5 on March 5, 2006.

• Recorded career win No. 300 with a 12-4 win over Louisiana Tech April 4, 2004

• In 2005, guided Fresno State to its 29th straight season with a winning percentage of .500 or better

• Five 2005 All-WAC selections

• Had four players selected in the top 20 rounds of the 2005 MLB draft, the most for the Bulldogs since 1990

• Four Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic titles

• 2002 Big West Coach of the Year

• Four conference player of the year honorees (Stephen Susdorf, WAC 2008; Matt Garza, WAC 2005, Richie Robnett-WAC 2004; Eric Verbryke- Big West 2002)

• 1998 Collegiate Baseball National Coach of the Year

• 2002 Big West Champions and 2008, 2007, 2006, 1996 WAC Champions

• Five NCAA Regional Tournament Appearances (2008, 2007, 2006, 2002 and 1996)

• Compiled six consecutive nationally ranked recruited classes according to Collegiate Baseball (2000: 22, 2001: 15, 2002: 20, 2003: 16, 2004: 17, 2005; 19)

• 61 of his former players have played professional baseball including first round draft picks Matt Garza, Richie Robnett and Adam Kennedy.

• His 256 wins at Cal State Northridge are second best in Matador history

• His .620 winning percentage is the all-time best in Matador school history