After 17 seasons as an assistant coach and a member of the upcoming Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame induction Class of 2015, alumni Rick Hirtensteiner has been given the title as head coach of the Pepperdine baseball team.
Hirtensteiner was a successful athlete in his collegiate career (1985-89) at Pepperdine. Some of his victories while on the Waves include winning four WCC titles and advancing to the NCAA Tournament each season, compiling an impressive overall record of 164-76-7 (.678) and becoming the first-ever Pepperdine player to receive a CoSIDA Academic All-American first team honors, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
“He was an accomplished student athlete,” said Pepperdine’s Director of Athletics Steve Potts.
In his position as assistant coach, Hirtensteiner was dedicated to the players and led them to many wins. Some of his most notable achievements as an assistant coach were leading the Waves to six WCC regular-season crowns and 10 advances to the postseason. As a result of his hard work and well-earned wins, he will be inducted to the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame this coming October.
Potts explained, “I look for coaches who are committed to our Christian mission, are committed to the academic well-being of their student-athletes and are committed to competing for championships every year. Rick Hirtensteiner meets that criteria in every respect.”