Jason Hawkins was hired as part of Andrew Checketts' inauguralstaff prior to the 2011 season.
The UCSB offense has taken significant strides under Hawkins'stutelage. In 2013, the Gauchos ranked in the top-three in theconference for batting average, on-base percentage, sluggingpercentage, runs, hits, runs batted in, home runs, total bases, hitby pitches, sacrifice bunts, and stolen bases in conference play.Five Gaucho hitters received All-Conference recognition at the endof the year, including Robby Nesovic – conference FreshmanPlayer of the Year and Freshman All-American – and BrandonTrinkwon, who became UCSB's highest position player draftee when hewas taken in the seventh round of the 2013 draft by theDodgers.
Hawkins's work with the offense played a part in them reachingthe NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2002, ending the secondlongest postseason drought in program history.
During the staff's first season, the Gauchos went 28-28 andestablished themselves as a force to be reckoned with on both sidesof the ball. Jason's offense ranked in the top-four amongst BigWest teams in almost every major statistical category. In 2012, theGauchos ranked first in stolen bases, second in batting average,runs, hits, and triples, third in doubles, and fourth in home runs.UCSB had the conference leader in batting average and on-basepercentage, and had three lineup regulars hit .347 or higher.
He joined UCSB after serving as the head coach at Occidental forthe previous three seasons. While heading the Tigers' program,Hawkins helped rebuild the program as Occidental enjoyed its mostsuccessful three-year run since 1991-94.
The Tigers' staff ERA dropped by over two full runs underHawkins and the team was nationally-ranked in stolen bases in allthree years with him at the helm.
Prior to Occidental, Hawkins served as the recruitingcoordinator and infield and hitting coach at the University ofRedlands. In three of his four years there (2005-08) Hawkins' teamsled the conference in stolen bases and set a school record forbatting average. Also in charge of the infielders, Hawkins' groupled the conference in fielding percentage in three of his fouryears.
Hawkins had also served as the bench coach for the summer leagueteam Palm Springs Power in the Southern California CollegiateBaseball League for two seasons and was the Corvallis Knights'pitching coach in the summer of 2008.
He has also served as the head coach of two successful highschool programs – Desert Hot Springs High in Calif. andSpringfield High in Springfield, Ore.
Hawkins received his B.A. from Western Oregon State College andhis Master's degree from Pacific University.
He and his wife Angela were married in 1997. They have twochildren – Will, born in 2006, and Cal, born in 2007.
