New Coaching Staff for the Dirtbags in 2020 Announced

New Long Beach State head coach, Eric Valenzuela, announced his 2020 season baseball staff on Friday June 21, 2019 during their press conference held on Blair Field.

Valenzuela welcomes to the Dirtbag family all of his Assistant Coaches from his old stomping grounds of St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Former Associate Head Coach of St. Mary’s, Bryan Peters, and Assistant Coaches Daniel Costanza and Ross Gusky will be reuniting with Valenzuela in the upcoming season. Ryan Day will be continuing his second season with Long Beach State as the Director of Baseball Operations.

Prior to Valenzuela’s first season as the Head Coach for the Dirtbags, he spent six seasons as the Head Baseball Coach at St. Mary’s. Valenzuela, holds the highest winning percentage in program history, as well as leading the Gaels to their first consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and West Coast Conference in 2016-17, and won the WCC Tournament title.

Although Peters spent just one season with Valenzuela and the Gaels, he has more than 20 years of experience coaching. He started his assistant coaching career at South Florida, where he led two NCAA Regional appearances. After nine seasons there, he then coached at UCF, Pittsburgh, Stetson, and Nova Southeastern.

Costanza’s coaching career started at Cal State East Bay for two years, then at York College, where he played as an infield and second baseman from 2009-2011. Costanza thereafter made his way to Valenzuela’s staff with the Gaels in 2014, where he started as the Director of Baseball Operations.

Gusky played for Tallahassee Community College as a pitcher for two seasons before he started his coaching career. Gusky’s assistant coaching career started at Valdosta State, where he made his way to the Waynesboro Generals before arriving at St. Mary’s with Valenzuela.

By: Celeste Basich @lowclassconspiracy_la