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  Rick Vanderhook

Rick Vanderhook

Player Profile

Last College:
Trinity University
Position:
Associate Head Coach
Experience:
22nd Season
Duties:
Pitching/Defense
Graduated:
2003

In his 21st season with the Titans, Assistant Coach Rick Vanderhook will step away from his familiar post in the third-base coaching box to be the defensive coordinator, working with the pitchers and catchers. "Hook" will return to the other side of the game for the first time since 1986, when he was the bullpen coach under Head Coach Augie Garrido. He will call pitches from the dugout and will mastermind the defense.

A key evaluator of talent in the recruiting process and director of the Titan Baseball Camps, Vanderhook continues to be instrumental in the success of a program that has amassed 11 conference crowns, 10 Regional championships, four Super Regional triumphs, eight trips to the College World Series and two national championships with him on the coaching staff.

Vanderhook, 42, has coached five first-round draft picks (Mike Harkey in 1987, Phil Nevin in 1992, Dante Powell in 1994, Mark Kotsay in 1996 and Ricky Romero in 2005) and a supplemental pick (Aaron Rowand in 1998) as well as 19 All-Americans since 1991. He also played a key role in the development of 2003-06 Big West Conference Players of the Year, Shane Costa (2nd round, Royals), Kurt Suzuki (2nd round, A's), Sergio Pedroza (3rd round, Dodgers) and Justin Turner (7th round, Reds)

As camp director, Vanderhook oversees all aspects of the Titan Baseball Academy, which helps young players (7 to 17-years-old) reach their top performance level. Among the graduates of Titan camps are former Titans Steve Chatham, Rowand, Darric Merrell, Kyle Boyer, Jason Corapci and Dustin Miller.

Following his last year of playing at Fullerotn, Vanderhook began his Division I coaching career as an assistant for Garrido from 1985-88. He served as the bullpen coach in his first two seasons before stepping into the third-base coaching box and working with the hitters and defense in 1987.

Vanderhook spent 1989 and 1990 as an assistant to current Titan volunteer assistant coach Bill Kernen at Cal State Northridge. In 1990, the Matadors posted a 39-22 record and were the NCAA Division II runners-up. Vanderhook returned to Fullerton, along with Garrido, prior to the 1991 season.

Vanderhook has coached some of the most explosive Titan offenses in the program's history. The 1999 Titans, who made the school's 10th College World Series appearance, set school records for single-season batting average (.338) and runs per game (9.2). He also helped fine tune the 2003 squad, which was 10th in the nation in hitting (.329), 20th in scoring (7.9 runs per game) and among the top 30 in doubles and triples per game. Vanderhook has also coached for Fairbanks in Alaska and helped the Goldpanners finish third in the nation in 1986.

A product of the prominent Cerritos College program where he played for George Horton, Vanderhook originally came to Cal State Fullerton in 1983 and redshirted his first season with the Titans before becoming a member of the Titans' 1984 national championship team, earning his first of three Titan championship rings.

Vanderhook prepped at Lakewood High School under Coach John Herbold, now the head coach at Cal State Los Angeles, and received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Trinity University in 2003.

On June 16, 2007, Vanderhook was promoted to Associate Head Coach by the Athletic Department prior to the Titans' first game at the 2007 College World Series. He assumes the No. 2 role that Head Coach George Horton held for then-Titan skipper Augie Garrido from 1991-1996.

Vanderhook currently resides in Yorba Linda with his wife, April, daughters Noelle (11) and Autumn (9) and son R.J., who will turn 7 in April.

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