One month after the resignation of former coach Mike Smith and three weeks since the end of the season, the California Baptist University softball program has a new head coach.
Brandon Telesco has been hired to replace Smith, who left the program in late April.
Telesco, 29, will take over later this summer.
“I am honored to lead this growing program,” Telesco said. “I believe this program can achieve greatness.”
Previously the associate head coach at California, Telesco’s offensive strategies have transformed programs since 2021.
The recruiting coordinator at Cal, Telesco’s teams led the Pac-12 in home runs, doubles, and slugging percentage in 2023 and the Atlantic Coast Conference in doubles in 2024.
The Golden Bears had year-after-year improvements in batting average, runs scored, extra-base hits, on-base percentage, stolen bases and bases on balls.
“Brandon’s name kept coming up in our research about recruiters who would fit our mission,” CBU athletic director Dr. Micah Parker said. “His reputation as a hitting coach was also something that stood out to us.”
Telesco’s prior coaching experience includes one season at Park University (NAIA) in Gilbert, Ariz., where he led the program to a 22-game improvement over the previous season and earned a coaching staff of the year award.
The Buccaneers set school records in numerous offensive categories that season, including runs (287), hits (425), doubles (75), triples (13) home runs (22), RBIs (25), walks (120), sacrifice bunts (32), and stolen bases (103).
Following graduation with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Arizona State in 2018, Telesco’s first coaching job came at nearby South Mountain Community College in Phoenix where he turned a last-place team into a nationally-ranked NJCAA program.
The Cougars set a school record for winning percentage with a 25-9 (.735) mark in his second season, before posting new records for batting average, home runs, hits, runs scored and stolen bases in his third year.
“He’s a proven recruiter who is already known as a dynamic young coach,” Grand Canyon coach Shannon Hayes said. “He will definitely bring energy and a positive mindset to whatever he does.”
The 2009 NAIA champions before transitioning to Division II in 2014 and Division I in 2023, CBU (26-32 overall) finished with its fifth losing record in seven years after losing to Utah State in the WAC quarterfinals to end this season.
“California Baptist has a strong record of success,” Telesco said. “I am eager to do everything I can to bring championships to Riverside.”
HUNT TAKES HARDWARE
Cal State San Bernardino senior Hailey Hunt has been selected as the California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s track and field athlete of the year.
Hunt had one of the best seasons for any sprinter in CCAA history, winning three all-American awards at the NCAA Division II track and field championships, finishing fourth in the 100-meter final (11.28 seconds) and fourth in the 200 (22.93).
Along with teammates Alexandra Ackerman, Amari Weatherford and Coryssa Hope, Hunt also was part of the second fastest women’s 400 meter relay in D2 history (43.93).
Hunt set the new CCAA mark in the 100 earlier this year, cutting the record from 11.59 seconds to 11.30.
REDLANDS’ YEAR ENDS AT WORLD SERIES
The University of Redlands softball team’s historic season came to an end at the Division III World Series in Bloomington, Ind.
Redlands (40-12 overall) lost to Trine University on Thursday, May 29, and defeated Texas Lutheran on Friday before losing to Linfield on Saturday to exit the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.
Seventh-year head coach Jose Ortega’s Bulldogs set school records for wins, RBIs (304), doubles (88), stolen bases (148), and runs scored (346) this season.
RCC TENNIS NETS ALL-AMERICANS
The Riverside City College men’s tennis team finished the season as the California Community College Athletic Association’s No. 3-ranked team and recently picked up four all-American honors.
Michael Chang (Arlington High) and Ronith Shreeram (Riverside King High) both picked up all-American singles awards, while Chang and Lance Lao (Claremont High) and Sreeram and Augustin Daubannay nabbed doubles team accolades.
Chang, committed to UC Riverside, finished the year as the state’s No. 4-ranked singles junior college player after advancing to the Sweet 16 at the 3C2A finals. He was named the ITA/3C2A sophomore of the year.
ODDS & ENDS
UC Riverside men’s basketball announced three incoming transfers to lead new coach Gus Argenal’s first recruiting class. Forward B.J. Kolly (Montana State) and Jailen Daniel-Dalton (San Francisco State), and guard De’Undrae Perteete (Westmont), last year’s PacWest Conference freshman of the year, will join the Highlanders for the 2025-26 season. … Cal State San Bernardino senior infielder Daryl Ruiz (Santiago High) was an NCAA Division II all-American third-team pick. Ruiz, the Coyotes male athlete of the year, hit .402 with a school single-season record 73 RBIs this season. … Pomona-Pitzer senior goalkeeper Zosia Amberger was named ACWPC Division III women’s water polo player of the year after leading the Sagehens to the SCIAC regular season title, SCIAC postseason tournament title and D3 national championship. … Chaffey College baseball coach Andrew Smith was named the Inland Empire Athletic Conference coach of the year. The Panthers won their third consecutive IEAC title this season.
