This week we sit down with CCAA champion and CSUMB Head Coach Walt White. 2023 marks Walt White’s 13th season at the helm of the CSUMB baseball program. He became the second baseball coach in university history in July of 2010 and made an immediate impact on the fortunes of Otter baseball. He took over a team that won just eight games the season before his arrival and has led the Otters to a 328–228 (.590) record with an average of 29 wins per season.
The 2022 season marked White’s third CCAA regular season championship, with a record of 38-17 and a program record 31-9 CCAA record. White was named CCAA Coach of the Year for the third time at the culmination of the season, and his freshman shortstop, Brady Miguel, became the first student-athlete in program history to be named CCAA Player of the Year. In total, seven student-athletes were named to the All-CCAA team, also a new program record.
It took White just three seasons to turn a team which had never posted a winning record before his arrival into CCAA Champions and NCAA Tournament participants. Entering the 2023 campaign, the Otters have reached the postseason in six of the last seven seasons.
White was selected Coach of the Year by NCWBA West Region and CCAA in 2013 after guiding the Otters to the program's first CCAA regular season title (29-11). The Otters also made their inaugural appearance in 2013 at the West Region Tournament and CCAA Tournament after finishing on top of the West Regional poll.
The 2013 squad did not lose a single series while nabbing five sweeps including then No. 23 Sonoma State. The Otters concluded the regular season winning 13 of their final 14 games.
In his 13 seasons, White has had 21 student-athletes named all–region and 52 players named to the All-CCAA teams. Included in those lists were 2012 NBWCA West Region Freshman Pitcher of the Year Jeff Owen and 2012 Gold glove winner Brian Haggett.
On the academic side, 2013 brought CSUMB's its first ever Capitol One Academic All-American® first team (Brian Haggett) and three student-athletes earned Capitol One Academic All-District®.
In his first year guiding Otter baseball, White quickly made his mark on the program. His historic 2011 squad broke the school record for total wins, winning percentage and conference wins. A tripleheader sweep of White’s alma mater, Sonoma State, highlighted the season; marking the first time the program won a series from SSU.
White joined the Otter raft after 15 seasons as the associate head coach at Sonoma State University. While at SSU, White was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program, including infield play, team defense, base running and hitting. He also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. He was instrumental in SSU’s 2008 run to the NCAA Division II College World Series and a third place national finish. While coaching at SSU, White’s Seawolves won six conference championships and made eight NCAA regional appearances.
A 1990 graduate of Saugus High School, White began his collegiate playing career at College of the Canyons, where he was an All–Western State Conference performer. After his time at COC, White transferred to Sonoma State where he played for current Seawolf coach John Goelz. White started at shortstop for SSU in 1993 and 1994 and was a member of the 2008 SSU hall of fame induction class.
After his stellar collegiate career ended, the Florida Marlins made White their 32nd round draft choice. He spent five seasons in the Marlins organization, reaching Double A ball before being dealt to Arizona, where he spent three seasons playing for the Diamondbacks’ Triple A affiliate.
Following his playing career, White returned to Sonoma State to finish his degree in kinesiology. He continued his education by earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix.
