USC Baseball: Trojans Hire Matt Curtis As Assistant Coach

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

In the midst of the summer months where most players are engaging in Collegiate Summer Baseball, USC Baseball hired former Northridge head coach Matt Curtis, according to numerous reports, adding an excellent recruiter and coach.

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden reached a long-term extension with Hubbs earlier this summer, dispelling any rumors about his job security moving forward.

This, following the Trojans reported offer to UCLA Head Coach John Savage for a $1 million per year base salary, a record-breaking offer which was turned down by Savage to remain with the defending national champions across town.

Hubbs brings to the table a prolific playing career as a three-year letterman for USC (1993-1996), and is currently fourth in Trojan history with 22 saves. In a rather wild and wacky first season, Hubbs was promoted from pitching coach just three days before the start of the regular season, finishing 20-36 including a 10-20 conference record.

Most known around coaching circles for his work with Cal Berkeley, Hubbs lead the Bears top-notch pitching staff to the 2011 College World Series despite massive budget cuts almost canceling the program that season.

With assistants Gabe Alvarez and Randy Flores (both Trojan alums) on the staff for the foreseeable future, Hubbs found his man to complete the coaching staff in highly-respected coach Matt Curtis, following three seasons with Cal State Northridge.

In his last season with CSUN, Curtis finished his third and most successful leading the Matadors to a 31-26 overall record with a 15-12 in the Big West Conference. Unfortunately for his job, the Matadors lost their last six conference games and missed out on the 2013 Baseball Tournament.

USC returns six starters offensively and all of their starting pitchers from last season. That being said, the offense will lose their three top hitters from last season in Seniors Adam Landecker (Rookie League Pittsburgh) and Greg Zebrack (Class A Short Season) plus 15th-round pick of the Cleveland Indians, would-be senior James Roberts.

Luckily the returning group of players have some major playing experience under their belt. Sophomores Blake Lacey (.291 BA), Vahn Bozoian (2 HR 11 RBI), Timmy Robinson (.242 BA including 12-game hitting streak) and Bobby Stahel (.273 BA) will be called upon to step up their game in their second season in Southern California.

These players will enjoy the hitting tutelage their new coach can offer. Curtis was selected in the 26th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. He played professionally for five seasons in the Anaheim Angels and Cleveland Indians bouncing around High-A and Double-AA ball, finishing with a .284 career batting average and 70 home runs.