California State University, Monterey Bay Men's Baseball

2026 marks Walt White’s 16th 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 445–286 (.609) record with an average of 31 wins per season. The Otters continued to roll in 2025, becoming the first team in over 50 years to claim four-straight CCAA regular season titles. Just a week later CSUMB became the first team in nearly 15 years to win three-straight CCAA conference tournament championships. The Otters went on to appear in their third-straight Super Regional.   KW Quilici, who was also named the CCAA Player of the Year, went on to garner multiple all-region honors en route to being named a D2CCA All-American. Javier Felix and Max Farfan also were tabbed all-region and joined Quilici as a total of 13 Otters to earn CCAA honors.   2024 proved to be another step for the Otters as White guided the team to their third straight CCAA regular season title, second straight CCAA Tournament championship and another Super Regional appearance that saw CSUMB just one win away from a trip to the College World Series.   The Otters finished the year, 39-21 overall and 27-13 in conference play. Four members of the squad were named NCBWA All-Region as KW Quilici and Jaden Sheppard garnered first team honors, while JJ Engman was a second team selection and Mitchell Torres was tabbed honorable mention. A total of eight Otters earned all-CCAA honors, including four being named to the first team. The 2023 season marked White’s fourth CCAA regular season championship, with a record of 39-18 and a 30-10 CCAA record. The team followed up their terrific regular season with their first ever CCAA Tournament Title and their first ever NCAA West Regional title, securing their inaugural trip to an NCAA Super Regional.   White was named CCAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time at the culmination of the season, and his shortstop, Brady Miguel, became the first student-athlete ever to be named CCAA Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. In total, nine Otters were named to the CCAA All-Conference list, four were named to the All-West Region Team, and utility man Nico Hartojo was named an All-American.  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 2024 campaign, the Otters have reached the postseason in each 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 15 seasons, White has had 47 all–region selections and 93 All-CCAA selections. 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 2023, Haggett was joined by Nico Hartojo as the second CSUMB Baseball student-athlete to earn Academic All-American honors. KW Quilici joined the list in 2025. 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.   Walt White Year-By-Year  Season  Overall Record  Conference Record (Finish)  Postseason Finish  2011  21–28  18–22 (9th)  –  2012  26–24  19–21 (8th)  –  2013  39–17  29–11 (1st)  NCAA West Regional  2014  23–27  18–22 (6th)  –  2015  32–20  27–13 (T–2nd)  CCAA Tournament  2016  34–21  21–16 (1st, North)  NCAA West Regional  2017  28–24  20–18 (3rd North)  CCAA Tournament  2018  39–18  30–14 (1st)  NCAA West Regional  2019  35-23  29-15 (2nd)  NCAA West Regional  2020  13-9  10-6 (5th)  Season Halted due to COVID-19  2021  No Season due to COVID-19  2022  38-17  31-9 (1st)  NCAA West Regional  2023              39-18  30-10 (1st)  NCAA Super Regional  2024              39-21  27-13 (1st)  NCAA Super Regional  2025 39-19 26-14 (1st) NCAA Super Regional  15 seasons  445–286 (.609)  325–198 (.621) Last Updated: 1/7/2026

Bell came with Coach White from Sonoma State to help build CSUMB into a national power. He will use his wealth of playing and coaching experience to continue his track record of developing All-American and professional players. Bells impact on CSUMB Baseball was felt immediately in 2011. He tutored an offense that became known for its patience and clutch hitting. Under Bells watch, Danny Nelson became the Otterss alltime leader for doubles in a season while Jared DeCastro broke the single season record for batting average. Along with Coach White, Bell coached an infield defense that led the nation in double plays turned per game. Bell spent 13 years at Sonoma State as a player and a coach. During his tenure at SSU the Seawolves produced record numbers of championships, AllAmericans and players moving on to the professional ranks. The Seawolves most successful run in school history started when Bell entered the program as a player and continued as he took over as a coach. Bells influence as a coach was most prominent in 2008, when SSU charged through the playoffs and advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series, finishing 3rd in the nation. During his time with SSU as a player and coach, the Seawolves won six conference championships and made the NCAA Regional Tournament eight times. As a player at Sonoma State, Bell was one of the best players in California Collegiate Athletic Association history. The 2007 SSU Hall of Fame Inductee holds numerous offensive records at SSU. As a senior, Bell was runner up for NCAA Division II national player of the year. Following his collegiate playing career, Bell was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and spent five seasons playing professional baseball before he began his full-time coaching career. Bell is single and currently resides in Marina, CA.Derek Bell

Dennis Peters continues as an integral member of the Monterey Bay baseball coaching staff for his 14th season leading the Otter catching corps in 2023. In that time, Peters has coached 2 All-CCAA catchers.  Peters worked with 2012 starting catcher Jesse Olson who had only five errors in his 38 games that included 36 assists and 174 putouts from behind the plate. Olson hit .301 and had six doubles.  In between his professional playing seasons, Peters previous coaching stop was assisting with the junior varsity squad at his alma mater, Castro Valley High School. Peters mentored many future college players during his three years with the program. After graduating from Castro Valley High School, Peters began his collegiate playing career under Coach Steve Friend at Chabot College. He transferred to Sonoma State, where he started behind the plate for the 2003 and 2005 CCAA Champion Seawolves. Following his collegiate career, Peters began an international playing career that saw him play catcher and third base in the Italian Professional Baseball League for four seasons.