Jacksonville University Men's Baseball

Chris Hayes enters his tenth year as the head coach of Jacksonville University baseball in 2026. Through his first nine seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Hayes has led the Dolphins to over 250 wins, an ASUN Tournament Championship, two NCAA Regional appearances, and a regular-season ASUN Championship. Under his guidance, JU has produced numerous All-ASUN selections, Academic All-ASUN honorees, multiple Freshman All-ASUN picks, national award winners, weekly conference award recipients, and several MLB Draft selections and professional signees. The Dolphins have also collected more than a dozen victories over ranked opponents during his tenure, including wins over top-10 foes Florida, Miami, and Florida State. Hayes became just the fifth head coach in program history to surpass the 150-win mark, continuing to elevate Jacksonville Baseball on the conference and national stage. 2025 Finished 30–26 overall, 20–9 at home, and 17–13 in ASUN play Entered the ASUN Baseball Championship as the #2 seed in the Graphite Division Earned a 3–2 win over UCF (Mar. 25) Swept Queens (Mar. 28–29) Won nine straight games from Apr. 12–27 During the win streak, swept West Georgia and FGCU Jaden Bastian earned ASUN Player of the Week honors twice Richard Long, Alex Walsh, and Jonah Shields named ASUN Academic All-Conference Multiple Dolphins earned All-ASUN recognition Richard Long – First Team Jaden Bastian – First Team Josh Steidl – First Team Chandler Howard – Second Team Colin Rothermel – Third Team Justin Nadeau – Third Team 2024 Finished 27–31 overall and 18–12 in ASUN play Opened the season by sweeping Cincinnati Earned a 7–6 road win at #6 Florida Swept Queens (Apr. 26–28) Richard Long named Second Team All-ASUN Justin Nadeau named Third Team All-ASUN Peyton Prescott and Isaac Williams named Freshman All-ASUN Abdriel Delgado and Justin Nadeau both earned ASUN Player of the Week honors 2023 Finished 34–24 overall and 17–13 in ASUN play, earning a berth in the ASUN Baseball Championship Defeated #2 Florida, 10–8 (Mar. 1) Earned a ranked road win at #14 Miami, 6–3 (Mar. 8) Won at Florida State, 5–4 (Apr. 4) Swept Central Arkansas (Mar. 24–26) Swept Bellarmine (May 5–7) Swept rival North Florida (May 18–20) Kris Armstrong, Evan Chrest, and Chris Lotito named First Team All-ASUN Kris Armstrong selected ASUN Academic All-Conference Evan Chrest and Justin Nadeau named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team 2022 Led team to a win over #10/#13 Florida State as part of a 5-0 start to the season RHP Mason Adams was ASUN Pitcher of the Week and National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball on March 7 Most stolen bases by a team in his six years as head coach, swiping 85 total bags Went 3-0 in extra-inning games Finished 5th in the ASUN East Division and qualified for the ASUN Baseball Championship 2021 Led team to the ASUN Baseball Tournament Championship Participated in the NCAA Columbia Regional (#4 Seed) Tyler Santana was named ASUN Tournament MVP and Dakota Julylia, Duncan Hunter, Mason Adams and Jackson Grabky all made the All-Tournament Team Coached two ASUN All-Freshman Team members (Jackson Grabsky and Jesus Pacheco) Beat #5/#6 Florida and #17/#18 Florida State on the road RHP Tyler Santana signed free agent contract with the Cubs organization 2020 The team won eight of its last 11 contests before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic Registered a win over ranked West Virginia RHPs Trent Palmer and Austin Temple both earned ASUN Pitcher of the Week honors, with the two leading the league in strikeouts and ERA, respectively Scott Dubrule was sixth in country in hits Palmer was drafted in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Blue Jays, and became the sixth-highest draft pick in school history and the highest in the Coach Hayes tenure RHP Chris Mauloni signed a free agent contract with the Tigers organization 2019 Won 30+ games for the third consecutive season under Hayes (32) Took the season series against eventualy CWS participant Florida State Won first two games of the ASUN Tournament to advance to winner's bracket semifinals for third straight season Shortstop Dakota Julylia was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, a first in program history Julylia and Angel Camacho were First Team All-ASUN, with four other players earning all-conference honors Three players were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft: INF Angel Camacho (3rd Round - Toronto) RHP Zach Bryant (15th Round - Chicago Cubs) & RHP Chris Mauloni (35th Round - Boston) After excelling in independent league ball, RHP Spencer Stockton joined the Reds organization as a free agent 2018 Won 40 games for the first time since 2006 and earned an NCAA bid for the first time since 2009 Earned #2 seed in the Gainesville Regional, the highest seed in school history Ranked as high as #25 in Baseball America and #24 in Rawlings/Perfect Game polls Climbed as high as #16 in the RPI rankings Went 22-7 at home, best home winning percentage since 1984 Won five games over NCAA Tournament teams throughout the season, highlighted by an upset of #1 Florida in Gainesville Freshman RHP Chris Mauloni was an All-American (named by four different organizations) after tying for the national lead in saves with 20 and setting the new JU career and single-season saves record Eight players earned All-ASUN postseason awards, three landed on the ASUN All-Tournament team and Angel Camacho made the NCAA All-Regional Team RHP Chris Gau was drafted in the 14th Round of the 2018 MLB Draft by Tampa Bay 2017 Led team to 36 wins and the ASUN Regular Season Championship Team advanced to the ASUN Baseball Championship Final Won six games over eventual NCAA Tournament participants, including a 3-2 win at home over eventual national champion Florida Strung together a 13-game winning streak, the program's longest win streak in 26 years Three players made ASUN All-Conference teams and three more made the All-Freshman Team RHP Michael Baumann was drafted in the third round by Baltimore and LHP Casey Kulina signed a free agent contract with Arizona CAREER ACCOLADES 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year Member of the USA Baseball 16U National Team Development Program staff in 2019 Drafted in MLB Draft twice: 35th Round in 1994 - Seattle & 28th Round in 1995 - Toronto Two-time All-Sun Belt performer at JU 19 players drafted under his tutelage as a head coach at JU and Seminole State CAREER TIMELINE Jacksonville Head Coach (2017-present) Jacksonville Associate Head Coach (2014-16) Seminole State Head Coach (2009-13) Jacksonville Assistant Coach (2004-08) Wolfson H.S. Assistant Coach (2002-03) Hayes was a four-year starter at Jacksonville from 1992-95, was drafted on two occasions by MLB organizations (1994, Seattle; 1995, Toronto) and twice earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He also picked up all-regional accolades as a junior. Hayes led the Dolphins to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances (1994, 1995) and ranks among the all-time Jacksonville leaders in RBI (176), at-bats (802), hits (271), doubles (53) and total bases (402). Before launching his coaching career, Hayes spent five seasons (1995-2000) with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after being drafted in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He played every infield and outfield position in five seasons with the Blue Jays’ minor league system finishing with a .276 career batting average. Over the course of his career, Hayes made stops in St. Catherines, Ontario; Hagerstown, Md.; Dunedin, Fla.; and Knoxville, Tenn. while in the minors. A native of Jacksonville, Hayes earned his bachelor’s degree from the University in finance in 1995 and his MBA in 2007. Chris and his wife, Joy, live in Jacksonville.

Amber Baldani joined the Jacksonville Athletic Department in the summer of 2025 as a Student-Athlete Services Graduate Assistant. Baldani is a former student-athlete from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where she earned her bachelor’s degree in international business and MBA while competing as a swimmer. A two-time All-American and CSCAA All-American, she demonstrated excellence both in the pool and the classroom. Baldani brings experience in event planning, academic support, and NCAA compliance, having contributed to the Pennsylvania Sports Business Conference while also having worked in athletics operations during her undergraduate studies. Originally from Zagreb, Croatia, Baldani is passionate about supporting student-athletes in achieving academic success and navigating NCAA compliance. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, traveling, and exploring new cultures.

Team Assignments: Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field EDUCATION: • Bachelor of Science: Salisbury University, 2024     o Major: Exercise Science – Minor: Athletic Coaching PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: • University of Delaware - Strength & Conditioning Intern, 2024 • Salisbury University – Sports Performance Intern, 2023-2024 CERTIFICATIONS: • Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) - Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC)  • National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) – Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) • Functional Range Systems – Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist ATHLETIC/PLAYING EXPERIENCE: • Collegiate Student Athlete: Salisbury University Men’s Lacrosse, 2021 PERSONAL: Hometown: Camden-Wyoming, DE

Savannah Siegrist '18 assumed the role of assistant coach for the Jacksonville Beach Volleyball program in January 2024. “We're excited to get Savannah back on campus in her new role this year. Savannah was an excellent addition to the roster as a player and I know she will do a tremendous job as a coach, as well. Savannah is coming off of a great season down at Webber with their men’s program, and we’re grateful to have her around to share some of her experiences with our current student-athletes.” Siegrist assumes the role of assistant coach under Head Coach Dylan Hough, who is entering his fourth season as the leader of the program. The Davidsonville, Maryland native played her freshman season with JU, where she led the Dolphins with the most wins as part of the #1 pairing. She notched notable wins against ranked opponents North Florida and South Carolina. Siegrist then transferred to Oregon, where she graduated and played for three years, totaling 29 wins. She received her Bachelor's and master’s degrees in Sports Business from Oregon. Siegrist has been coaching beach volleyball since 2016 for clubs, including South River Volleyball Club, Grit Volleyball, Dynamic Volleyball Academy, Oregon Sand Volleyball, and Sandsharks Beach Volleyball. Siegrist was involved in the first years of USAV Beach High Performance, including playing for the A2 National and the Chesapeake Region (CHRVA) team, and coaching the development team for CHRVA. Siegrist was recently the Head Men’s Beach Volleyball Coach at Weber International, where she led the team to a 3rd place finish at the AVCA Men's National Championship this past fall. “JU has always held a special place in my heart, so I am honored to be joining Dylan this spring,” Siegrist stated. “I’m very excited to get to work with this talented group of women! Phins Up!”

Former Dolphin, Casey Kulina, joined JU for his first season as pitching coach in 2025. He spent the previous two seasons as pitching coach at the University of Delaware. During his first season as pitching coach, the 2025 pitching staff held opponents to a .253 batting average (3rd best in JU history) and allowed only 460 hits against (4th best). In addition, his pitching staff held the third best ERA in the ASUN. RHP Collin Rothermel was also selected in the 16th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.  In 2023 and 2024 the Delaware pitching staff helped the Blue Hens achieve back-to-back 30+ win seasons for the first time since 2017 and 2018. In 2024 the Blue Hen staff's 430 strikeouts were the program's most since 2018. Their 17 strikeouts on 3/2/24 vs Lafayette were the program's 2nd most all-time in a single game. The 2023 season saw LHP Anthony Gubitosi set the freshman record for K/9 with a 13.60 mark, which was also good for 3rd all-time in program history.  Kulina joined the Blue Hens for the 2022-23 season after spending the previous four years as pitching coach at Polk State Junior College in Winter Haven, FL. In his four years at Polk State, Kulina coached and recruited 24 pitchers who moved on to 4-year schools. 17 of which moved on to the Division 1 level. He helped mentor 5 All-Conference pitchers. In 2022, RHP Skylar Gonzalez led NJCAA Region 8 in ERA and RHP Jacob Heath led NJCAA Region 8 in Saves. In 2021, freshman LHP Thomas Ireland was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 13th Round of the MLB Draft. In 2021 and 2022, the Polk State pitching staff helped the Eagles earn back-to-back Region 8 postseason berths and were ranked Top 5 in the region in strikeouts. Kulina, a native of Hummelstown, Pa., enjoyed one of the most decorated seasons for a pitcher in Polk State history in 2014 when he went 12-1, finishing one win shy of tying the school record for single season victories. He was named the FCSAA State Pitcher of the Year and received NJCAA All-American accolades. After graduating from Polk State in 2014, Kulina attended Jacksonville University, where he posted a 10-1 record in 20 starts over two seasons and helped the Dolphins win the 2017 Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship. He graduated from Jacksonville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences. Kulina signed as a Free Agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and pitched for their Low-A affiliate Missoula Osprey in 2017. In 38 innings he posted a 3-1 record with three saves and a 2.37 ERA, issuing only eight walks while striking out 47 batters.

Brown, a four-year letterman and all-conference performer at East Carolina University from 2016-19, was instrumental in the Pirates' success during his collegiate career. He contributed to 161 wins (56 in league play), three NCAA Regional berths (two as a national seed), and two Super Regional appearances. Brown was also a key part of one of the most productive squads in program history—the 2019 team—which achieved a program second-best 47 wins. That squad ranked in the Top 10 across nine statistical categories, including total sacrifices (1st/96), hit by pitches (1st/80), walks (5th/279), RBI (7th/402), runs (8th/435), doubles (t-8th/112), hits (9th/642), total bases (9th/983), and home runs (t-9th/71). ECU also claimed a league-best 20 conference wins en route to the American Athletic Conference regular-season title and a No. 10 National Seed. At the close of his career, he stood among the all-time leaders (Top 10) in sacrifices (first/56), starts (second/231), assists (605/third), hit by pitches (36/third), games played (235/sixth) and at-bats (803/ninth). Brown hit at a .269 clip, belted 12 home runs, drove in 126 and scored 127 times. Brown was a 19th round selection to the Colorado Rockies in the 2019 MLB draft. Recently Brown served as the Head Baseball Coach for his high school alma mater Whiteville High School. During his three seasons with the Wolfpack Brown led his team to a 60-17 overall record with a State Championship appearance in 2022 and a Regional Final appearance in 2024. A three-time AAC All-Academic Team selection (2016, 2018-19) and six-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll member, Brown earned his undergraduate degree in criminal justice (spring 2019) and his master’s degree in physical education from UNCP (spring 2022). Brown comes to Jacksonville with his wife Kaitlyn and son Asher. During his first season under the guide of the baserunners, the team finished with 105 stolen bases, good for 7th all time in program history. The Dolphins look to continue that mark in the 2026 season.  

Emily Kubicsko etched her name into Jacksonville Beach Volleyball history as the program’s all-time wins leader, finishing her career with a record-setting 72 victories, 11 more than the previous mark. Kubicsko made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022, appearing in 34 matches while helping lead the Dolphins to the most single-season wins in program history. That season, she broke the program’s freshman wins record alongside Sydney Eckhardt and set the single-season record at the No. 2 flight. Her success only grew from there. As a sophomore in 2023, Kubicsko posted a remarkable 24-win season with partner Jenna McNamara, setting a new program record for wins by a No. 1 pair in a single season, surpassing the previous record by seven wins. She also earned a signature victory against No. 8 Georgia State during the campaign. In 2024, Kubicsko continued her consistent excellence with another 16-win season, ending the year just five wins shy of becoming the all-time leader in program history. Entering her senior season, she earned Preseason All-ASUN honors, and just 14 matches into the 2025 campaign, she officially became Jacksonville’s all-time wins leader. She closed her final season with 16 victories, earned Second-Team All-ASUN recognition, and capped off an illustrious career as one of the most accomplished players the program has ever seen. Kubicsko’s 2022 recruiting class graduated as the winningest class in Jacksonville Beach Volleyball history, leaving Kubicsko as the greatest Dolphin BVB Player of all time.

Will Strichik joined the Jacksonville Athletic Department in the summer of 2025 as an Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant. He serves as the main point of contact for baseball, beach volleyball and men's and women's cross country. Strichik spent the last two years in sales and marketing for LogoLand Marketing, where he partnered with state agencies and corporations on promotional campaigns. He earned his degree in Marketing from Auburn University.  He also gained experience in sports communications through freelance social media work with the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), a digital media internship with Jaster Athletes, and volunteer roles with events such as the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.   

Team Assignments: Baseball, Women's Soccer EDUCATION: • Master of Science: St. John’s University, 2019     o Major: Sport Management • Bachelor of Science: State University of New York, Cortland, 2016     o Major: Kinesiology – Minor: Business Management PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: • High Point University - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, 2019-2021 • St. John’s University – Graduate Assistant Sports Performance Coach, 2017-2019 • Quinnipiac University – Strength & Conditioning Intern, 2018 • Wake Forest University – Sports Performance Intern, 2016-2017 CERTIFICATIONS: • Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) – Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) (Approved Mentor) • National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) – Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) • OnBaseU Pitching Level 1 Certified • OnBaseU Hitting Level 1 Certified • Functional Range Systems – Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist • Reflexive Performance Reset – Level 3 • USA Weightlifting – Sport Performance Coach Level 1 • Precision Nutrition – Level 1 Certified • Cancer Exercise Training Institute – Cancer Exercise Specialist • Postural Restoration Institute – Myokinematic Restoration • Postural Restoration Institute – Pelvic Restoration • Postural Restoration Institute – Postural Respiration ATHLETIC/PLAYING EXPERIENCE: • Collegiate Student Athlete: SUNY Cortland Men’s Ice Hockey, 2010-2013 PERSONAL: • Hometown: Utica, NY • Hobbies: Reading, Hockey, Grilling BBQ, Beach, Enjoying time w/ family & dogs • Fun Fact: Owned a motorcycle for three years • Family: Currently living in Jacksonville with Girlfriend Jyll & their three dogs: Kilo, Kylo & Finn

A four-year varsity letter recipient (2019-2023), Mac was a consistent presence both on the field and in the classroom. A four-time All-ACC Honor Roll selection, he helped lead Clemson to two NCAA Regional appearances (2019, 2023), and was a member of the 2023 ACC Baseball Championship team.  Recognized for his work ethic, Mac earned the Nick Markakis Hardest Worker Award in back-to-back seasons (2021–22) and was named a Clemson Baseball Student-Athlete Award recipient in 2022. Over his career, he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while maintaining a .360 on-base percentage. PERSONAL Born McGwire Matthew Starbuck on Dec. 13, 1998 in Kernersville, N.C. Earned Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport Communications and Masters of Science in Athletic Leadership from Clemson University. Father is a bench coach in the San Diego Padres organization and carries 20+ years experience in Division 1 as a college baseball coach.

Andy Heston was elevated to Associate AD for Student-Athlete Services in July 2021. He retains his role as the day-to-day director of the Student-Athlete Services department, while serving in additional leadership capacities. Heston started at JU back in 2016 as an Athletic Academic Advisor, after holding a similar role for years prior at the University of Alabama. He was promoted to the Director of Student-Athlete Services in the summer of 2017, when he began his role handling oversight of all the academic support initiatives being offered to student-athletes at JU.   Driven by an analytical approach that features personalized advising, the department has seen extensive growth in his time at Jacksonville. The athletic department recently posted its highest collective GPA in history, with a 3.38 mark in the 2020-21 school year. The school received the ASUN President's Academic Trophy in 2018, and has regularly improved its percentage of student-athletes on the ASUN Honor Roll since then. JU has seen its lowest probation rates, highest graduation rates and best APR scores in department history since Heston's arrival.   Changes to the department over the years have included the implementation of new technology and academic success resources within the Student-Athlete Center for Success, and better connection between athletics and various campus partners. He has presented at multiple national and regional conferences on topics of specialized advising, data utilization and academic resource maximization and has worked directly with nearly all of the athletic programs at JU over the years. Before coming to JU, Heston worked at The University of Alabama as an Athletic Academic Assistant for Athletic-Academic Services from 2014-2016.  He was responsible for helping monitor, track, and evaluate over 100 tutors in the department, while utilizing GradesFirst programming to monitor attendance and grades for over 500 student-athletes.  Heston also helped assist personal monitors and learning specialists with study session monitoring and creation of academic enhancement plans for select at-risk student-athletes.  In working with the Student-Athlete Enhancement division, Heston assisted with the CHAMPS/Life Skills program and helped coordinate special events, covering topics such as etiquette, professional development, career planning, and financial literacy. From 2012-2014, Heston served as an Assistant Baseball Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.  Heston also managed all community outreach initiatives and academic support for the team, while partnering with the University of Kentucky to help instruct and coordinate regional youth baseball clinics. Since 2012, Heston has also served as an international guest instructor in London, England for the Great Britain Baseball U-16/U-18 Junior National teams and has worked a variety of youth development camps in Europe for MLB International and corresponding national affiliates.  Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Heston was a professional baseball player for parts for three seasons before retiring due to chronic injuries in 2013.  He pitched for three professional franchises in Chicago and Cleveland markets. Heston was a four-year letterwinner on the Northern Kentucky University baseball team from 2007-2011.  In his senior season, Heston was a finalist for the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year and was named a Capital One Academic All-American. He currently holds the NKU all-time record for lowest ERA in a season. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Heston earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Business with a minor in business administration from Northern Kentucky University in 2011. He completed his Master of Science in Sport Management from the University of Alabama in 2016.

EDUCATION - Master of Arts- Kinesiology, Sonoma State University, 1998 - Bachelor of Science- Physical Education/Athletic Training, Sonoma State University, 1994 CAREER/WORK EXPERIENCE - Assistant Athletic Trainer, Jacksonville University, 2012-present - Head Athletic Trainer, Sonoma State University, 2009-2011 - Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sonoma State University, 2003-2009 - Head Athletic Trainer, College of Marin, 2000-2003 - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, College of Marin, 1999-2003 - Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sonoma State University,1995-1998 - Athletic Training Student, Sonoma State University, 1999-2004 AWARDS/HONORS - Jacksonville University Athletics Department Staff of the Year Award, 2021 - Sonoma State University Applause Award, 2005 - College of Marin Commitment to Excellence Award, 2002 - Sonoma State University Graduate of Physical Education with Distinction, 1994 - Sonoma State University, Coaches Award in Football, 1991   PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS - National Athletic Trainers’ Association                                                                                      - Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association                                                                                    - The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida   PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS - Board of Certification, Inc. Athletic Trainer - State of Florida, Department of Health, Licensed Athletic Trainer - American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers Certified - Owens Recovery Science Blood Flow Restriction Training (P-BFR) -Foundations in Dry Needling for Orthapedic Rehab + Sports Performance (SFDNI)                                                        - Fitour.com Group Spin Instructor - Approved Clinical Instructor for the UNF Athletic Training Education Program                                                                                                 PERSONAL - Hometown: San Pedro, CA - Hobbies: Hiking, Spin, Reading, Spending time with daughters at amusement parks - Family: Daughters Tash Owens and Ciena Owens                                                                                                                                                                        

Chris Rodriguez joined the Jacksonville baseball staff in August of 2020 to serve as the Director of Baseball Operations. The South Florida native will handle day to day operations, as well as video, analytics, and technologies to aid player development. He comes to JU after serving in the Arizona Diamondbacks Player Development Department as a Video Coordinator for their AA affiliate (Jackson Generals). Rodriguez assisted in baseball technology, scouting and analysis along with pitch design protocols for their minor league personnel. Rodriguez, an alum of Wright State, served as the Volunteer Assistant for the Raiders in 2018 before taking on the Director of Player Development role in the spring of 2019. Rodriguez served as the Coordinator of Player Development for the University of Central Florida in the fall of 2019 before being hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in January of 2020. Rodriguez also has a background in international coaching, serving as an assistant in the summer of 2018 for the Lithuanian National Team for a bid to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He helped lead the team to a Pool B Championship in the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB), where they defeated Ukraine in the championship game. Their run came to end, losing to Team Israel for a spot in the European Cup. Rodriguez handled the pitchers, scouting, and strength and conditioning programs for Team Lithuania during his time.  His playing career started at Spring Hill College back in 2012 before transferring to Volunteer State in 2013. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 where he recovered in his hometown of Pembroke Pines, FL, and returned to play for Kishwaukee College during the 2016 season for coach Josh Pethoud. During his time there, he led the Kougars to an Arrowhead Conference championship and was named to the Junior College All-Region IV team where he went 8-2 with 97 Ks in 74 innings. He finished his career at Wright State University as part of the 2018 Horizon League Champions and Stanford Regional team for Coach Jeff Mercer.    Rodriguez received his Bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership from Wright State University and is currently working towards his Masters in Kinesiology here at Jacksonville University. He is the son of Ozzie and Christine Rodriguez.