Ashman stepping down at Cal Poly - New Baseball Director for EM
Coach guided Broncos baseball program for 15 seasons
Michelle Gardner, Staff Writer | Created: 08/19/2010 10:03:18 PM PDT

After 15 years directing the Cal Poly Pomona baseball program, head coach Mike Ashman is calling it quits effective Oct. 1. The school plans to name an interim coach for the 2011 season until a more thorough search can be conducted.
Ashman cited the desire to spend more time with family as well as a new baseball-related business endeavor.

"It's just one of those jobs that never goes away, even when you go home," he said. "You're always worried about who you have to call, who you need to recruit, do you need to get a kid's transcripts, what are you doing to fundraise." Ashman said he began thinking about resigning midway through last season, one in which the team sustained a myriad of injuries and finished 26-27 overall and sixth in the CCAA at 18-22.

He had planned on stepping down after the 2011 season but got a position of Director of Baseball at EM Speed and Power Training at its new facility in Rancho Cucamonga, which needed his attention sooner. EM is a non-profit business that trains athletes in speed, strength, agility and specific sports training.

"It was a great opportunity to stay involved with baseball," he said. "After meeting with the people there we decided it was in both of our interest to start as soon as possible." Ashman completes his Cal Poly career with a 358-419-4 overall record. His teams posted seven winning seasons and nine seasons of 25 wins or more. Seventeen Broncos have been selected in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft since he became the head coach in 1996 and several others have signed contracts with professional baseball organizations. "What I will miss most is the day-to-day relationships you develop with the players and the other coaches," he said.

Ashman, a local product who came through Bloomington High School and San Bernardino Valley College, played at Cal Poly under legendary coach John Scolinos for whom the school's field is named. Ashman earned All-American honors in 1980, helping the Broncos to a Division II national championship. He was a designated hitter and first baseman.

Ashman played six years in the Oakland A's and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, reaching the Triple-A level. He also played for the U.S. Olympic Team in World Cup games in Japan. Before becoming Cal Poly Pomona's head coach, Ashman coached five seasons as an assistant at Riverside Community College under former Broncos assistant coach and standout player Dennis Rogers.

During his time at RCC, the Tigers advanced to the California State Junior College Regionals each season and placed fourth in 1990 and 1991.

Ashman also spent 1995 at the University of Nebraska as its hitting coach. He helped develop former major league star Darin Erstad, who was selected by the Angels as the No. 1 pick in the 1995 draft.That connection to Erstad helped land Ashman a side gig with the Angels as a batting practice pitcher that he plans to maintain."I think highly of Mike. He has put a lot of years into Cal Poly Pomona and we appreciate it,"athletic director Brian Swanson said. "There is so much time that goes into the job that people don't know about. I understand his desire to want to pursue something else. This was a great opportunity for him and I am sure he will be successful."