Coaching Staff

Steve Owens | Head Coach

The 13th head coach in Rutgers baseball history, Steve Owens is in his sixth year leading the Scarlet Knights in 2025 after being hired on June 26, 2019. An 11-time conference coach of the year who has mentored 26 All-Americans and 57 professional players, Owens owns 31 winning seasons as a head coach. The New York native ranks No. 5 among active Division I coaches in wins (1,046) and No. 22 in winning percentage (.644) with 22 30-win seasons, six 40-win seasons and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.

On April 4, 2023 against Hofstra, Owens recorded his 1,000th career victory, at the time becoming just the ninth active Division I coach at the time to reach that milestone.

Owens has led Rutgers to 105 wins over the last three seasons, which marks the most in a three-year span since 2001-03, including back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2022-23, the first for RU since 2004-05.

In building Rutgers with an emphasis on toughness, commitment and development, Owens has already broken the program record for wins in a season, advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, changed the perception of Rutgers baseball and reinvigorated the spirit of the program. In a 2020 vote of 90 head coaches from around the nation, Owens was selected as the most underrated head coach in college baseball in a Baseball America poll.

Owens, who has been a collegiate head coach since 1992 with 1,627 games under his belt entering 2025, has picked up 74 victories in postseason play. In addition, Owens has mentored 14 Freshman All-America picks, 43 All-Region nods and four Academic All-Americans as a head coach.

“Steve has a remarkable record of achievement,” Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs said upon the hire. “His level of sustained success is among the nation’s best. He now brings that formula to Rutgers and the Big Ten. Steve’s great at developing student-athletes and putting them on a path to success, both on and off the field. We have a rich history and Steve will write the next great chapter for Rutgers baseball. I’m delighted to welcome him, his wife Catharine and his family to our family.”

“I would first like to thank Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs, Ryan Pisarri and the other members of the search committee for selecting me as the newest leader of the baseball program,” Owens said in 2019. “I am honored to have the opportunity to work in a program with such rich history and tradition. I believe my vision for the program is consistent with the department’s strategic priorities of student-athlete excellence, cultural excellence and sustaining long-term excellence. I am looking forward to meeting the players and recruits, and starting to build the relationship and trust necessary to succeed. We will have talented athletes who will work hard, compete to win and play with Jersey toughness and grit. Our immediate goal is to establish ourselves as a consistent contender in the Big Ten. In addition, we aspire to be a top team in our region of the country, consistently develop professional players and work toward postseason opportunities.”

Rutgers
In 2024, Owens continued his winning ways at Rutgers, securing his third straight winning season with the Scarlet Knights at 28-25, a feat that had not been accomplished since 2005-07. Under Owens' tutelage, junior shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named Big Ten Player of the Year, the first time since Rutgers joined the conference in 2015 that a player received a major award from the Big Ten. After hitting .298 as a sophomore, Kuroda-Grauer broke out to lead the country with 95 hits, lead the Big Ten with a .428 average, added five home runs, 19 doubles, 45 RBI and 24 stolen bases. Kuroda-Grauer was also named All-Big Ten First Team, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist (top shortstop in country), a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist (top amateur player in country) and a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist (national player of the year). Owens also oversaw the development of senior pitcher Justin Sinibaldi, who was named All-Big Ten Third Team after emerging as the team's ace and pitching to a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and striking out 65 batters in 83.0 innings on the mound.

The 2023 campaign saw Owens lead Rutgers to its second consecutive 30-win season with a record of 33-23 and a 14-10 in the Big Ten, good for a fifth-place finish and second straight appearance in the Big Ten Tournament. Third baseman Chris Brito etched his name in Rutgers history, setting program records with his 46 career home runs and 200 career RBIs. He is also the only player in program history to reach 200 career RBIs and recorded his 200th career hit. Outfielder Ryan Lasko also collected his 200th career hit, becoming the 20th Scarlet Knight to reach the mark. Lasko and Brito became the first players in program history with three connective seasons of double-digit home runs. The Big Ten postseason awards gave the program a pair of firsts, as Lasko became the first player to be named All-Big Ten First Team twice and pitcher Christian Coppola became the first freshman at Rutgers to be named All-Big Ten First Team.

In 2022, just his third season overall and first full season, Owens led the Scarlet Knights to one of the best campaigns in program history. The team set new records for regular season wins (41) and overall wins (44). RU finished in second place in the Big Ten regular season race and qualified for the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since joining the conference.  The Scarlet Knights won their first three games to advance to the championship game.

Rutgers would lead the country in road wins by a Power 5 team (22). doubles (147), runs (565) and offense (9.6 runs/game). RU led the Big Ten in batting average (.320), doubles (147), doubles/game (2.49), fielding percentage (.980), hits (701), runs (565) and offense (9.6 runs/game).

Under Owens' leadership, the 2022 team also shattered a number of program records. Rutgers set new marks with 44 wins, 565 runs scored, 147 doubles, 96 home runs, 519 RBIs, 1,172 total bases, 534 pitching strikeouts. Chris Brito set the single-season RBI record with 74, Nathan Florence set the single season strikeout with 90 and Ryan Lasko tied the single-season doubles record with 24.

A record number of individuals received individual honors as well. Eight Scarlet Knights were named All-Big Ten, with Danny DiGeorgio, Ryan Lasko and Dale Stanavich becoming the first All-Big Ten First Team honorees for Rutgers. Ryan Lasko (Second), Nick Cimillo (Third) and Danny DiGeorgio (Third) were named All-Americans and for the first time in program history, Rutgers had three All-Americans in the same season.

Playing a 44-game schedule all within the Big Ten in 2021 amidst a pandemic, the Scarlet Knights earned their best placement (eighth) and winning percentage (.477) in Big Ten play since joining the conference. That included winning six series, a 7-5 mark against NCAA Regional qualifiers and at least one victory over each team in the league. In addition, RU led the conference in road wins (13) after the program previously went 11-47 combined the prior five seasons in the Big Ten.

The campaign was highlighted by a five-game winning streak over ranked Michigan and Nebraska, all on the road. Rutgers was the only team in the Big Ten to win a series over league champion Nebraska. Through 24 games, a standard Big Ten season, RU set Big Ten team season records in wins (12), runs (141), homers (35), total bases (356), slugging percentage (.430), on-base percentage (.353), strikeouts recorded (196), least walks allowed (72), batting average against (.254) and saves (7).

Ryan Lasko garnered Freshman All-America status from Collegiate Baseball to become the first Scarlet Knight to earn an All-America accolade in the Big Ten era. The outfielder also claimed three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors among the seven weekly awards picked up as a team to match the number the previous six years combined. That included six freshman of the week honors for the most by a Big Ten team since 2013.

Lasko (11) and Chris Brito (10), an All-Big Ten Third Team selection, were the first Rutgers teammates to reach double-digit homers in a season since 2010. Overall, the Scarlet Knights clubbed 48 long balls to rank sixth-most in a season in program history. The offense also put up 15 runs in a game three times, including a team Big Ten record 16 at Minnesota.

On the mound, the staff combined for three shutouts, with two on the road. The 14 saves picked up ranked third in the school record book, while the 328 strikeouts placed 10th and 150 walks were eighth-least. Harry Rutkowski accelerated into the Rutgers top-10 in career innings pitched, starts and strikeouts, as Ben Wereski led the Big Ten with a 0.99 WHIP, only 1.3 walks allowed per nine innings and ranked second with a 5.09:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Rutkowski (Toronto Blue Jays), Wereski (Lincoln Saltdogs) and Brent Teller (Lancaster Barnstormers) all went from the weekend rotation to professional baseball.

Academically, four student-athletes merited Big Ten Distinguished Scholar status and 12 earned Academic All-Big Ten. The baseball program was also recognized within the athletic department as the men’s team with the most improved GPA.

Owens completed his first season as the Scarlet Knights' skipper in 2020, a campaign cut short by a pandemic. RU went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Miami on Opening Day, a 2-1 ballgame, before sweeping North Florida on the road during the second weekend. It was the first three-game sweep for the program in February since 2012, as the offense added 15 in the home-opening win over Wagner to make it 52 runs over a four-game stretch, a best since 2010. In addition, Rutgers picked up a win over Washington State in Arizona, the team's first victory ever over a PAC-12 opponent. Owens used the months in quarantine to reshape the roster for 2021 and beyond through virtual recruiting.

In January 2020, Owens organized the first annual Leadoff Banquet in January at The Rutgers Club. The event featured over 100 players, alumni, donors and supporters of the program in attendance. Also in the offseason, Owens oversaw the completion of the new-look Bainton Field, which has fresh Field Turf, fairer outfield dimensions and upgrades to the dugouts.

Bryant
Owens took over the Bryant program for the 2011 season and earned 327 wins at the helm, an average of 36.3 victories per year, the most victories among Northeast programs during that span. The Bulldogs went 192-59 (.765) in NEC play with eight-straight regular-season crowns and three tournament titles, being the No. 1 seed all seven trips to the conference tournament.

The program, which became eligible for NCAA postseason competition in 2013 after its transition to Division I in 2009, made a splash with an upset over Arkansas at the 2013 Manhattan (Kan.) Regional. That season was sparked by a 19-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. The team returned to the NCAA Tournament the following season with an appearance at the 2014 Baton Rouge (La.) Regional. In 2016, Bryant won a school-record 47 games, emerged in the national rankings as high as No. 15, had the highest winning percentage in the nation (.797) and became the first NEC school to earn a No. 2 seed at the NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Charlottesville (Va.) Regional.

Owens earned five NEC Coach of the Year awards (2012, ‘13, ‘14, ’16, ‘19) and claimed ABCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors in 2013 and 2014. Additionally, 64 players garnered all-conference honors and 13 collected All-America honors in his nine seasons piloting the Rhode Island school. Owens also successfully recruited the NEC Rookie of the Year seven times and produced 18 MLB Draft picks over the last seven seasons. Most recently, 2017 ninth-round pick James Karinchak reached the big leagues in 2019 with the Cleveland Indians and emerged as one of the top relievers in the American League in 2020.

Rounding out his tenure in Smithfield in 2019, Owens led Bryant to a 40-win season, winning 12-of-14 weekend series and pacing the nation with 23 road wins during the regular season. Propelled by the bats, the Bulldogs set school and NEC records for home runs (81), hits (679), RBIs (455) and runs scored (487). The 8.1 runs per game ranked ninth nationally, placing seventh in batting average (.311), 13th in home runs per game (1.35) and 15th in on-base percentage (.398). Bryant also set school and NEC records for strikeouts with 501 on the mound. The Bulldogs had eight earn All-NEC honors and 10 more garner All-New England honors, while Chris Wright and Steve Theetge, a 2019 Gold Glove winner, both picked up All-America distinction. Owens also saw three members of his class of 2020 recruiting class selected in the first 22 rounds of the MLB Draft.

Le Moyne
Prior to coming to Bryant, Owens spent 11 seasons (2000-10) as the head coach at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. He led the Dolphins to 11-straight winning seasons and three NCAA tournament berths. He guided Le Moyne to back-to-back NCAA Regionals at Arkansas (2003) and North Carolina State (2004), and then took the Dolphins to the Texas A&M Regional in 2007. Over his tenure, Owens was named the MAAC Coach of the Year twice, (2004, ’06) and was also bestowed the ABCA/Diamond Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 2003. Owens reached an even more impressive milestone during the 2007 season as he became one of the youngest coaches in the country to reach the 500-win plateau. He finished his Dolphins career with an impressive 342-217 record, as the program amassed 32 All-MAAC selections.

Cortland State
A native of Sauquoit, New York, Owens started his head coaching career at Division III Cortland State. Over eight seasons (1992-99) in the dugout, Owens led the Red Dragons to six 30-win seasons, seven NCAA regional tournaments and four trips to the Division III College World Series. He guided the 1997 and 1998 teams to third-place finishes at the national tournament, finishing a game short of a shot at a national championship. Owens went 245-82-1 in his eight seasons with Cortland State and was named the New York Regional Coach of the Year and the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year four times each.

Playing Experience
Owens is a 1987 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in sport and leisure studies. Playing baseball and football at St. Lawrence, he was named a two-time MVP in baseball playing at both third base and shortstop. He finished his career with a .349 batting average, including .454 as a senior, and stole 73 bases in 80 attempts. In football, he led the team in rushing his junior and senior seasons, scoring 18 career touchdowns, and was named offensive MVP as well as Outstanding Senior Athlete. He has been inducted into the St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame (Fall 2010), the Cortland State Hall of Fame (Fall 2017) and the Greater Utica Hall of Fame (June 2019).

Drafted by the Chicago Cubs as a third baseman, Owens spent two seasons with the organization, including stints in Geneva (New York-Penn League champions) and with the Charleston (W.Va.) Cubs in the South Atlantic League.

Following his playing days, Owens began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in football and baseball at Ithaca College, where he received a Master of Science degree in 1991.

Personal
Owens, born July 4, 1965, and his wife, Catharine, have three children, Jack, Sam and Jane.

Mike Garza | Associate Head Coach/Hitting/Recruiting

Mike Garza enters his second season as the hitting coach for Rutgers baseball, a role he was promoted to in July 2023. Garza is in his fourth overall season with the program and oversees RU's hitters, infield defense and assists with recruiting.

"Mike will enter his third year in our program and will take over the primary hitting responsibilities with our team," head coach Steve Owens said at the time of his promotion in 2023. "As he did with our infield, Mike will establish strong relationships with our hitters and develop specific plans to help them perform consistently. He is excited to get to work on evaluating our strengths and building our 2024 offense around them."

Garza earned the promotion after two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the Scarlet Knights, where he was responsible for turning RU into one of the premier defensive teams in the country, while also assisting with hitting, baserunning and recruiting.   

In Garza's first year leading the offense in 2024, he helped Rutgers post the Big Ten's best batting average at .307, also overseeing a team that led the conference with 571 hits, ranked second in hit-by-pitches, third in stolen bases, third in triples, fourth in double plays, fourth in fielding percentage, fifth in on-base percentage and fifth in runs.

Under Garza's leadership, junior shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named Big Ten Player of the Year, the first time since Rutgers joined the conference in 2015 that a player received a major award from the Big Ten. After hitting .298 as a sophomore, Kuroda-Grauer broke out to lead the country with 95 hits, lead the Big Ten with a .428 average, added five home runs, 19 doubles, 45 RBI and 24 stolen bases. Kuroda-Grauer was also named All-Big Ten First Team, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist (top shortstop in country), a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist (top amateur player in country) and a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist (national player of the year).

In 2023, Garza helped lead the Scarlet Knights to their second straight 30-win season and oversaw a defense that ranked fourth in the Big Ten with a .976 fielding percentage, despite new starters at all four infield spots. RU also turned 54 double plays, which led the Big Ten and was sixth in the country.

Under Garza's guidance, shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is given annually to the top shortstop in the country. After moving from second base to shortstop, Kuroda-Grauer saw increased offensive production across the board and established himself as an elite defender at a premier position, committing just six errors on the season and posting a .973 fielding percentage. After the season, Kuroda-Grauer received an invitation to USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team training camp.

In his first season on the Banks in 2022, Garza played a critical role in Rutgers having the best defense in the Big Ten. The emergence of an elite defense helped RU set a program record with 44 wins. The Scarlet Knights led the conference in fielding percentage, finishing the campaign with a mark of .980, including a .985 fielding percentage in the infield.

The middle infield duo of shortstop Danny DiGeorgio and second baseman Josh Kuroda-Grauer proved to be one of the best in the country, with DiGeorgio being named a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in college baseball. Kuroda-Grauer committed just one error the entire season, while serving as the team's every day starter at second base. Additionally, Tony Santa Maria and DiGeorgio each earned a spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays for diving catches made in the series against Indiana.

Before arriving at Rutgers, Garza spent the three seasons (2019-21) on the Virginia staff as the program's coordinator of video and scouting. The Cavaliers advanced to the College World Series in 2021, including winning four-straight elimination games in regional play.

Garza previously worked as an assistant coach at Navy in 2018. The Midshipmen posted 38 wins, the second most in program history, en route to the Patriot League Championship series.

Garza, who was drafted in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, spent four seasons in the Brewers' minor league system. During that time, he played in 260 combined games over the Rookie, Low-A and Advanced-A levels, with a .283 batting average, 91 runs scored, 66 extra-base hits and 95 RBIs. In 2015 and 2016, Garza joined the independent ranks and played with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. As a corner infielder in 113 games, he compiled a .290 batting average with 55 runs, 39 extra-base hits and 66 RBIs in his two seasons.

Prior to professional baseball, Garza's collegiate playing career began at Stanford University before transferring to Georgetown University following his freshman season. As a member of the Hoyas, Garza suited up in the infield for 110 games and earned All-Big East First Team and ABCA All Mid-East Region playing honors in 2012.

His prowess in the regular season college ranks came in addition to his success on the summer baseball circuit with accolades including a nod as a 2010 Valley Baseball League All-Star and 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League Playoff MVP. As a member of the Harwich Mariners of the CCBL in 2011, Garza spearheaded the team's title run and second league championship in four seasons.

A 2012 graduate of Georgetown University, Garza is a native of San Antonio, Texas, where he grew up and played high school baseball. Helping guide his team to two Texas 5-A State Playoff berths, Garza finished his prep career with a number of accolades including being named the 2008 Texas High School Baseball Player of the Year.

Garza is the oldest of three with both of his brothers, Eric (Georgetown, TCU) and Ramon (Cornell) also having established Division I baseball careers. Garza resides in New Jersey with his wife, Danielle, their son, Marcus and daughter, Gabriella.

Mike McRae | Associate Head Coach/Pitching

A veteran of college baseball, Mike McRae was hired as associate head coach/pitching coach for Rutgers baseball in July 2024.

McRae is an established veteran of college baseball who brings over 25 years of Division I experience to the Scarlet Knights, having most recently served as the head coach at William & Mary from 2022-24.

“Mike is an outstanding baseball coach who has recruited talented players and developed winning programs for many years,” Owens said. “He will be responsible for all aspects of our pitching staff where he has had tremendous success. We are excited about his addition to our coaching staff and look forward to the impact he will have on our players.”

"I am extremely excited to join a high-level staff at an amazing institution of higher learning, as Rutgers enters the first year in the new Big Ten,” McRae said. “I cannot wait to serve a great group of players and to be transformational in their quest to improve."

In his time in Williamsburg, McRae led the Tribe to three straight winning seasons and three consecutive appearances in the CAA Tournament. William & Mary’s pitching staff posted an ERA of 4.39 during his tenure, which ranked second in the CAA in that timespan. In each of his three seasons, a Tribe player received a player of the year honor from the conference, highlighted by 2024 CAA Pitcher of the Year Nate Knowles, who posted an 8-3 record with a 2.48 ERA, 112 strikeouts and a .178 batting average against in 80 innings of work.

Prior to his stint at William & Mary, McRae served as the pitching coach at VCU from 2018-21. With the Rams, McRae helped the program win the A-10 Tournament championship in 2021 and mentored six pitchers who went on to play in MLB organizations. VCU posted a team ERA under 4.00 in three of McRae’s four seasons as pitching coach.

Before VCU, McRae had a decorated 13-year career as the head coach at Canisius. where he was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 2008, 2010 and 2014. Prior to his arrival, the Golden Griffins won just four games apiece from 2002-04. He went on to lead Canisius to 11 straight appearances in the MAAC tournament, three regular season titles and two tournament championships with two NCAA Regional appearances.

McRae’s first head coaching job came at Niagara, where he led the Purple Eagles to a 14-win improvement from year one to year two, finishing with back-to-back appearances in the MAAC Tournament and a 41-36 record in conference. He earned MAAC Coach of the Year in 2003.

McRae began his Division I coaching career as an assistant at Niagara in 1996, working with the Purple Eagles for two seasons before taking a job as an assistant at Winthrop in 1998. He then served an assistant for the three seasons at Maine from 1999-2001 before taking the head job at Niagara.

In addition to his collegiate experience, McRae coached the Canadian Youth National Team at the 1996 and 1997 World Championships. He served as a guest coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training in 1997. He also coached Team USA’s 16U program in 2019.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, McRae graduated from Colby College in 1991, where he played baseball and hockey for the Mules. He also received a master’s degree from Niagara in 1993. McRae has a daughter, Madison, and a son, Mason.

Danny Bethea | Assistant Coach

Danny Bethea enters his second year as an assistant coach for Rutgers in 2025, after joining the program August 2023. In his role, Bethea coaches the Scarlet Knight catchers, assists with hitting/offensive development, recruiting as well as coach first base. Bethea joined RU after five years on the coaching staff at St. John’s – including his last four as the Red Storm’s hitting coach.

“Danny has a great resume both as a player and coach. We are so excited to have him join our program and start working with our players,” head coach Steve Owens said. “His knowledge and enthusiasm combined with a great personality will be a huge asset. We welcome Dan, Jen, Owen and Hailey to our baseball family for a long and successful run!”

In 2024, Bethea helped oversee an offense that posted the Big Ten's best batting average at .307, led the conference with 571 hits, ranked second in hit-by-pitches, third in stolen bases, third in triples, fourth in double plays, fourth in fielding percentage, fifth in on-base percentage and fifth in runs.

Bethea also helped with the development of shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer, who was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2024, the first time since Rutgers joined the conference in 2015 that a player received a major award from the Big Ten. After hitting .298 as a sophomore, Kuroda-Grauer broke out to lead the country with 95 hits, lead the Big Ten with a .428 average, added five home runs, 19 doubles, 45 RBI and 24 stolen bases. Kuroda-Grauer was named All-Big Ten First Team, a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist (top shortstop in country), a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist (top amateur player in country) and a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist (national player of the year).

In 2023, Bethea mentored a pair of All-Big East selections in Aaron Mann and David Glancy, as the Johnnies posted a 28-25 record. Mann led the Big East with a .371 average, adding a 1.010 OPS and 102 total bases. Glancy led St. John’s with 13 home runs and 105 total bases, while boasting an OPS of 1.008. As a team, the Red Storm ranked second in the Big East with a .296 batting average and 112 doubles.

He mentored another pair of All-Big East selections in 2022, with Kevin Michaels (First Team) and Tate Ballestero (Second Team) both earning all-conference honors. Michaels paced the Johnnies with a .932 OPS and 46 RBIs, while Ballestero led the team with a .333 average, 69 hits and a .427 OBP.

In 2021, his first full season as a full-time assistant, Bethea saw two position players earn spots on the All-BIG EAST First Team: Marty Higgins and Carson Bartels.  Higgins, a redshirt freshman, hit .333 on the year, including a .360 mark in BIG EAST play.   

In Bethea’s first season on staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2019, he helped St. John’s turn in the league’s second highest batting average and finish in the top half of the conference in nearly every single offensive category.  At the time, the Red Storm turned in a winning record for the 29th time in the past 30 seasons and secured a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament for a league-record 16th consecutive year.  Individually, Mike Antico and Wyatt Mascarella were unanimously selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team, with Antico finishing in the top 25 nationally in both batting average (.386) and on-base percentage (.500).

Bethea starred as a catcher for St. John’s in 2012 and 2013, starting 105 of the 107 games during that stretch.  Bethea holds the distinction of belting one of the most memorable home runs in the history of St. John’s baseball.  With the Johnnies trailing host North Carolina, 4-2, in the bottom of the ninth of the second game of the 2012 Chapel Hill Regional, Bethea launched a three-run walk-off homer, propelling the Red Storm to victory and helping the program secure its first-ever berth in an NCAA Super Regional.

Bethea was selected in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox.  He spent the next six seasons with the organization, rising as high as Triple-A Pawtucket and spending a majority of the 2016 and 2017 seasons with Double-A Portland, spending time as both a catcher and pitcher in pro ball.

Bethea resides with his wife, Jen, and the two have a son, Owen and daughter, Hailey.

Jack Arend | Director of Player Development

Jack Arend joined Rutgers baseball as Director of Player Development in August 2023. In his role, Arend oversees video and data collection, utilizes Synergy and TrackMan technology to assist the coaching staff and helps with scouting opponents. Arend is also the primary contact and administrator for all camps and clinics throughout the year.

"Jack’s background and experience is a perfect fit for this role and his addition to our staff and will enhance our program in many ways," head coach Steve Owens said.

Arend joined Rutgers after spending the 2023 season as the volunteer assistant at Monmouth. With the Hawks, he was the catching coach and assisted with hitters, while also serving as camp coordinator.

Before joining Monmouth, Arend spend 2022 at Dartmouth, where he worked with infielders and assisted with hitters. He helped guide the Big Green to a .971 fielding percentage, ranking second in the Ivy League while assisting in the development of three All-Ivy League players.

Arend also gained coaching experience in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League with the Brockton Rox in the summer of 2021. He served as a Graduate Assistant for Nichols College in Fall 2021, where he oversaw the catchers and was the head JV coach.

A four-year starting catcher at Bates College in Maine, Arend received First Team All-NESCAC honors in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Co-Defensive Player of the Year during his Junior season. Arend finished his collegiate career at Nichols, where he earned a master's degree in organizational leadership and was named Third Team All-CCC.

A native of Newfields, New Hampshire, Arend also had a standout high school career at St. John's Preparatory School in Massachusetts. 

Peter Barron | Director of Operations & Program Development

Peter Barron enters his eighth year on the Rutgers baseball staff in 2025. As the director of baseball operations and program development for the Scarlet Knights, Barron oversees all administrative aspects of the program, including on-campus recruiting, opponent analysis, game preparation, practice reviews and organizing team travel among other duties. He also supervises a group of student managers, helps with fundraising and is the liaison to departments within athletics.

Before arriving in Piscataway, Barron spent two seasons as the director of baseball operations at St. John's. He helped with all aspects of the program, including apparel, equipment, team travel, meals, video, statistics and game charts. Barron also oversaw a staff of five student managers, assisted with team community service and served as the liaison between the coaching staff and departments within athletics.

Barron started off as a student manager for the Red Storm in Sept. 2012 and served three seasons before joining the staff as a graduate assistant. He managed equipment and player development video among other duties, working as the head manager in 2014 and 2015.

In addition to working in operations, Barron has coaching experience with summer teams and camps. He served as an assistant coach for the Shelter Island Bucks in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League during the summers of 2016 and 2017, coaching third base, handling roster construction, community outreach and mentoring the position players.

Originally from Long Valley, New Jersey, Barron owns two degrees from St. John's. He earned his master's in sports management in 2017 and his bachelor's in marketing in 2015. Barron currently resides in Butler, New Jersey with his fiancée, Emily.