Head Coach Jason Smith
Coach Smith has returned for a second stint with our organization. He was an assistant coach with the Orange County Scorpions in 2000 and our head coach in 2001. The team won a record 35 games in 2001 and finished 10th place at the NBC World Series. Coach Smith's 2001 team produced two NBC All Americans and had 10 players sign professional contracts.
Jason Smith is one of the most respected and highly regarded amateur baseball coaches in Southern California. Smith has been a fixture in Southern California baseball since his playing days at Chapman University, where he became an assistant coach in 1995. Serving as an assistant coach at Chapman in 1995-1999 and again in 2000-2002, he assisted the team to Division III World Series appearances in 1997 and 20001, as well as five playoff berths. He coached six All Americans, 21 All-West Region Players, and four players went on to the pros.
He became associate head coach at Irvine Valley College from 2004 to 2010, where Smith helped guide the team to its first playoff appearance in 2005, then again in 2008, when they produced the most wins in the school’s history. While at IVC, Smith helped coach two All-Americans, 15 All Orange Empire Conference Players, placed 17 players in Division 1 schools, and three players signed to play professionally. Besides his collegiate coaching experience, Smith served as head high school coach for both La Quinta High School and Costa Mesa High School and has been a long-time member of the Southern California club baseball community the past 14 years as a head coach for several major 18U Connie Mack and Collegiate League teams.
Smith served as head coach for LEGIT’s Blue Wave 18 Connie Mack teams from 2005 to 2012 that produced 60+ collegiate baseball players, including 15 D1 players, 1 NCAA National Champion, two NCAA World Series participants, and three professional players during his tenure. His Connie Mack teams have won numerous league titles and he was a coach for the Blue Wave 2011 Under Armour Southwest Championships team, as well as the 2012 runner-up team.
With a Masters of Education from National University and Masters in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. Coach Smith is currenlty coaching at Brea High School. Jason is married and has four kids at home.
Pitching Coach Jordan Oseruga
Coach Oseguera begins his first summer with the Riptide.
Oseguera preped at Taylorsville High School in Salt Lake City, Utah under ABCA coach of the year Steve Cramblit. During his time at Taylorsville he posted the single season record for saves for the state of Utah.
After Taylorsville he went on to the College of Southern Idaho and played under ABCA hall of fame coach Skip Walker, and Boomer Walker. After Southern Idaho he went to Vanguard University and played for the regional team in 2010.
Oseguera played professionally with the Yuma Scorpions, Tijuana Cimmarones, Roswell Invaders, Ruidoso Osos, and the McCallen Thunder. Once finished playing he began working under Tom House, for the National Pitching Association located at USC.
In his first year as the pitching coach at Vanguard University, the pitching staff lowered the teams ERA from 5.73 to 4.17. Additionally, the team's opposing batting average lowered from .288 to .271. From the group of eligible players three were offered professional contracts and of those three, two chose to continue their playing career at the higher level. Kamakani Usui signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Travis Tomsen signed with the Freedom League of Professional Baseball.
Jordan's coaching experience also includes Calvary Chapel HS in Costa Mesa where the pitching staff posted a 1.56 ERA, and as a player coach for the Ruidoso Osos who were runner up in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball.
Jordan's passion for coaching will set an excellent foundation for our ball clubs and our pitching staff.