Erik Bakich joins the Vanderbilt baseball staff in 2003 after coaching beside Tim Corbin last season at Clemson. Bakich will head Vanderbilt's recruiting efforts as well as instruct outfielders and hitters.

A volunteer coach on Jack Leggett's 2002 Clemson coaching staff, Bakich helped direct the Tigers to the 2002 College World Series, assisting infielders, outfielders and hitters.

Bakich joined Clemson prior to the 2002 season after working as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at East Carolina. A talented collegiate player at East Carolina, Bakich was a key member of Pirates' squads that won consecutive Colonial Athletic Association championships in 1999 and 2000. The two-year letterman was named to the NCAA All-Regional team (Baton Rouge, La.) as a junior and earned All-CAA honors as a senior. He posted a .315 career batting average with 14 home runs and 85 RBI at east Carolina.

Bakich graduated from East Carolina in 2000 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He has been a certified personal trainer for the past six years and in 2001 was fitness director for Sports Connection, a performance enhancing company specializing in baseball- and softball-specific training for young athletes. Bakich also has been a consultant for other training programs for high school, college and minor league players.

Bakich started his collegiate career at San Jose City College in California, where he lettered as a third baseman from 1997-1998. He took All-Conference and All-Northern California honors as a sophomore, batting .452.

Bakich signed a professional contract with the Springfield Capitals of the Frontier League in the Independent Professional Baseball League in 2000. He played professional baseball into 2001 before taking the assistant strength coach position at East Carolina.

The Bakich File

Personal:
Full Name: Erik Michael Bakich
Born: 11/27/77 in San Jose, Calif.
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Education:
Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, Calif., 1996
San Jose City College, 1997-1998
East Carolina, B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science, 2000

Playing Experience:
Two-year letterman as a third baseman at San Jose City College in San Jose, Calif., 1997-1998. Earned All-Conference and All-Northern California accolades as a sophomore
Two-year letterman as a third baseman at East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., 1999-2000. Named to the NCAA All-Regional team (Baton Rouge, La.) as a junior and earned All-CAA Conference honors as a senior
Signed professional contract with the Springfield Capitals of the Frontier
League in the Independent Professional Baseball League, 2000

Coaching Experience:
Assistant strength and conditioning coach at East Carolina, 2001
Volunteer assistant coach at Clemson, 2002
Assistant coach at Vanderbilt, 2003-