Fullerton College names Chad Baum, ex-Titan player and coach, to lead baseball program

Chad Baum played and coached at Cal State Fullerton. (Photo courtesy Fullerton College sports information)

Fullerton College athletic officials on Wednesday announced the hiring of long-time Cal Sate Fullerton assistant coach Chad Baum as the Hornets’ new head baseball coach.

Baum will be the 10th head coach in the program’s long history that goes back to 1937 under Coach Art Nunn.

“We are very excited to have Coach Baum on our campus, and we welcome him to our Hornet family. I know he is ready for the challenge to teach classes and work with his new team. Chad has a successful track record as a coach, recruiter, and mentor, and we look forward to him carrying on the Hornet baseball tradition,” said Fullerton College Dean of Physical Education Dr. David Grossman. 

Baum takes over the reigns after head coach Nick Fuscardo retired in the spring of 2018 after serving as the Hornet skipper since 1986. Fuscardo wrapped up his illustrious career with 665 wins, the most in the program’s history.

Baum had spent 13 season seasons with the Titans (2000-04 and 2012-2019) and has the fourth longest tenure as a Titan behind the legendary coach Augie Garrido, George Horton and Rick Vanderhook.

“My family and I are very excited to join the Hornet family, I want to thank President Greg Schultz, Athletic Director Scott Giles, Dean of Physical Education David Grossman and the entire hiring committee,” Baum said. “Fullerton College is an outstanding place where  students can become successful learners, develop leadership skills as well prepare them for real life situations. I cannot express how happy I am to be a part of the Fullerton College family.”

Baum just finished his 20th Division 1 season as an assistant coach. The last eight seasons he has served as an assistant at Cal State Fullerton and has been the recruiting coordinator for the last three seasons bringing in the 16th recruiting class by D1 baseball. Baum has coached third base while tutoring the team’s hitters and catchers.

A veteran of six College World Series appearances as a Titan player and coach, Baum also spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at both UC Irvine and Santa Clara.

In all, Baum has worked with 22 players that have gone on to play in the major leagues. The current list of active MLB players includes Michael Lorenzen, Kurt Suzuki, Justin Turner, Matt Chapman, JD Davis, Chad Wallach and Thomas Eshelman.

Baum, who graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 2000, was a Titan team captain in 1998 and again in 1999, when Fullerton reached the College World Series. Baum appeared in 38 games over the two-year stretch and hit three home runs in just 44 at-bats. He was also reliable behind the plate, turning in a perfect 1.000 career fielding percentage (70 chances).

Prior to his pair of seasons in a Titan uniform, Baum spent a season each at Santa Ana College and Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Baum batted .306 in 1997 for the Dons, who were ranked No.1 in the country during most of the season. He was selected in the 42nd round of the 1997 draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Baum played high school baseball for Coach Mike Najera at Canyon High in Anaheim Hills and earned honorable mention All-Century League honors. While at Canyon, Baum hit one of nine home runs that set a one-game CIF record for the Comanches.

Baum earned his master’s degree in education in 2005 from Azuza Pacific. He and his wife, Kristin, are raising their two children in Anaheim.

-Courtesy of Fullerton College sports information