June 8, 2018
SAN DIEGO -- University of San Diego head baseball coach Rich Hill is pleased to announce that Brock Ungricht and Matt Florer have been hired as full-time assistant coaches. Both assistant coaches will play key roles with recruiting along with all aspects of the program. Ungricht will be USD's hitting coach while Florer will be the Toreros' pitching coach.
This past two seasons Ungricht, who is from San Diego, was a Southern California Area Scout for the Saint Louis Cardinals organization. Prior to that, he spent six seasons at Stanford University; the final two as a full-time assistant coach under longtime Cardinal skipper Mark Marquess. In his time with the Cardinal, Ungricht coached two first round draft picks (Stephen Piscotty and Alex Blandino), two All-Americans, two freshmen All-Americans, eight All-Pac-12 honorees and a Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Stanford reached three Super Regionals during his tenure on The Farm, and 19 of his players have been drafted. The 2011, 2012 and 2014 Stanford teams each reached the Super Regionals, as Ungricht worked with the team's hitters and catchers.
"Brock Ungricht is a steal for us," said head coach Rich Hill. "He has an excellent coaching pedigree from San Diego State, University of Arizona and Stanford. Combined with his scouting experience with the Cardinals organization, this makes him the perfect guy in today's D1 arena. Brock is very polished at a young age and will bring energy and knowledge to Fowler Park daily!"
In 2009, Ungricht began his coaching career up the street from USD at San Diego's Kearny High, leading the Komets to their first league title in 28 years. He spent three seasons as a student-athlete at San Diego State, batting .373 as a freshman All-American with 48 RBI over 63 games. The corner infielder and catcher finished his Aztec career with a batting average of .318 with 44 doubles and 117 RBI, leaving among the all-time leaders in hits, RBI and total bases.
"I couldn't be more excited to join Coach Hill's staff at the University of San Diego," said Brock Ungricht. "USD is such a prominent institution and I am happy to be a part of it. Coach Hill is a member of a select group of baseball coaches, having won 1,000 games. He has built a very successful program at USD, one which is recognized across the country. I am proud to be joining him to help in continuing that winning tradition. Returning to San Diego with my family and having an opportunity to once again coach college baseball is my dream come true."
Ungricht was picked in the 30th round of the 2006 draft by the New York Yankees, spending a season playing for the Gulf Coast League Yankees before playing for Chico of the Golden Baseball League in 2007. A three-time All-CIF selection as a prep, Ungricht was inducted into the Mission Bay High School (San Diego) Hall of Fame in 2008.
Matt Florer joins the Toreros from Loyola Marymount University where he just completed his fourth season with the Lions, and second as the team's pitching coach. This past season he helped direct the Lions to the WCC Tournament, including a victory over USF in an elimination game where senior Tyler Cohen and freshman Nick Frasso combined for nine shutout innings in a 1-0 victory. Cohen would be named to the WCC All-Tournament Team and was joined by Frasso as All-WCC honorable mention picks.
"Matt is a rising star among national pitching coaches," said head coach Rich Hill. "His ability to communicate is exceptional. His passion for his players to excel is at the forefront of his thought process. He has a great reputation as a development specialist. I couldn't be happier to have him on our staff."
In 2017 Florer helped guide LMU to the 2017 WCC Championship -- the first title for the Lions since 2000. His Lion pitching staff turned in the sixth-best ERA in program history (3.46) and sixth-most victories in a season (38). On the conference and national levels, LMU's hurlers led the WCC in WHIP (1.19) and ERA, while placing 5th and 18th in the nation, respectively. Under Florer's tutelage, junior RHP Cory Abbott earned the WCC Pitcher of the Year award and was a National Pitcher of the Year candidate after going 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA over 15 starts. He was named a First Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and eventual 2017 second round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs.
"First and foremost I'd like to thank Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis and Head Coach Rich Hill for this incredible opportunity," said Matt Florer. " I feel honored to join Coach Hill's esteemed program during his historic twenty-first season, and to help build on his basis of values when coaching and leading a team of young men. I am greatly looking forward to establishing new relationships, practices, and memories as a member of the Torero family."
Prior to his return to the LMU baseball program as a coach, Florer spent the 2014 season serving as the pitching coach at his former school, Mission Viejo High School, where he guided the team to a school record 1.87 team ERA along with helping to develop five pitchers that went on to earn college scholarships. Additionally, Patrick Sandoval was drafted in the 11th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
Away from the diamond, Florer founded the LMU Baseball Academy in 2014. During his LMU tenure he brought in hundreds of local attendees within the Los Angeles community. Additionally, he has hosted more than 40 High School Elite Prospect/Team Camps.
Florer, who finished his playing career as a Lion in 2013, appeared in more than 70 games over his tenure and threw only the second no-hitter in LMU history on April 23, 2013 against Cal State Northridge. Florer's 2011 sophomore campaign might have been his strongest, as the left-hander went 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA over a team-high 26 appearances.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT BROCK UNGRICHT...
Mark Marquess, legendary Stanford head coach -
I think Brock is one of the finest young coaches in college baseball. He worked with me for six years and is a real go-getter. He knows all phases of the game. He was a catcher and he worked with our infielders and hitters, and was our third base coach. But he is a tireless worker and very dedicated. This is a special opportunity for him because it's his home down there with his family, and his mother and father still live in the San Diego area. He's joining a great school with a great facility and is definitely in a good place. If I had a head job today he would be the first guy I hired. He's a tireless recruiter and the high school players relate to him and he knows talent. It's just a great situation for San Diego which is a great academic school and Brock is familiar with that having worked at Stanford. It's just a great fit for everybody.
Alex Blandino, 3B for Cincinnati Reds; former All-American/1st rounder at Stanford -
Brock is a workhorse. Someone who gives his best every single day and is genuinely invested in his players' success. Brock was great to work with, and helped me grow tremendously as a person and as an athlete.
Stephen Piscotty, OF for Oakland A's; former All-American/1st rounder at Stanford -
Coach Brock and I go way back to my college days at Stanford. I could always rely on Brock to be there if I needed extra swings, mechanical help, approach advice, you name it. We formed a strong relationship because of it, and that relationship continues on today. Brock understands how difficult baseball can be and has a great feel for what players need to focus on to improve. I'm grateful for the time spent together working on my game and I credit him immensely for helping me reach the level I'm at today. Proud to call him coach, but also a friend.
Austin Slater, OF for the San Francisco Giants --
As a hitting coach Brock has helped me develop a consistent routine that allowed me to maintain and understand my swing in college. And this routine has translated to the professional level. There isn't one way to hit, and knowing this, Brock was easy to work with developing each individual's swing. There was no `one way or the highway' approach to hitting with Brock which allowed for a back-and-forth conversation to find what worked with each player. And for this reason I've maintained a relationship throughout my journey through the minors and in the big leagues.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT MATT FLORER...
Dan Ricabal, Pitching Coach at Long Beach State -
Solid get by Rich Hill and the University of San Diego in the hiring of Matt Florer. Matt is more than ready for this next chapter in his coaching career. Matt is a smart young coach, he is organized, and he understands the journey of pitching development. There is no doubt Matt Florer will make an immediate impact on the USD pitching staff towards getting them back to the top of the West Coast Conference.
Ted Silva, Associate Head Coach at Nebraska -
Coach Hill and USD have made one of the best hires of the off season with new Pitching Coach Matt Florer. He is one of the bright young stars in this game. Matt is a great communicator and teacher of young men. There is no doubt in my mind that USD will be back in the post season and winning conference championships soon!
Cory Abbott, Chicago Cubs (2017, 2nd Round) -
Flo understands the mentality it takes to become an elite player in this game. Not only does he help you grow and develop as a coach, but he is there for you as a friend. His ability to work with pitchers and understand that not everyone can be cookie cutter is paramount to each and every player's success. He is great at identifying what they do right and gives them ideas to maximize their potential. Working with Flo on my day-to-day plans and the execution of pitch calling has helped tremendously with the continued success I've had thus far in the professional ranks. Flo will instill his hard work, discipline and knack of a killer instinct in his new USD staff that will bring the Toreros back to prominence.
