SAN DIEGO — Joshua Mickles and
Ryan Ferron have been added to the San Diego Baseball coaching staff, as announced by head coach
Brock Ungricht on Wednesday afternoon.
Mickles will serve as the program's Director of Player Development, and Ferron will take over the Director of Baseball Operations role.
Mickles joins the Toreros after a decorated military career as a Force Recon Marine, a post he has served in since 2010. He brings more than 10,000 hours of formal instruction in team building and stress management as a Certified Master Instructor mentoring Marines aged 18-24. While forward deployed, the 29-year-old received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal for leadership, and Mickles was named the 2020 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Team Leader of the Year as well as the 2021 Force Reconnaissance Team Leader of the Year.
"I am excited to welcome Josh to our baseball family," said Ungricht. "He brings a wealth of leadership experience to our program as he has received numerous awards as a leader serving our country. He has already earned the respect of our team and is a great fit with our players."
In his role as USD's Director of Player Development, Mickles will apply his battle-tested team building philosophy to the program, as well as work with players to manage in-game stress and off the field stress to help them perform at their peak level.
Ferron rejoins the Toreros after serving as an undergraduate student manager for the Toreros from 2018-2021 and graduating from USD with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Business Analytics in 2021. He most recently completed a one-season stint with the San Diego Padres organization as a Minor League Video Intern, working with the club's Low-A West Affiliate, the Lake Elsinore Storm last year. While with the Storm, Ferron Cut video for scouting and player development using BATS software during games, compiled weekly scouting reports for opposing hitters for pitching coach and staff, assisted coaches and staff in bullpens with Rapsodo and Insight camera, and assisted in player development meetings involving Hawkeye motion software, building off of similar duties he fulfilled as a student manager with USD.
"We are very happy to welcome Ryan back to our program after his stint with the San Diego Padres and I am excited with his new role as the Director of Baseball Operations." Ungricht said. "He is well respected throughout our baseball program and does an unbelievable job with analytics for our players."
In his current role as the Toreros' Director of Baseball Operations, the Irvine, California native will oversee expenses, travel, and food for players and coaches, act as a liaison to MLB scouts, coordinate with student managers to compile analytics, and work at USD-affiliated showcases and camps.
The Toreros are set to begin their 2022 season on February 18 at Fowler Park against Oregon.
