SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball rounded out its coaching staff for the 2021-2022 season this week with the hirings of Erich Pfohl as an assistant coach and Ryan Kirby as a volunteer assistant coach. Head coach Brock Ungricht made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

Pfohl joins the Toreros from Hope International University in Fullerton, California, where he served as the first head coach in Royals history and steered the program to a 135-101-1 record in his six years at the helm.

"I'm really excited to add Erich to our staff," Ungricht said. "He brings a dynamic background being a head coach and having had a part-time scouting role, and is very well respected and connected throughout the state of California and the western region. Erich is a tireless worker, recruiter, and baseball coach."

Hope International (NAIA) earned two conference titles and three consecutive postseason appearances under Pfohl's guidance, including a Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) regular-season title in 2017 and a GSAC Tournament Championship in 2019. Eight of Pfohl's players at HIU earned All-GSAC honors, four were named GSAC Gold Glove Team Selections, one was selected as the GSAC Pitcher of the Year (Dominic Potlongo, 2019), and three were NAIA All-American Selections.

"I'm extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity at such a tradition-rich program that has a history of success," Pfohl said. "I look forward to being involved in that, getting our family down there, and having the chance to work with wonderful people at a great university."

Pfohl began his coaching career in 2007 at Warren High School after three seasons (2004-2006) as a pitcher for the Whittier College Poets. His stops previous to HIU included Cypress College, the Cape Cod League, the Northwoods League, Vanguard University, and Cal State Dominguez Hills, where he coached nine-year MLB veteran Kevin Pillar.

A native of Moraga, California, Pfohl has two children with his wife Kristina: daughter Chloe McKenna and son Gavin Reece.

Kirby, a three-year standout for the Toreros as a player from 2014-2016, joins San Diego as a coach after a four-year professional career with the Giants organization that began when he was selected in the 12th round (365th overall pick) of the 2016 MLB Draft by San Francisco. Kirby compiled a .241 average with 30 home runs, 72 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and 180 RBIs in 308 minor-league games as a first baseman and outfielder.

"I think it's important to have Ryan be a part of our staff because his playing experience was at such a high level, collegiately and professionally," Ungricht said. "He was on our staff two years ago as a student-coach and gained a ton of respect and credibility with our current players. He's going to make an instant impact with helping our hitters on the offensive side of things."

Kirby's time at USD saw the Livermore, California native bat .301 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, and 58 RBIs in 115 games and help lead USD to the 2015 West Coast Conference Championship.

"I'm really excited to get going," Kirby said. "I've always been drawn toward coaching and there's no other coach that I would want to get my start under than Coach Ungricht. I think he's a great guy, a great leader, and just to be around his knowledge of the game, Coach Florer's knowledge of the game, and Coach Pfohl's knowledge of the game, I don't think there could be a better place for me to get started."