Dennis Pugh has been the head coach for the Cal State San Marcos baseball team since its inception in 2007.
In 2015, Pugh presided over a squad that went 36-17 and captured its third A.I.I. Conference Championship in five seasons. The Cougars, who broke more than 20 team and individual program records, set a new record with their 36 wins.
The 2014 Cougars reached the 30-win mark once again, finishing with a 30-18 record. CSUSM reached the conference semifinals after defeating top-seed Georgia Gwinnett College, 5-4.Â
Pugh led the Cougars to a 26-23 overall mark during the 2012 campaign, as CSUSM captured the No. 1-seed for the A.I.I. Tournament which was held on campus for the first time. CSUSM had its first player named NAIA All-America when senior Austin Coleman was elected to the honorable mention squad. In addition, Anthony Renteria became the second Cougar player to be drafted into Major League Baseball when the San Diego Padres selected him in the 39th Round.
In 2011, Pugh guided CSUSM to a program-best 34-19 record and an A.I.I. crown. The Cougars went on to finish third in the NAIA national tournament, its highest finish in program history. Johnny Omahen became the first-ever Cougar to be drafted into the MLB under Pugh when Omahen was selected in the 35th round by the Florida Marlins.
Pugh oversaw the construction and design of the CSUSM Baseball Field, which opened on January 28, 2011 to provide the Cougars with their first-ever home game on campus. The stadium opened to accomodate over 1,000 fans as CSUSM put together a three-run ninth inning to overtake Vanguard, 8-7.
CSUSM went 18-23 in its first season as a program in 2007, but Pugh turned in the first of five-consecutive winning seasons in 2008 when the Cougars went 22-16-1. CSUSM won 27 (27-16) games the following year and qualified for its first-ever NAIA tournament in 2009. The Cougars won 30 games for the first time in 2010 (31-15-1), but narrowly missed out on a trip back to the NAIA Tournament.
In all, Pugh has coached five players at CSUSM who have signed an MLB contract. In addition to the two players drafted, Adam Bileckyi and Johnny Holtman signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels in 2011, respectively. Chris Skaaleen became the first Cougar to sign a professional contract when the Oakland Athletics invited him to camp in 2010.
Prior to his time at CSUSM, Pugh spent 27 years as head baseball coach at Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach, guiding the team to 18 Western League championships, eight CIF titles and 12 appearances in CIF championship games. The team won a state championship and was nationally ranked as high as No. 2. Pugh also coached football during his tenure at MBHS, leading the Buccaneers to two CIF titles in 2000 and 2001. He coached current Houston Texans running back Arian Foster for two seasons while at MBHS.
In his last two years at Mission Bay, Pugh coached two players selected in the first round in the Major League Baseball Draft. Shortstop and pitcher Matt Bush was selected with the first overall pick in 2004 by the San Diego Padres, and power-hitting first baseman Henry Sanchez was selected 39th by the Minnesota Twins in 2005. Pugh has coached numerous other players who were drafted, as well as many who received college scholarships to play baseball. The 2005-2006 season was the last at Mission Bay for coach Pugh, who was also the school's athletic director.
Served in the U.S. Marine Corp and fought in Vietnam where he received the Purple Heart.Â
Coach Pugh lives in Solana Beach.
