LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola Athletics announces Jeff Calhoon as its new head baseball coach. Calhoon will be the 11th head coach in the 60-year history of the program. He comes to Biola after spending last season as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Point Loma.

"We are thrilled to have Jeff Calhoon as the next leader for this Biola Baseball program," said Associate Athletic Director Eddie Shepard. "He brings with him a fire for coaching and mentoring young men, and he's been groomed for this position with years of experience as an assistant coach in some very successful programs."

Prior to his year at Point Loma, Calhoon was an assistant coach at UC San Diego for three seasons and Westmont College the two years before that. Calhoon's teams went 232-114 over his six years as an assistant coach. In his four years with NCAA Division II programs, the teams made NCAA postseason three times, including twice advancing to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship. Both of his seasons at Westmont he helped the Warriors to NAIA postseason berths, including a 2014 Golden State Athletic Conference tournament championship.

"First, I want to thank Dr. Bethany Miller and Eddie Shepard for the opportunity they have given to me to take over the baseball program at Biola," said Calhoon. "Biola Baseball has a great history of developing men in every aspect of their lives and having success on and off the field. This is an opportunity that excites and allows me to come to work every day with a team and athletic department that is ready to take the next step in their commitment to success."

Calhoon played his college ball at NCAA Division I Niagara University. He was a catcher for the Purple Eagles, appearing in 59 games over his two seasons with the program. Prior to his time at Niagara he was an all-conference player at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington. He's originally from Laguna Hills, California and spent most of his life in Snohomish, Washington.

As an assistant coach Calhoon worked with a lot with the catchers on his teams, grooming at least one of his catchers to all-conference honors in each of the last three seasons. 

On Dec. 3, 2016, Calhoon was chosen to be among the speakers at San Diego State as part of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Barnstormers 2016 West Coast Clinics, presenting a session on base running. He's also presented on catching at the same clinic. In 2019 he was invited to speak on catching at the ABCA national coaches convention.

"Winning and player development have seemed to follow Jeff around and it is apparent after you spend time with him that he played a central role in that," said Jeremy Sheetinger, assistant executive director for the ABCA. "His dedication to learning, possessing an insatiable drive on the recruiting trails and the unique ability to get the most from his players makes Biola a program to watch under his guidance and leadership."

Calhoon's time at Point Loma and Westmont prepare him well for taking the reigns of a competitive baseball program at a faith-based institution.

"The experiences and people I have been able to spend time learning from over the past six seasons have been powerful and enriching. There are too many people, both coaches and mentors, to thank for their investment and development in me as a leader and baseball coach," said Calhoon. "Now being postseason eligible at the NCAA level allows for our team, our coaching staff and our university to rally behind a goal of playing in the postseason every year. I am very excited to get to work with our student-athletes towards this goal."

He earned a B.S. in communication studies while playing at Niagara and then went on to attain an M.A. in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia Irvine. 

"Coach Calhoon really understands baseball, and he understands how to help his players reach their full potential," said Shepard. "This is evidenced by all the awards his catchers have won and the double-digit numbers of MLB draft picks coming from his previous stops. We look forward to him helping Biola Baseball reach new heights."

Calhoon inherits a Biola Baseball program that went 29-19 in 2019 and returns its full starting infield from a year ago. An infield that saw each member earn All-PacWest honors. He will also benefit from the return from injury of offensive standouts Jacob Portaro and Ryan Gallegos. 

Biola Baseball's spring season begins with a home series against the west region's No. 4 team, CSU Monterey Bay, on Jan. 30 - Feb. 1.