SAN FRANCISCO –Seth Etherton, a former first team All-American at the University of Southern California and major leaguer whose professional career spanned 13 seasons, has been appointed to the position of pitching coach at the University of San Francisco, head baseball coach Nino Giarratano announced today.
Etherton replaces Greg Moore '01, who was named head coach at Cal State-Northridge on June 21 after a nine-year stay on the Hilltop.
"We are very excited to welcome Seth Etherton to the USF baseball family," said Giarratano. "As a former player who won a national championship and pitched in the major leagues, Seth brings a wealth of knowledge and a great understanding of the game to his position. I'm confident Seth's teaching abilities will be a tremendous asset to a staff of talented pitchers, and USF will continue to be a destination for the top players in college baseball."
"I want to thank Coach Giarratano and his staff for the great experience I had visiting two weeks ago and the great family atmosphere he has instilled within the USF baseball program," said Etherton. "I am extremely excited about being a Don and working with a staff of coaches, faculty and players that are first class and exude greatness throughout every facet of the program. I am humbled by this great opportunity and look forward to getting to work to help develop a National Championship team."
Etherton, 36, compiled a 37-11 record to go along with a 3.60 ERA as a collegian at USC and was twice named the Pac-10 Conference's Pitcher of the Year (1996 and '98). As a senior, he earned first team All-America honors and helped the Trojans win the 1998 College World Series. A first-round selection of the Anaheim Angels in the 1998 First Year Player Draft, Etherton compiled a 9-7 record and a 6.30 ERA in 23 Major League appearances (all starts) with the Angels (2000), Cincinnati (2003), Oakland (2005) and Kansas City (2006).
He retired from professional baseball after pitching for the Quintana Roo Tigres of the Mexican League in 2012.
A native of Dana Hills, Calif., Etherton attended Dana Hills High School before embarking on an outstanding four-year collegiate career at USC.
What They're Saying About Seth Etherton
"Seth is going to be an outstanding coach at USF. He's a proven winner, and a guy that will be able to relate his experiences. His knowledge of pitching is at a very high level, as he has demonstrated both at the college and professional level." John Savage, UCLA head coach
"The USF program will find that Seth is a star. His history as a performer is sensational. I recruited and coached him for four years at USC when he was named Sporting News Player of the Year. His career was unfortunately derailed by injury, otherwise he would have truly had a solid major league career. Seth is uncommonly gifted with no attached arrogance or runaway ego—just confidence, kindness, and a sense of humor. The USF team will love him." Mike Gillespie, UC Irvine head coach and former head coach at USC
"Seth Etherton is the type of person that emanates character, quality and integrity -- he was one of the most prepared pitchers I've ever been around, and he'll be one of the most prepared pitching coaches as well. He understands pitching from a strategic point of view as well as anyone I've ever met. He's the kind of person that has a major impact on people around him." Alan Jaeger, Jaeger Sports
