SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball has completed their 2019-20 coaching staff with the addition of Thomas Walker, who joins the Spartans from Golden West College. He will serve as the team's hitting coach. Head coach Brad Sanfilippo made the announcement. Additionally, Spencer Erdman joins the Spartans as a volunteer assistant.
"We are excited to announce the hiring of Thomas Walker," Sanfilippo said. "Coach Walker is a bright young coach with impressive experience early in his coaching career. He has a track record of building relationships and developing players at the junior college level and as a manager in a high profile summer collegiate league. His experience recruiting accomplished college players for his role as the manager of the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League and his experience recruiting at Golden West Junior College in Southern California will allow him to transition to the recruiting coordinator in the Mountain West Conference."
Walker spent two seasons as an assistant coach for GWC, located in Huntington Beach, California. As part of the Rustlers' staff, he worked with players on and off the field, instructing them in both fielding and hitting.
Walker split time last season with the Rustlers' and the Rochester Honkers, a summer league team based in Rochester, Minnesota, as the team's field manager. In the role, he was responsible for player development and served as a team mentor.
Walker's coaching career started early as he became a youth travel baseball coach straight out of high school, where he was a three-year varsity baseball player. He played collegiately for the University of California Riverside from 2012-16 and was a three-time captain. In 2014, he was selected as a first team All-Big West Outfielder.
"Our players will gain valuable insight as Coach Walker players for some legendary coaches in his college career," Sanfilippo added. "We are excited to welcome Coach Walker to SJSU."
Erdman joins the Spartans from Santa Barbara City College where was an assistant coach for the Vaqueros' baseball program. A native of Santa Clara, he played two seasons of collegiate baseball at Santa Barbara CC before transferring to LMU for his final two seasons. As a Lion, Erdman was a career .311 hitter with 55 runs scored, 20 doubles, three triples and 42 RBI while starting 83 games and was a 2017 honorable mention All-WCC selection.