The Arizona baseball program announced two hirings on Thursday. Toby DeMello joins Chip Hale’s staff as an assistant coach and Will Gaines has been tabbed as the new director of operations.
DeMello joins the Wildcats after three seasons at Sacramento State. He started as the Hornets’ director of operations and analytics in 2019 before moving into the volunteer assistant role for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. His primary duties included serving as the team’s catching coach, assisting with the hitters, aligning the defense, and coaching first base.
DeMello has also coached at Southern Illinois (2018), Occidental College (2017), and Sierra College (2016-17). He played collegiately at Saint Mary’s College in California. DeMello was selected as a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award in 2012 and earned All-West Coast Conference recognition in 2011.
Help us welcome Assistant Coach @TobyDemello to Tucson! ⚾ #BearDown
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) July 22, 2021
Gaines, a UA grad, returns to Arizona after three years at San Diego—two as the Toreros’ director of baseball operations and one as their director of player development.
Before that, he was an intern for the San Diego Padres where he worked with the team’s Triple-A club, managing game video, providing video access to players, coaches, and front office personnel, and compiling scouting reports on opposing teams.
That was after Gaines was a support staffer at Arizona in 2016 and 2017. Among other things, he served as the bullpen catcher and helped set up, and break down, the field for practices and games.
He said it…
Hale on Gaines: “Welcoming Will back to Tucson is an exciting development for our program. He is a high-character individual with a passion for Arizona Baseball, two important qualities we’re looking for on our support staff. I look forward to leaning on his experience in baseball operations to round out a world-class experience for our student-athletes.”
Hale on DeMello: “Coach DeMello is tremendous addition to our staff who will greatly advance the development of our student-athletes. His experience as both a Division I and professional athlete helps him connect with his players and build their skill sets for long-term success. Coach DeMello has won everywhere he has gone, and I expect that trend to continue as we look to make our push back to Omaha.”
Info courtesy of UA press release