Baseball Coaching Staff

• Mark Yoshino - Head Coach
• Kevin Miller - Assistant Coach
• Jesse Wight - Assistant Coach
  
• Nate Santiago - Assistant Coach
• Tim Ahern - Assistant Coach
  

Mark Yoshino
Head Coach

Coach Mark Yoshino enters his fourteenth year as Head Coach and nineteenth year of coaching overall at Bellevue. Yoshino was fortunate to take over a team that has only had one losing season in over 30 years. In a day and age where coaching turnover is high at all levels, the consistent success of the baseball program is partly due to the coaching stability at BC. Yoshino follows a short list of baseball coaches at Bellevue, which includes Jim Harryman, Ray Washburn, Bob Albo, Jim Johnson, and his predecessor, Mike Kanzaki. During his tenure at Bellevue, Yoshino has played an active role in the growth of the program to a national scale. The team has been ranked nationally twice (#8 in 2011, #18 in 2007).Since his inception into Bellevue College athletics in 1994, Yoshino has helped over 150 players move on to continue playing baseball and furthering their education at four-year colleges, set a school record for most wins in a season, and increased net fundraising revenue by 50%. He has also helped spearhead greater community involvement to numerous youth baseball leagues on the eastside from the Little League to American Legion level. His commitment to the eastside baseball community is evident by his attendance at youth baseball games in addition volunteering time to numerous coaching clinics as well. Yoshino has also helped cultivate several facility development projects for Courter Field along with an increase in the number of student-athletes graduating with a two-year degree while playing baseball at the college. The team is currently graduating approximately 75% of their sophomores, which is a major success for athletic programs at the community college level. Yoshino has coached 31 players who were drafted by professional teams. He has had twenty pitchers drafted since his inception in '94 with ten signing professionally in the last seven years including two who are currently in the Major Leagues in 2010 MLB All-Star Evan Meek and Los Angeles Dodger reliever Blake Hawksworth.

His first year not only was successful by his own terms, but also was one of the best seasons ever in school history. Yoshino earned North Region Coach of the Year honors for assembling a region championship club. In addition to the team setting a school record for wins, Yoshino felt that the program's greatest accomplishments that year were individual, as ten of twelve second-year players earned a degree. In addition, nine of those were recruited by and placed into four-year college baseball programs. The '02 season will also go down in Bellevue history as one of the greatest teams for their 34-14 record and runner-up finish at the NWAACC Championships. Bellevue finished with the number one ranking in the NWAACC Coaches' Poll in '02 as Yoshino was named Coach of the Year.

2007 was one of the greatest as far as the team goes, but was another success for Coach Yoshino's primary goals: graduation and moving on to a four-year institution. 13 players from the team went to four-year colleges while 9 of them received their transfer degree. A final national ranking of 18th along with winning the school's first NWAACC Championship in over 28 years was just icing on the cake.

In 2009, the team captured their second NWAACC Championship in three years. The team had two junior college All-Americans, two players in the Major League draft, and fifteen players continuing on to play at the four-year level (with nine receiving scholarships to division one universities). Yoshino was named Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association for the Pacific Association Division (all community colleges in Washington, Oregon, and California).

This past season, 2011, was memorable as well. In addition to capturing their third NWAACC title in the last five years, the squad was ranked #8 in the nation and had three players selected in the Major League Amateur draft.

A 1987 Interlake HS grad, Yoshino accumulated several accomplishments as a pitcher in both high school and college. As a junior, Yoshino sported a 0.60 ERA for the 24-1 Saints, who captured the class AAA state championship in addition to a final ranking of 16th in the nation by U.S.A. Today. The following year, Yoshino earned All-KingCo honors as he captained the Saints to a Crest Division title. Yoshino then took the mound at Edmonds CC, compiling a two-year record of 12-1 for Coach Bill Stubbs. In 1989, Edmonds finished second in the NWAACC with a 40-6 record, one of only three teams to win 40 games in the history of NWAACC baseball. Yoshino was named recipient of the Art Feiro Award (first and only Edmonds CC athlete to ever receive this honor), which is presented annually to the top scholar-athlete in the NWAACC.

After a recurring elbow injury ended his playing days after earning a scholarship to the University of Portland, Yoshino returned home to begin coaching. He began with the U.S. Bank (now known as Washington Bankers Connie Mack) team in 1990. He was with the summer league powerhouse for seven years. During his U.S. Bank stint, Yoshino spent one season as pitching coach at Edmonds CC, where his staff sported the lowest team ERA (2.40) in the NWAACC. Other coaching stints the Chaffey 18-under Baseball Club in 1997, a team which he played on in his prep days. He has been a clinician-speaker at several events in the region including the Pemco All-Sports Clinic, Washington Baseball Camps, and Pacific Northwest (NW Star) Coaches' Convention.

Yoshino earned his master's degree from Pacific Lutheran University in exercise science/athletic administration. He graduated with honors and a 3.9 g.p.a. In 1993, he obtained his bachelor's degree in exercise & sport science from Western Washington University. He was selected by the faculty at Western as the Outstanding Graduating Senior and Physical Education Major of the Year for graduating with a 4.0 g.p.a. Yoshino also served an internship at the Philadelphia Phillies spring training site in Clearwater, FL. Yoshino earned the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist title, which is recognized by university athletic and professional sport organizations as the credential to work with elite athletes at either level.

Yoshino's academic and professional credentials in the health & fitness field have given him the opportunity to also work at the college as a full-time instructor in physical education and health. He is a tenured faculty member at the college and is also the Assistant Athletic Director and Men's Athletic Commissioner. In 1996, Yoshino was a nominee for the Margin of Excellence Award, which is annually presented to an employee on campus whose dedicated efforts towards helping students and serving the college are recognized. Although mostly known for his hard work on the baseball diamond, Yoshino is just as proud of his efforts 'in the classroom' - as a student and as an instructor. To Yoshino, these accolades are the true reflection of his efforts at serving as a positive role model for the players at Bellevue. His promotion of sportsmanship while still demonstrating success in a competitive college athletic environment has been recognized by his peers. His commitment towards enhancing the image of Pacific Northwest baseball is also evidenced by his active role on the NWAACC Baseball Committee. He serves as the NWAACC representative for the Pacific Association Division (all California, Oregon, and Washington 2-year colleges) of the American Baseball Coaches' Association. Yoshino and his wife Lisa have two children Quinn (4) and Molly (2) and reside in Renton.

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Kevin Miller
Assistant Coach

Kevin Miller enters his third season as an assistant coach for Bellevue. He was previously an assistant coach at the University of Washington. At Washington, Miller was a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 North shortstop and two-time Pac-10 North Player of the Year.

Miller will continue to oversee hitting, infielders and will coach third base during games for Bellevue. This past season was a year to remember for the Bulldog hitters under Miller's tutelage. The team clubbed 55 home runs (wood bat) during the season, shattering the NWAACC record. The team also sported one of the highest team batting averages in the NWAACC as well. Tyler Cox, one of his former players he developed, became one of the most feared hitters in the NWAACC and was named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

As a player, Miller was a key component of perhaps the greatest era in Washington baseball history as he helped the Diamond Dawgs to three straight Pac-10 North titles (1996-97-98) and two consecutive overall Pac-10 crowns (1997-98). He was named the Pac-10 North Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore and was first-team all-league all three years. Additionally, he was a first-team Freshman All-America selection in 1996 and earned second-team All-America honors in 1997 and 1998.

When his college career was over, Miller had set UW records for RBI in a season and in a career and was the Husky career record holder with 30 home runs. He also set a school record that still stands with a 22-game hitting streak in 1997.

Drafted in the seventh round out of Ballard High School (he was, at the time, the highest-drafted freshman ever to come to UW), Miller was selected by Oakland in the third round of the 1998 draft. After going straight to high-A ball to play with the Modesto A's, his pro career was cut short by a severe ankle injury.

Prior to coming back to coach at Washington, Miller had spent the last four seasons as head coach at Ballard, his alma mater. In 2007, he was named the KingCo 4A coach of the year. Miller also spent two seasons as an assistant for the Beavers after a year as an assistant at Garfield High.

Miller has also coached several 18-year old summer teams, including a year as Head Coach of the Shockers and the last six as Head Coach of Baden Baseball.

During his high school playing career, Miller was a three-time first-team All-Metro League selection and was the 1995 Metro League Player of the Year. He batted .727 with 20 walks as a senior and helped the Beavers to the state playoffs as a junior and senior. He also earned varsity letters in basketball and swimming.

Miller resides in Seattle and has two sons, Tyler (11) and Kameron (8).

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Jesse Wight
Assistant Coach

Jesse Wight begins his third year on staff with the Bulldogs after a stellar baseball career that began with an NWAACC title here at Bellevue in 2007 followed by two years as an everyday starter for the University of Nevada at Las Vegas ('08-'09) and a year of professional baseball. Wight will increase his role this year working with hitters alongside Miller in addition to coaching the outfielders and baserunning. Wight stole 37 bases and was the North Region MVP during his sophomore year here at Bellevue. Wight will also assist Yoshino in the successful strength and conditioning program at Bellevue that has taken Bellevue's hitters to another level.

He was a two-year letter-winner at Kamiak HS and hit .530 as a senior with 39 hits, nine doubles, and 18 RBI. He was named All-WesCo 4A, and All-State outfielder. As a team captain for Kamiak, he set records for season average, singles, doubles, and hits in a season.

Wight coaches alongside Miller for the Baden U-18 Baseball Club in the summer. Wight resides in Mukilteo.

Nate Santiago
Assistant Coach

Nate Santiago begins his third year as a coach for the Bulldogs. He will assist with hitters, infield, and team defense. Santiago was a role model player during his three years at Bellevue. He received a medical redshirt during his second year here as he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during pre-season tourney in Arizona. Santiago ended his career as a starter for Centenary Collegeo of Louisiana. He was a starting shortstop for the division one Gents (now division III). Santiago graduated from Centenary with a degree in exercise science.

Santiago began his coaching career right after playing, as he served as a volunteer assistant for Centenary in 2007. He has been coaching the 15U team for the Baden Baseball Club for the past two seasons and was also an assistant at Bellevue HS in 2008.

Nate was a three-year letter-winner at Kamiak HS. He garnered several honors including Team Captain, All-WesCo 4A League infielder, All-Area as named by the Everett Herald, and All-State. He .403 and helped the team to a 5th at state finish at the 4A championships. Santiago was a three-year letter-winner in football at Kamiak. He was named Team Captain and finished 3rd at state as a junior. He was named both Student of the Month and Student of the Year as a senior. Santiago resides in Bellevue.

Tim Ahern
Assistant Coach

Tim Ahern begins his first year as an assistant coach for Bellevue. Ahern will serve as a volunteer coach and will work with catchers and assist with administrative duties as he pursues his master's degree in athletic administration this year.

Ahern recently ended a successful three-year stint as Head Coach for nearby Sammamish HS. He coached current Bulldog Will Minice in 2009. Ahern led the Totems to the playoffs in 2010 and repeated that feat this past spring. Ahern is currently coaching Washington Warriors U-18 this summer.

A former catcher for Bellevue, Ahern played at Texas Tech University. He signed w/ the Red Raiders during the fall of his sophomore year at Bellevue. He was an all-north region catcher hitting .370 (team leader). As a freshman, Ahern split duties behind the plate and hit .313 and was a second team all-region selection. He was a three-year letter-winner at Eastlake HS for Coach J.T. D'Amico, earning all-KingCo 4A League catcher as a senior. Ahern's leaderships skills were evident as a player as he was named Team Captain and MVP by his teammates. He helped lead the Wolves to a 16-9 record and a trip to 4A regionals.

Ahern and his wife Jessica, who he met in college at Texas Tech, are the proud parents of Alex (3) and Madelyn (2). The family resides in Renton.