Two new coaches will don the black and gold this year as Long Beach State announced new hires to the golf and baseball teams.

After the abrupt resignation of head golf coach Bill Poutre a few weeks ago, Long Beach State announced today that he will be replaced by Ryan Ressa, a former assistant at Duke, UCLA, San Diego State and Washington State.

“Ryan is a terrific addition to Long Beach State Athletics and the men’s golf program,” Cegles said. “His experiences coaching nationally ranked teams and involving community in the effort will be a great asset as we continue to pursue championships and national recognition.”

Ressa recorded four Top-25 finishes in his final season as a player at Washington State, before graduating in 2003 and serving as an assistant for two years.

In Dirtbag news, new head coach Troy Buckley is forming out his coaching staff with the addition of assistant Jesse Zepeda, who served as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly and will assume the same roles at Long Beach State.

“Jesse is a great addition to our staff,” said Buckley. “His experience and knowledge of the Big West Conference and collegiate baseball on the West Coast is a tremendous asset in the recruiting and coaching arenas. He is an outstanding fit both professionally and personally, and we are excited for him and his family to join the Dirtbag family.”

Cal Poly boasted back-to-back Big West Freshmen Of The Year and Buckley hopes that Zepeda can bring that same success to Long Beach.

Zepeda played in the College World Series in 1995 with Oklahoma, then spent four years in the minors before making the transition to college coaching.