MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine baseball has added Rick Hubbard to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season, head coach Tyler LaTorre announced Wednesday.
 
"Rick Hubbard is one of the brightest young pitching minds in college baseball," head coach Tyler LaTorre. "Pepperdine Baseball is extremely lucky to have him on our coaching staff and working with our pitchers. His experience at Georgia Tech and Westmont has given him the ability to mesh old school pitching ideologies with new school data driven methods."
 
Rick Hubbard comes to Malibu from Westmont College. He will join the Waves as the pitching coach after three seasons with the Warriors, one of which was under LaTorre. Prior to Westmont, Hubbard spent five years with Georgia Tech baseball, including two as the Director of Pitching Development.
 
Throughout his career, Hubbard has coached more than 33 pitchers who were selected in the MLB draft. In 2023, Hubbard won the NAIA championship with coach LaTorre at the helm, finishing 14th last season in the program's first year as a DII program.
 
At Georgia Tech, Hubbard brought the Hornets back to national relevance, leading them to two ACC Coastal Division championships in 2019 and 2021 as well as three-straight NCAA Regional Championship appearances.
 
"I'm honored by the opportunity Coach LaTorre and Tanner Gardner have given me to join Pepperdine University," Hubbard said. "This university is about strong relationships, academic excellence, and competing for a greater purpose. My priority is to earn trust, set a high standard, and help our athletes grow every day; not only on the field, but in the classroom, and as men. I'm excited to help continue building a culture these men will be proud to be part of long after they leave Pepperdine."
 
A native of New York, Hubbard was a pitcher himself at Canisius University, winning the MAAC in 2013. Following his athletic career, Hubbard obtained a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology and physiology from East Carolina University as well as an MBA from Tiffin University in 2018.
 
Last season, the Waves averaged an ERA of 7.46. Hubbard will have weekend starters Tommy Scavone and Dylan Stewart, who combined for an average ERA of 5.84 in 2025, to build on.
 
"Every stop that Rick has coached at, he has won and his pitching staffs have thrived under his guidance," LaTorre said. "We are looking forward to him building a foundation of bringing Pepperdine pitching back to what it once was."
 
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Pepperdine baseball has one of the richest traditions and success stories among mid-major baseball programs in the country. The Waves won the NCAA National Championship in 1992 and have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in total. Located in scenic Malibu, California, Eddy D. Field Stadium boasts one of the most remarkable views in college baseball and has seen 35 former Waves reach the MLB while seeing 41 All-American selections.
 
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