Cal Baseball Fall/Winter/Spring Clinics

California baseball called on a familiar face to write its next chapter as former Golden Bear pitching coach and major league pitcher Mike Neu agreed on July 5, 2017 to become the 11th head coach in program history.

Since taking the helm of the Cal baseball program, Neu has established a culture of player development and guided the Bears to 98 total wins and 48 Pac-12 victories in four seasons. After posting back-to-back 32-win seasons and 33 combined conference wins in his first two years, Neu was awarded and agreed to a five-year contract extension in October 2019 that will keep him in Berkeley through the 2024 season.

Neu’s Bears most recently went 29-26 overall and 15-15 in Pac-12 action in 2021, narrowly missing out on a second NCAA postseason berth since ‘19. Cal took seventh in the Pac-12 standings and played itself into the NCAA at-large picture late in the season with impressive series wins against #12 Stanford and at #18 UCLA. Neu’s 2021 squad was packed with star power, as four Bears ended up as top-10-round selections in the MLB Draft while returning outfielder Dylan Beavers and pitchers Josh White and Paulshawn Pasqualotto earned All-America honors.

Cal was 5-11 in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Neu oversaw a youth movement that included 11 freshmen earning playing time, three of which have developed into three-year position starters and another three that are expected to anchor the weekend rotation in 2022. Right-hander Joseph King was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and outfielder Brandon McIlwain signed a non-drafted free agent contract with the New York Mets organization after the season concluded.

The 2019 campaign was capped by Cal’s first trip to an NCAA Regional since 2015. The Bears punched their ticket as an at-large bid and the No. 2 seed at the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional after finishing fourth in the Pac-12 and carrying a No. 31 RPI ranking at the conclusion of the regular season. Cal’s 2019 success continued into the summer when seven Bears were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including first-round picks Andrew Vaughn (No. 3 overall, White Sox) and Korey Lee (No. 32 overall, Houston). Vaughn and Lee - both of which went undrafted out of high school - became the first duo in school history to be taken in the first round of the same draft. Vaughn, who was the program’s highest-drafted player ever, was also named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award for the second straight year.

In year one as the Golden Bears’ skipper, Neu guided the Bears to a 32-22 overall record and 16-14 mark in the Pac-12. The 2018 season was highlighted by the emergence of Andrew Vaughn as one of the nation’s top players. With Neu on hand in Los Angeles, Vaughn became the first Cal baseball player ever to win the prestigious Golden Spikes Award as the country’s top amateur baseball player.

Cal’s pitching coach from 2012 to 2015, Neu returned to Berkeley after two years as head coach at the University of the Pacific where he guided a rebuilding Tigers program to 40 wins over his two seasons. That turnaround started immediately in 2015 as Pacific won 12 games in the always-competitive West Coast Conference, the program’s second-most conference wins since 1999.

On the mound, the 2018 Bears showed dramatic improvement in Neu’s first season as head coach. Under his tutelage, Cal’s pitching staff lowered its collective ERA by almost a full run (5.17 to 4.20) from the year before. Aaron Shortridge established himself as one of the Pac-12’s top pitchers, compiling a 2.77 ERA with three complete games in 12 starts (17 appearances). Tanner Dodson moved to the back end of the bullpen and set the school single-season record for saves with 11.

Before making the move to Stockton, Neu established himself as one of the Pac-12’s top pitching coaches and recruiters under head coach David Esquer, who recently stepped down following his 18th season as Cal’s head coach. Under his tutelage, the 2015 Bears compiled a team ERA of 3.03, the second-best mark for a Cal pitching staff since 1976. That team reached the final of the Texas A&M Regional thanks in part to the contributions of three of Neu’s pupils – Daulton Jefferies, Ryan Mason and Alex Schick – who would go on to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft.

Prior to his arrival in Berkeley, Neu’s reputation in pitching circles was already well-known. Serving as head coach at Diablo Valley College from 2009-11, Neu led the Vikings to an 87-41 record and two Big 8 Conference titles. His 2011 squad was ranked No. 1 in Northern California and DVC pitchers led all California Community Colleges with a 2.13 team ERA.

As a player, the Napa, Calif., native enjoyed a standout career at the University of Miami before going on to play in the Dodgers, Marlins, A’s and Reds organizations. Neu was called up to the Major Leagues with the A’s on April 9, 2003, and compiled a 3.64 ERA in 32 relief appearances that season.

At Miami, Neu helped the Hurricanes win the 1999 College World Series and finished the year 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 67 innings. Named a Collegiate Baseball All-American, Neu led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (14.8) and was selected to the All-CWS team after earning three saves and appearing in all four of Miami’s games in Omaha.

Before to transferring to Miami, Neu starred at Sacramento City College where he was named Northern California Pitcher of the Year, Bay Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and a junior college All-American after going 15-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 139 strikeouts. He was also a standout for the same Vintage High program that produced Cal pitchers Jared Horn and Aaron Shortridge, setting Monticello Empire League records for career wins (21) and strikeouts (196).

“We are extremely excited to welcome Mike Neu back to Berkeley as the head coach of our baseball program,” then-Director of Athletics Mike Williams said. “During his first tenure here, Mike displayed a keen understanding of what it takes to recruit and develop student-athletes for success both on the field and in the Berkeley community as a whole. That experience, combined with the time he has spent as head coach at Pacific, convinced us that he is the perfect fit to lead Cal baseball.”

“I’m unbelievably excited to be back,” Neu said. “I had such a great experience there for four years. I know how much of an important role I have and the challenge we have but I’m excited to be part of Cal again. It was a great experience at Pacific. I definitely feel like we had begun to build something special there. The administration and staff were great to me there. I really think that program is in a great place moving forward.”

Neu earned a Master’s degree in physical education from Ball State in 2011. He and his wife, Nicole, have two sons, Damon and Maddax.

Over the past five seasons, Jackson has been instrumental in establishing Cal's culture of player development while helping Neu guide the Golden Bears to an NCAA Regional appearance in 2019 and 127 total wins. With Jackson on the bench, the Bears have totaled no less than 29 wins in all four full seasons (2020 season canceled after 16 games due to COVID-19).

Cal has seen 22 players taken in the Major League Baseball Draft during Jackson's tenure since 2018, including six this July. The Bears set a program record last month for the most players selected in the first five rounds of a single MLB Draft (4). Cal has also had three first-round picks – Andrew Vaughn (No. 3 overall, 2019), Korey Lee (No. 32 overall, 2019) and Dylan Beavers (No. 33 overall, 2022) – with Jackson on staff, all of which were undrafted out of high school. Jackson mentored Vaughn, the 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner, and helped Beavers emerge as one of the top power-hitting players on the west coast with 36 career long balls, the seventh most in program history. Vaughn and Lee became the first duo in school history to be taken in the first round of the same draft, and Vaughn additionally became the program's highest-drafted player ever.

Cal posted consecutive 32-win seasons in Jackson’s two seasons as a full-time assistant coach (2018-19). The 2019 campaign was capped by Cal’s first trip to an NCAA Regional since 2015 as the Bears punched their ticket as an at-large bid and the No. 2 seed in the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional. After the Bears played just 16 games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson helped over see a pair of 29-win seasons in 2021 and 2022. Four Bears – Dylan Beavers, Caleb Lomavita, Nathan Martorella and Keshawn Ogans – picked up All-Pac-12 Team honors in 2022 while Lomavita earned Freshman All-America accolades from Collegiate Baseball following a standout rookie campaign.

It is Jackson’s second stint on staff for his alma mater, having spent the 2015 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Golden Bears. In 2015, Jackson helped the Bears go 36-21, finish third in the Pac-12 standings, and reach an NCAA Regional (College Station, Texas). Prior to joining the Cal staff in 2015, Jackson was a professional scout for the San Diego Padres.

Between his two stints at Cal, Jackson spent two seasons (2016, 2017) in Stockton as an assistant coach for Neu at the University of the Pacific.

Jackson played in 48 career games for the Bears, primarily as a first baseman and outfielder, from 2001-03 after transferring from Arkansas. He was a member of the 2001 Cal team that went 34-25 overall and reached the NCAA Baton Rouge (La.) Regional. He went on to play two years of minor league baseball for the Chicago Cubs organization.

Off the field, Jackson turned his love of baseball into a force for positive change. In 2003, he co-founded the First Base Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to making travel baseball more affordable and transforming lives through mentorship, development of leadership skills and building self-esteem.

Jackson earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Cal in 2003. A native of Mill Valley, Calif., Jackson attended Marin Catholic High School (Kentfield, Calif.) and is the godson of Dusty Baker, who spent a decorated 41 years in Major League Baseball as a player and manager. Jackson’s father, Sylvester, served as a radio broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics from 1987-92.

Highberger joined the Cal coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2022 and has been in charge of catchers, infielders, and coaching at third base. Two Bears – Cole Elvis (2022) and Caleb Lomavita (2023) have been named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List under Highberger's tutelage. Lomavita, a rising junior, has earned back-to-back all-conference honors and was the first freshman to earn First Team All-Pac-12 honors at Cal since Andrew Vaughn in 2017.

Before joining Neu's staff in 2022, Highberger served as an assistant coach at Holy Names in Oakland. During his first season with the Hawks (2019) he helped the Hawks' catchers allow 20 fewer stolen bases than the previous year while also cutting down on past balls. The HNU offense produced a program-record 24 home runs in the same season. In 2017-18, Highberger was an assistant coach at Los Medanos College, serving as the first base coach while working with the catchers and hitters. The Mustangs reached the playoffs in Highberger's two seasons with the program, and he was instrumental in recruiting the 2019 Mustang team that went on to win the program's first Bay Valley Conference title and reached the NorCal Final 4.

Prior to his coaching career, Highberger played three years of independent professional baseball with the Pittsburg Diamonds (2016-17, 2018) and the Gary Southshore Railcats (2017).

An East Bay native, Highberger started his collegiate playing career at Los Medanos College in 2012-13. He later transferred to Eastern New Mexico (2014-15), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Physical Education with a minor in coaching. He earned a masters degree in Education from Holy Names University in 2017.

Highberger currently resides in the East Bay with his wife Stephanie.

Bodishbaugh began his coaching career in 2012 and has worked with pitchers at all levels. Before joining the Cal coaching staff, he served as the pitching coach and strength and conditioning coach at Los Medanos College from 2021-22. While at LMC, he oversaw 50 pitchers move on to four-year schools and helped the Mustangs capture three league titles while advancing to the CCCBA playoffs eight times. His pitching staff led the Bay Valley Conference in earned-run average six times and he saw two pitchers earn Bay Valley Pitcher of the Year honors. In his last year at Los Medanos, his squad led the league in strikeouts.

A graduate of Chico State, Bodishbaugh pitched for one season for the Wildcats before embarking on an eight-year professional career, which most notably included pitching in the minor league system for the Florida Marlins and Chicago White Sox.

Bodishbaugh and his wife Kristina reside in Brentwood with their daughter Savannah (6) and son Nolan (5).