Coach Profile
Coach
Jerry A'Hearn
Jerry A'Hearn enters his 8th year as an assistant coach for the Vaqueros. His primary role will be coaching the pitchers, coordinating the program's strength and conditioning and has been named the recruiting coordinator.
In his first seven years at CAC his pitching staff has earned 14 ALL ACCAC selections, 18 players have been drafted, 34 signed with D1 schools and 1 ALL American (Grant Townsend). In 2017, the CAC pitching staff broke the school record for strikeouts in a season (588) and A'Hearn’s staff rebroke the mark in 2019 with (690). The 2018 staff ranks fourth in school history with an ERA of 2.69.
The 2019 pitching staff saw four arms go in the MLB Amateur Draft. Lucas Knowles (14th Round/Nationals), Dakota Donovan (16th Round/Angels), Jonathon Stroman (22nd Round/DBacks), and Jason Nelson (31st Round/Padres) all had their names called in early June. Each player making huge contributions to the staff. Knowles led the team in ERA (1.23), Stroman led the staff in strikeouts (116), Donovan was named JUCO World Series Outstanding Pitcher, and Nelson threw 51 innings with 72 K’s that including a 17 strikeout no hit performance. The pitching staff ranked first in the nation in strikeouts (690), first in the ACCAC in strikeouts, K/9 (10.71), and innings pitched. A’Hearn’s 2019 staff will be in the Vaquero’s top 5 All Time Team Records in innings pitch (580), strikeouts, and wins (50). Of the 8 sophomores on staff, all moved on to division 1 schools.
In 2018, the Vaquero staff ranked 4th in school history with a 2.69 team ERA. The staff saw 2 arms go in the MLB Amateur Draft and 3 former hurlers go as well in Gio Lopez (Marlins), Will McAffer (Blue Jays), and Grant Townsend (Blue Jays). Nick Iverson (Brewers/15th Round) has a spectacular year posting an 8-3 record with a 2.35 ERA and 91 K’s in just 76.2 IP with 6 complete games. He received first team all conference honors along with being an academic All American and being named CAC Male Athlete of the Year. RJ Dabovich (Royals/17th Round) posted a 9-3 record with a 1.81 ERA.
A’Hearn’s 2017 pitching staff saw a copious amount of success. It broke the school record in strikeouts (588) and saw three of its members get drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft. Ryley Widell (7th Round/Twins) Peyton Remy (17th Round/Cubs), and Sati Santa Cruz (32nd Round/Phillies). Grant Townsend led the pitching staff in wins (11), IP (100.2), strikeouts (119), saves (3), complete games (5), and ERA (1.79) which earned him first team all conference honors and 1st Team All-American.
In his second year as the pitching coach, A’Hearn led his staff to record 45 wins, tied for 11th in CAC’s all time wins column. Dakoty Clemmer (19th Round/Indians) and George Castillo each notched 9 wins to lead the pitching staff, both receiving all conference honors. Ben Skuro made his way on the single season appearance board with 24 games.
2015 was A’Hearn’s first year as the pitching coach for the Vaqueros. The 3.65 was top 10 in CAC’s all time team ERA at one point. George Castillo earned all conference honors with an 8-3 record. The staff’s 11 saves is good for 11th all time on the Vaquero team records.
In 2013 and 2014, A’Hearn worked with the catchers and outfielders, along with coaching first base. In these two years, he coached 8 players to all conference honors with one of them getting drafted.
A'Hearn started his college career at Central Arizona College for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. While at Central, A'Hearn helped his team to 2 JUCO Region 1 Championships, 1 Western District Championship (2008), and a 3rd place finish in the JUCO World Series (2008). He was a member of the 2009 team that set the school record for win percentage with a 51-13 record. In 2008 Jerry led all freshman pitchers in innings pitched (45.1), strikeouts (41), and appearances (22). As a sophomore A'Hearn went 5-1 with 2.77 era and 49 strikeouts in 48.2 innings pitched in 16 appearances. He is among the top 10 in school history for career appearances (38) and appearances in a season (22).
After A'Hearn was finished at Central, he went to play and pursue his degree at Cameron University in Oklahoma. A'Hearn went 4-2 as a junior, with a 4.61 era in 41 innings pitched with 3 complete games. Injuries limited A'Hearn's innings to 9.1 his senior year. He received a Bachelor's degree in Sports Fitness Management in 2012.
A’Hearn started his coaching career with the Oro Valley Dirtbags, a youth club team out of Tucson, AZ. He coach two summers with the team alongside his high school coach Mike Hanson, winning the Babe Ruth State Championship both years and advancing to the Babe Ruth World Series in Glen Allen, Virginia in the summer of 2011. He was the Dirtbags’ pitching coach, as well as coaching first base and helped with the infield and outfield.
A'Hearn joined the staff in the fall of 2012, and has coordinated the strength and conditioning program, worked with the catchers, and also coached first base.