FRESNO - Fresno State baseball head coach Mike Batesole has announced the addition of Jermaine Clark to the Bulldogs coaching staff on Wednesday. "We are very excited to have Jermaine on board," said Batesole. "He fully understands and is committed to our program goals of 'Degrees and Rings.' We were diligent in our search to hire a coach who would move forward with our 22 straight semesters of over a 3.00 Team GPA as well as fight to win our ninth championship ring."

A scout with the Oakland Athletics for the last nine years, Clark brings major league baseball playing experience to the Bulldogs as the Vacaville, Calif., native played for five franchises over a four-year playing career from 2001-05. A left fielder as well as a second baseman during his professional career, Clark played in 46 games collecting 12 hits in 78 official at-bats and added three doubles, three stolen bases, nine RBIs and nine runs scored in his career.

"Jermaine was a tremendously gifted athlete who got his degree and played in the Major Leagues," added Batesole.

His most extensive playing time came in 2003 with the Texas Rangers when he appeared in 24 games picking up eight hits, two doubles and six RBIs on a team that included All-Stars Alex Rodriguez (14), Michael Young (7), Rafael Palmeiro (4), Mark Teixeira (3) and Juan Gonzalez (3). Clark also appeared with the Detroit Tigers (2001), San Diego Padres (2003), Cincinnati Reds (2004) and finished his career with the Oakland Athletics in 2005.

In 10 minor league seasons, Clark appeared in 1,041 games hitting .282 from the plate finishing his career with 1,013 hits, 159 doubles, 57 triples and 55 home runs. He swiped 277 stolen bases, drove in 406 RBIs and scored 627 runs. Clark was a fifth-round selection of the Seattle Mariners in 1997 after putting together a standout collegiate career at the University of San Francisco from 1995-97.

"I am so excited to join the historic Fresno State baseball program," said Clark. "I am really looking forward to getting back on the field coaching and helping develop these talented young men into great baseball players on the field and helping them work toward earning their degrees in the classroom."

Coaching the Oakland Athletics Area Code Team the last two seasons, Clark was a 2005 USF Hall of Fame Inductee after being a two-time All-American and three-time All-WCC selection during his Don career and at the end of junior season, he was the USF career leader in five different categories. He held the No. 1 career record in batting average (.361), runs (151), stolen bases (86), assists (433), and double plays (101) and to this day, he still retains his No. 1 ranking in all categories, except for assists where he is now ranked second.

Looking forward to his time with the 'Dogs, Batesole knows it is a great time for Clark to come join the Bulldog coaching staff, "We will have 17 freshman on our 2018 squad, so that makes it the perfect time for him to arrive and grow with them. We expect big things from Jermaine and this incoming class before they leave Fresno State."

During his time with the Athletics, Clark has been closely tied to a number of players with Fresno State ties. Most notably, he helped select recent MLB All-Star and Home Run Derby champion Aaron Judge in the 31st round in 2010 before the slugger decided to attend Fresno State. Over the last few years, under the guidance of Clark, the A's have also selected Bulldog high school signee James Terrell in the 11th round in 2015 and most recently selected two-time All- Mountain West First-Team first baseman Aaron Arruda in the 12th round of this year's MLB Draft.

"My history with the Bulldog program and Coach Batesole goes back a ways and I know the caliber of student-athletes in this program. I cannot wait to continue to build the great tradition here and help the develop the foundation these guys will use for the rest of their lives," added Clark.

Clark will be joined by his wife, Nicole and children Jaelyn and Miles in Fresno.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.