Toby DeMello, an assistant coach at University of Arizonawho helped lead the team to a World College Series appearance, is the new head coach of baseball at University of the Pacific.

DeMello brings a familiarity with the West Coast Conference and five years of Power Four experience to Stockton.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead Pacific Baseball,” DeMello said. “I want to thank President Callahan, Athletic Director Adam Tschuor and Deputy Athletic Director Wes Yourth for their confidence in me and for entrusting me with this program. My family and I are excited to join the Pacific community. We’re ready to get to work building a program that develops great players, great people and competes at the highest level.”

DeMello succeeds former Head Coach Reed Peters who died earlier this month. Tschuor said he believes DeMello can build on the legacy Peters left behind.

“This has undoubtedly been a very tough time for our program with the untimely passing of Coach Peters,” Tschuor said. “His legacy and the unprecedented accomplishments he, our staff and student-athletes achieved this past year were at the forefront of our hearts and minds as we looked for the next leader of the Pacific Tigers baseball program.

“I know we have found that in Toby DeMello. His ties to the region, infectious enthusiasm for University of the Pacific, innovative and modern ideas for the future of the program and his respect and belief in maintaining what Reed and our team have built this past year—and take it to the next level—sold us on him being the next leader of the Tigers.”

DeMello spent the past five years at the University of Arizona where he was a volunteer assistant coach for two seasons before receiving a promotion to full-time assistant coach in 2023 as the program’s hitting coach, while also working with catchers. 

During that span, his offenses consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous in the country, highlighted by the 2023 campaign in which Arizona finished the season in the top 30 in home runs, top 20 in runs, top 15 in batting average, hits and scoring, top 10 in slugging percentage, third in doubles and second in triples. 

With his help, Arizona made a College World Series appearance in 2025 and set single game records in home runs and extra base hits against Utah Valley in the regional portion of the tournament. In addition to the deep tournament run, Arizona won the Big-12 conference tournament in its inaugural season in the conference as well as the 2024 Pac-12 conference tournament.

Beyond the diamond, DeMello's work with hitters and catchers produced 19 all-conference selections, four All-Americans and three first-round MLB Draft picks, including Daniel Susac, who has already reached the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants.

Prior to his stint in Tucson, DeMello worked at Sacramento State for four seasons as the program’s assistant coach and director of operations. His time there was marked by the program’s 2019 WAC conference tournament title and subsequent appearance in the NCAA Tournament–just the third appearance in the school’s history.

DeMello will make his debut in orange and black when the team returns to competition in the spring of 2027.