ASU Club Baseball Rebounds Under New Coach

Player-led turnaround sparks playoff push after coaching change

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college baseball game, with sharp overlapping planes of bright orange, navy blue, and forest green, conveying the dynamic energy and teamwork of the ASU club baseball team's turnaround season.The ASU club baseball team's player-led resurgence this season has been a study in resilience and teamwork.Tempe Today

The Arizona State club baseball team has surged to a 14-5 start this season after firing its longtime volunteer coaching staff just weeks before the start of the year. Team president Tommy Christensen stepped in as the new head coach, bringing in additional staff, and the player-led squad has rallied to put themselves in position for their first postseason berth since 2019.

Why it matters

Club baseball at ASU is a student-run program that gives players a chance to continue competing at a high level after their NCAA eligibility expires. The coaching change and subsequent turnaround shows the resilience and passion of the players to keep the program moving forward.

The details

After seven seasons without a playoff appearance under the previous coaching staff, the ASU club baseball team's student executive board voted to make a change just before the 2026 season. Team president Tommy Christensen stepped in as the new head coach, bringing in former player Vince Mati as an assistant. The player-led squad has responded with a 14-5 start, including a key win over No. 8 Boise State, putting them in position for their first postseason berth since 2019.

  • The coaching change occurred just weeks before the 2026 season.
  • The team has opened the year with a 14-5 record.

The players

Tommy Christensen

The team president who took over as head coach after the previous staff was dismissed.

Vince Mati

A former ASU club player who joined Christensen's coaching staff as an assistant.

Bryce Solinger

A junior starting pitcher and the team's vice president of finance, who has been a key part of the turnaround.

Jake Cruz

A pitcher who bounced back from a tough outing to secure a crucial win over Boise State.

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What they’re saying

“Those coaches had never made the playoffs in seven seasons. I wanted to change things and run the team in a different way to try to win more games and improve how we practiced. We just weren't on the same page, so we made the decision to move on.”

— Tommy Christensen, Team President and Head Coach

“It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. We told him to forget what happened earlier and that we might need him for this game since it was a must-win and he answered the call and slammed the door on them.”

— Vince Mati, Assistant Coach

What’s next

The Sun Devils will look to continue their strong start and secure a postseason berth, which would be their first since 2019. The Southern Pacific regional tournament, where they would compete, is generally held in California.

The takeaway

The player-led turnaround of the ASU club baseball team shows the passion and resilience of the student-athletes to keep the program moving forward, even after a coaching change. Their success this season could set the foundation for the program's strongest campaign in years.