Bio

Hired in 2019, Baum is the 10th head coach in the program's long history that goes back to 1937 under Coach Art Nunn. He spent 13 season seasons with the Cal State Fullerton Titans (2000-2004 and 2012-2019) and has the fourth longest tenure as a Titan behind the legendary coach Augie Garrido, George Horton and Rick Vanderhook.

Prior to becoming the skipper of the Hornet baseball program, Baum coached 20 seasons at the Division 1 level as an assistant coach. Chad spent 8 seasons at Cal State Fullerton and was the recruiting coordinator for his last 3 seasons with the Titans. Baum also coached third base while tutoring the team's hitters and catchers.

A veteran of 6 College World Series appearances as a Titan player and coach, Baum also spent 7 seasons as an assistant coach at both UC Irvine and Santa Clara.

In all, Chad has worked with 22 players that have gone on to play in the major leagues. The current list of active MLB players includes Michael Lorenzen, Kurt Suzuki, Justin Turner, Matt Chapman, JD Davis, Chad Wallach, and Thomas Eshelman.

Baum, who graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 2000, was a Titan team captain in 1998 and again in 1999, when Fullerton reached the College World Series. Baum appeared in 38 games over the two-year stretch and hit three home runs in just 44 at-bats. He was also reliable behind the plate, turning in a perfect 1.000 career fielding percentage (70 chances).

Prior to his pair of seasons in a Titan uniform, Baum spent a season each at Santa Ana College and Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Baum batted .306 in 1997 for the Dons, who were ranked No.1 in the country during most of the season. He was selected in the 42nd round of the 1997 draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Chad prepped for Coach Mike Najera at Canyon High in Anaheim Hills and earned honorable mention All-Century League honors. While at Canyon, Baum hit one of nine home runs that set a one-game CIF record for the Comanches.

Baum earned his master's degree in education in 2005 from Azuza Pacific. He and his wife, Kristin, are happily raising their two children in Anaheim.