Prospect Camps Baseball

Head Coach: Paul Svagdis

"I am grateful and humbled to have been given an incredible opportunity by Dr. Beebe, Robert Ruiz, and the athletic administration to lead the Westmont baseball program," expressed Svagdis. "I am honored to take over for Coach Ruiz and Coach LaTorre's legacy of success with Warrior Baseball, and hope to support and grow this great tradition of building quality student-athletes that lead on and off the baseball field into the future"

Paul Svagdis takes over the Warrior baseball program as it enters into its second year of transition into NCAA Division II PacWest baseball. Having navigated a similar transition before, Coach Svagdis is all to familiar with the challenges that lie ahead. He is the 16th coach in Westmont Baseball history and takes over a program that in the last several years has accomplished some amazing feats. He brings a track record of building championship culture, identifying and developing elite college and professional players, and an ability to build faith in the players within the program. He's depth of experience and success in both NCAA Division II and the PacWest conference will make for a seamless transition.
 
The veteran coach has a good deal of familiarity with NCAA Division II baseball and in particular, the PacWest. Svagdis coached 19 years (2003-2021) at Azusa Pacific, leading the Cougars to a record of 606-349 (.635). During his time at Azusa Pacific, Svagdis produced 16 All-Americans, 14 Academic All-Americans and eight conference Players of the Year. His Cougar teams won six conference regular season championships.
 
In 2022, Svagdis returned to Tufts (Mass.), his alma mater - where he has served as head coach for the past three seasons. Svagdis led the NCAA Division III Jumbos to a record of 80-39 (.672) and a New England Small College Athletic Conference championship in 2023. Ten of the Jumbo players were named to the all-conference team during his tenure.
 
While his resume reflects a storied history of success on the diamond, Svagdis is driven to mentoring his student-athletes in all areas of life.
 
"I've always been passionate about coaching and integrating my faith into that process," noted Svagdis. "Helping young people understand the value of putting others first, leading by example, and expecting the best out of themselves, are all values I hope to continue to build into player development."
 
Over his 28-year history, Svagdis' teams have won nine regular-season conference titles and he has earned eight conference Coach of the Year awards. He has guided his teams to seven NCAA Regionals and five NAIA Tournaments, including the 2007 and 2008 teams at Azusa Pacific that advanced to the NAIA World Series. Svagdis has coached over 35 players drafted by Major League Baseball teams, including two-time All-Star and current manager of the Cleveland Guardians, Stephen Vogt.
 

Elijah Ontiveros began his coaching career at Westmont College, right after graduating from UC Davis in 2017. He is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Kinesiology at California State University, Northridge, specializing in biomechanics. Entering into his eighth season with the Warrior program and his third with Coach LaTorre at the helm. Elijah has been tasked with working with the catchers and leading the program’s recruiting efforts.

In his eight years on staff, Ontiveros helped coach Westmont to six NAIA Opening Round Tournament appearances and navigate the transition to NCAA Division II. In 2024, Westmont would set the threshold moving forward for it's time in Division II and the PacWest Conference, finishing in second place with a record of 33-15-3. 

In 2023, the team would break the single season wins record streak on the way to winning the National Championship and finished for 1st in the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season. The Warriors would host nationally ranked opponents Benedictine Mesa and British Columbia. The 2023 Warrior squad would claim the World Series title by taking down national powerhouse Lewis and Clark State in their home field. The final out made by Gabe Arteaga saw the Westmont Warriors the victors with a final score of 7-6.

As a coach, Ontiveros said, “I try to create a stimulating environment that is constructive and challenging that allows for the players I work with to not only develop but learn and grow at the same time. My favorite part about the job is to see the players develop and grow not only on the field, but in the classroom and spiritually as well. I am grateful for the opportunity that I am given as a coach to see that growth and development take place.”

Greg Venzor started serving as an assistant coach in 2008. His primary responsibilities include working with the outfielders as well as coaching first base.

"We are fortunate to play the game and the gifts we are given are not ours, but are all on loan from God," said Venzor. "I want to help the team put God first and nurture the spiritual aspect of the game. I want to help bring stability to the program. I love the atmosphere and I love the campus. I love the fact that you can get a great education with a Christian background at Westmont. It is a privilege to coach here."

Rick Hubbard is entering into his third year as the Westmont Baseball Program's pitching coach returning to right where it left off in 2023. The Westmont Warrior pitching staff would lead the PacWest conference in strikeouts and opponent batting average with a .268. His pitching staff would feature 4 All-Conference pitchers and 2 Western Region pitchers as well. 

Coach Hubbard's joined the Westmont staff after four seasons as the Director of Pitching Development with the NCAA Division I Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets under head coach Danny Hall. In his first year as the Warrior's pitching coach, he saw the Warriors rank in the top-ten in several different pitching categories within the NAIA, leading the program to it's first ever NAIA National Championship.

While at Tech, the Jackets were two-time ACC Coastal Division champions (2019, 2021), and earned a place in three-straight NCAA Division I Regional Championships. The Yellow Jackets burst back on to the national scene in 2019 winning 43 games and earning the number three national seed, hosting the 2019 NCAA Atlanta Regional. In 2021 and 2022, Georgia Tech finished as NCAA Division I Regional runners-up to Vanderbilt University and top-seeded Tennessee respectively. Over his six-year career, Hubbard has coached over 70 Major League Baseball draft selections.

Hubbard has also served as pitching coach with the Santa Barbara Foresters for four seasons, winning three-straight National Baseball Congress World Series. Under Hubbard, the 2022 Forester pitching staff earned the Best Team Pitching Award for the third straight year and held the California Collegiate Leagues lowest ERA for an equal span. In 2022, nine former Foresters with Hubbard were selected in the MLB Draft.

Camp Schedule - (*tentative)

Saturday, January 11th 2025

*Optional - 12 PM Player Lead Campus Tour

1:00 PM - Player Check-In

1:15 PM - Camp Introduction

1:30 PM - Group Dynamic / Active

1:45 PM - 60 - Yard

2:00 PM - Catch Play

2:15 PM - Defensive Showcase

2:45 PM - First Pitch

4:30 PM - Dismissal

Directions from South (Los Angeles)
Take 101 north and exit at Olive Mill Road. Turn right onto Olive Mill and then left onto Hot Springs Road. Turn right onto Sycamore Canyon Road and then right at Cold Spring Road. You may use the lower entrance on Cold Spring Road for the observatory and the athletic fields. For most other areas on campus, continue up Cold Spring Road, turn left on La Paz Road and drive through Westmont's main entrance. Map of campus and parking areas

Directions from North (Santa Barbara Airport)
Take 101 south and exit at #94B (Coast Village Road Exit - left exit). Turn left onto East Cabrillo Road, go through the roundabout and continue north on Hot Springs Road. Turn left onto Sycamore Canyon Road and right onto Cold Spring Road. You may use the lower entrance on Cold Spring Road for the observatory and the athletic fields. For most other areas on campus, continue up Cold Spring Road, turn left on La Paz Road and drive through Westmont's main entrance. Map of campus and parking areas