@MizzouBaseball Adds Jake Epstein to Coaching Staff
2/1/2019 2:03:00 PM | Baseball
Former Tiger (1997-99) will serve as primary hitting instructor
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball head coach Steve Bieser announced Monday the addition of Jake Epstein to his coaching staff. Epstein will serve as an assistant coach for the Tigers with an emphasis on hitting.
"We were very fortunate to land Jake, especially considering how close we are to the season opener," Bieser said. "Jake checks all the boxes in what we are trying to accomplish in our program from an offensive standpoint. He has great experience in coaching hitters both mentally and physically. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to go along with his passion for Mizzou Baseball."
"Returning to Mizzou to join Coach Bieser's staff is a dream come true," Epstein said. "I'm ecstatic to have the opportunity to give back to a program that provided me so much opportunity and molded me into who I am today. Seeing the advancements in the baseball program since the time I was here is absolutely mind-blowing and my hope is to be a part of the next generation of Tigers to help build the program to an even higher level. Having the utmost respect for Coach Bieser, his entire staff and the University of Missouri made the decision to return to Columbia an easy one."
Former Tiger & nationally renowned hitting instructor, Jake Epstein, joins the #Mizzou coaching staff
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) February 4, 2019
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Widely regarded as one of the top hitting instructors in the country, Epstein brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to Mizzou. As the founder and lead instructor for the Epstein Online Hitting Academy, Jake has consulted with three Major League Baseball organizations and trained over 250 professional baseball players and NCAA baseball and softball stars.
Epstein enjoyed a standout playing career prior to his current coaching tenure, starring for the University of Missouri (1997-99) and Cal State Fullerton (2000). In 1999, Epstein was named a co-captain for the Tigers following a 1998 Big 12 All- Conference sophomore campaign. That season, he hit .319 with 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 55 RBI and a 1.105 OPS in a powerful Tigers lineup.
Epstein was known for his light tower power at the plate, highlighted by a Big 12 Conference Championship record 576-foot home run. Following his successful three-year stint in Mid-Missouri, Epstein transferred to Cal State Fullerton and led the Titans with nine home runs and 48 RBI.
Following the 2000 campaign, he signed with the Anaheim Angels organization and hit .336 with 14 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 33 RBI in his lone season of professional baseball. Epstein was originally drafted in the 34th round of the 1996 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres out of Mount Carmel High School.
Epstein ended his baseball career to pursue a business career as a Sales and Marketing Manager for Kemper Sports. In 2003, he joined the aforementioned Epstein Hitting Academy.
For the past 15-plus years, Epstein has served as a full-time hitting instructor with professional and amateur players while also assisting as a hitting consultant for the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Epstein is a 2000 graduate from Cal State Fullerton with degrees in Business (Marketing) and Communications (Advertising). He was born in San Jose, California, while residing in Denver, Colorado, the past 15 years. Epstein is married to his wife, Jamie, and has three daughters - Ella, Hannah and Vivienne.
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