Baseball
Jeff Opalewski
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Jeff.Opalewski@csulb.edu
Jeff Opalewski arrived at Long Beach State in July of 2023 as an Assistant Coach under Interim Head Coach Bryan Peters. He serves as the pitching coach in his first year with the Dirtbags.
Opalewski, or “Coach Ope,” comes to LBSU after two years at Miami University, Ohio, where he oversaw all facets of the pitching and their development. Last year, his pitching staff broke the school record for most strikeouts (594) in a single season, ranking fifth in the NCAA. The team finished in the top four of the Mid-American Conference in ERA every year under Opalewski’s mentorship.
Individually, he oversaw a historic year from Jonathan Brand. He earned multiple All-American honors, All-East Region, first-team All-MAC, and ultimately an eighth-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. He had four All-MAC pitchers and three MLB signees in his three seasons at Miami, Ohio.
Coach Ope had a break between collegiate coaching stints, spending three years at IMG Academy, where he created the day-to-day programming for all 89 pitchers in the academy. In those three years of leading the pitching program, he saw 48 earn collegiate scholarships, 25 of which went into the Division I level. More notable, he oversaw the development of three MLB Draft selections: Jackson Ferris (second round, Chicago Cubs), Drew Gray (third round, Chicago Cubs), and Mason Albright (12th round, Los Angeles Angels).
His collegiate coaching career began at his alma mater, Central Michigan University, in 2008. In the decade on the Chippewa coaching staff, he was the Associate Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and Assistant Coach. In charge of the pitching staff, his players led the MAC in ERA twice, ranked top 70 nationally in ERA three times, and set the single-season strikeout record. He also helped guide the Chippewas to two Mid-American Conference Championships and four MAC-West Division Championships.
Opelewski coached 17 All-MAC pitchers, three All-Region pitchers, and 20 pitchers selected in the draft or signed MLB contracts. He also had a MAC Pitcher of the Year, two MAC Freshman Pitchers of the Year, and three Freshman All-Americans. Additionally, he recruited 34 All-MAC recipients, four Defensive Team recipients, four freshmen All-Americans, two MAC Freshmen of the Year, 31 All-MAC Academic Team honorees, an Academic All-American, and 19 MLB Draftees.
He also spent time coaching in the Northwoods League (2006), New York Collegiate League (2005), and numerous publicized articles across several media platforms.
As a player, he was a four-year letterwinner and 2004 MAC Champion with Central Michigan and 2000 MLB Draft selection coming out of high school.
Jeff and his wife, Candace, have two children: a four-year-old daughter named Alicia and an eight-month-old son named Tanner.
Opalewski, or “Coach Ope,” comes to LBSU after two years at Miami University, Ohio, where he oversaw all facets of the pitching and their development. Last year, his pitching staff broke the school record for most strikeouts (594) in a single season, ranking fifth in the NCAA. The team finished in the top four of the Mid-American Conference in ERA every year under Opalewski’s mentorship.
Individually, he oversaw a historic year from Jonathan Brand. He earned multiple All-American honors, All-East Region, first-team All-MAC, and ultimately an eighth-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. He had four All-MAC pitchers and three MLB signees in his three seasons at Miami, Ohio.
Coach Ope had a break between collegiate coaching stints, spending three years at IMG Academy, where he created the day-to-day programming for all 89 pitchers in the academy. In those three years of leading the pitching program, he saw 48 earn collegiate scholarships, 25 of which went into the Division I level. More notable, he oversaw the development of three MLB Draft selections: Jackson Ferris (second round, Chicago Cubs), Drew Gray (third round, Chicago Cubs), and Mason Albright (12th round, Los Angeles Angels).
His collegiate coaching career began at his alma mater, Central Michigan University, in 2008. In the decade on the Chippewa coaching staff, he was the Associate Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, and Assistant Coach. In charge of the pitching staff, his players led the MAC in ERA twice, ranked top 70 nationally in ERA three times, and set the single-season strikeout record. He also helped guide the Chippewas to two Mid-American Conference Championships and four MAC-West Division Championships.
Opelewski coached 17 All-MAC pitchers, three All-Region pitchers, and 20 pitchers selected in the draft or signed MLB contracts. He also had a MAC Pitcher of the Year, two MAC Freshman Pitchers of the Year, and three Freshman All-Americans. Additionally, he recruited 34 All-MAC recipients, four Defensive Team recipients, four freshmen All-Americans, two MAC Freshmen of the Year, 31 All-MAC Academic Team honorees, an Academic All-American, and 19 MLB Draftees.
He also spent time coaching in the Northwoods League (2006), New York Collegiate League (2005), and numerous publicized articles across several media platforms.
As a player, he was a four-year letterwinner and 2004 MAC Champion with Central Michigan and 2000 MLB Draft selection coming out of high school.
Jeff and his wife, Candace, have two children: a four-year-old daughter named Alicia and an eight-month-old son named Tanner.
Friends Welcoming TJ Bruce to the Beach
Tuesday, July 02
Dirtbags Baseball Head coach TJ Bruce Welcome Celebration
Thursday, June 27
Dirtbags Baseball: Head coach TJ Bruce Welcome Celebration
Tuesday, June 25
Dirtbags Baseball Game Highlights vs UC Riverside 4/19/2024
Saturday, April 20
