Duo Comes From BC With Aoki…

Joe Hastings

Hastings, a former All-American first baseman at East Carolina who has spent the last four seasons coaching at Boston College, has been hired as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame, head baseball coach Mik Aoki announced Thursday. Hastings will spearhead the national recruiting efforts for the Irish, as well as serve as hitting and infield coach.

“We are thrilled about having a person with such a phenomenal baseball background on our staff,” Aoki said. “Joe will bring a wealth of knowledge in all areas of the game. He has not only developed into one of the top evaluators of high school talent in the country, but also shines in player development. I have no doubt he will continue such success here at Notre Dame.”

“I am so excited to join the Notre Dame family,” Hastings said. “I am thankful to Coach Aoki for this tremendous opportunity. It truly is one of the premier opportunities in all of college baseball. I look forward to hit the ground running and really get after it on the recruiting trail. We all have huge aspirations for this program. We want to not only compete for conference championships, but ultimately we want to bring this program back to Omaha.”

Jesse Woods

Woods spent the last three seasons coaching under Aoki at Boston College.  He  will serve as the Irish outfield coach while assisting Joe Hastings with the program’s recruiting efforts and hitters.

“I am thrilled that Jesse has joined our staff,” Aoki said. “He brings tremendous experience after three years in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Jesse really knows what it takes to win and will make our program better. He has the motivation to excel and I know, both the student-athletes we have on the team and future recruits, will benefit greatly from him joining the staff.”

“I am very excited to be a part of the coaching staff at Notre Dame,” Woods said. “It is a fantastic opportunity to work at such a prestigious institution as Notre Dame. I look forward to the challenge ahead as we strive toward our ultimate goal of Omaha.”

In addition to his recruiting duties with the Eagles, Woods worked with the Boston College outfielders and hitters. He has developed three of the premier outfielders in New England and the Atlantic Coast Conference since his arrival in 2008. Barry Butera was drafted in the 21st round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in 2009. Robbie Anston established himself as one of the best leadoff hitters in the country in 2009 and earned all-ACC second team honors. Anston was drafted in the 26th round of the 2010 draft, while John Spatola was nabbed in the 35th round.

In addition to his recruiting duties with the Eagles, Hastings worked with the Boston College infielders and hitters. He mentored eight Major League Baseball draft picks and six All-Atlantic Coast Conference performers in his four seasons with the Eagles. In 2009, Boston College had four players earn all-conference honors, the most for the program since joining the ACC.

The 2009 Eagles’ offense was one of the most productive in school history. Boston College hit .304 as a team, scored 416 runs, hit 151 doubles and 58 homers, slugged at a .464 clip and had an on-base percentage of .382. The Eagles ranked fourth in the nation in sacrifice hits (73) and seventh in the nation in doubles.

Prior to coaching at Boston College, Hastings served one season (2006) as an assistant coach at the Virginia Military Institute. The Keydets established a new school record for wins with 30 and had their first winning season in over 40 years. VMI also set the school record for runs, RBI and hits.

(Notre Dame release)