Luke Wetmore enters his 13th season as the Occidental College head baseball coach in 2023-2024. The 2016 SCIAC Baseball Coach of the Year took over the program in 2011 after three seasons as an assistant coach with the Tigers.
Through twelve seasons with Wetmore at the helm, the Tigers have posted a 212-160-2 (.567) overall record, a 141-97-1 (.590) record in SCIAC play and won their first conference championship since 1982.
During his time at Oxy, baseball players have earned 2 All-American awards, 12 All-West Region awards, 1 SCIAC Athlete of the Year award, 2 SCIAC Pitcher of the Year awards and 30 spots on All-SCIAC teams.
“We started talking about championship culture the day we took over the program. It has been great seeing our student-athletes eagerly rise to that challenge and work diligently to hold themselves and their teammates to the highest standard.”
Personal: Wetmore grew up in Santa Cruz, CA and was a multi-sport standout in football, baseball and wrestling at Santa Cruz High School. Later, Wetmore played baseball and football at the University of Redlands from 2004-08. During his tenure with the Bulldogs, Wetmore played on three SCIAC championship teams, one as a baseball player and two as a football player.
Wetmore lives in Pomona, CA with his wife Courtney, his daughters Clare and Quinn and his son Austin.
Education: After graduating fromSanta Cruz High School, Luke moved to Southern California to workon his undergraduate degree at the University of Redlands. After earning his BA in Studio Art from Redlands in 2008, Lukecompleted Multiple Subject, Single Subject Physical Education andSingle Subject Art Teaching Credentials at the University ofRedlands School of Education.
Background: Born in Santa Rosa, CA,Luke grew up in Santa Cruz where he played baseball, football andwrestled at Santa Cruz High School. At SCHS Luke was a 2ndTeam All League linebacker and tight end, a two time leaguechampion in wrestling (172 and 189 lbs) and played on three SantaCruz Coast Athletic League Championship teams inbaseball.
After high school Luke played both footballand baseball at the University of Redland. Lukewas a linebacker on two SCIAC championship football teams andplayed outfield for a SCIAC championship baseball team. Aftera season ending injury his junior year during the football season,Luke played three more seasons of baseball, accumulating a .317career batting average, slugging .516 and posted a .412 OB%. Out ofhis 108 career hits, Luke totaled 176 bases with 29 doubles and 13homeruns while driving in 91 runs. During the four years Lukeplayed at Redlands the Bulldogs posted a 99-61 record
CoachingExperience:
Occidental College 2008-
Cheyenne Grizzlies 2010
Luke enters his third year of coaching atOccidental College after playing outfield for the Bulldogs for fouryears. In his first season as Oxy's hitting coach the Tiger'shit .283 and were ranked fifth in the nation in stolen bases (134of 171) and HBP (80). On the year the Tigers drove in 245 andhit 93 extra base hits and posted a .380 OB% and .396SLG%.
This past season as Oxy's hitting coach theTiger's hit .302, a twenty point improvement from the previousyear, stole 115 bases and posted a .383 OB% and .390SLG%. In his third year Lukewill continue his work with the offense and isexcited about the maturation of a young line-up from a season agoand the incoming talent. He will also be takingover additional responsibilities for the Tigers program, steppingup as the Head Assistant Coach and RecruitingCoordinator.
Luke is coming off a Mountain CollegiateBaseball League championship as an assistant coach for the CheyenneGrizzles. The Grizzlies finished their summer schedule 22-18with a playoff birth and swept the regular season champs in a threegame series. The Grizzlies hit .292, slugged .381 and had anOB% of .401.
PlayingExperience:
University of Redlands: (2004-08)
