The Penn State Berks athletics department is excited to announce the hiring of Jeff Pinder for the position of head baseball coach. Pinder will assume the head coaching duties effective immediately.

"I can't express how thrilled I am to become the head baseball coach at Penn State Berks," said Pinder. "It's exciting to get to be a head coach at the collegiate level and I can't wait to get started with the program."

Pinder has been coaching baseball for over 15 years at various levels. He joins Penn State Berks after spending two seasons as an assistant with Division II Kutztown University.

While at Kutztown, Pinder served as the hitting coach as well as worked with infielders and outfielders. The Golden Bears won the 2010 Atlantic Region and earned a trip to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship in Pinder’s first season with the coaching staff. In 2011, the Golden Bears had the highest batting average (.323) and slugging percentage (.438) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Prior to Kutztown, Pinder was the hitting coach at Division III Widener University from 2007-09. His other roles included first base coach, catching instructor and working with infielders and outfielders. Widener finished second in the conference in Pinder’s last season with the program.

Pinder was the head coach at St. Pius X High School from 2005-07. In 2006, St. Pius X won the District 1 AA District Title and went to the state semifinals. 

He has also served as an assistant coach for the Boyertown Bears American Legion team from 2005-09. The Bears advanced to the American Legion World Series and finished fourth in the country in 2007.

Pinder, who played baseball at Northampton County Community College, resides in Gilbertsville, PA with his wife, Liz and son Mitch, 13. He is also a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).