BERKELEY – Just a few weeks into his tenure as head coach of the Cal baseball team, Mike Neu has completed a coaching staff with an accomplished collective resume and plenty of familiarity with the Golden Bears as he announced Monday that Pat Shine, Noah Jackson and Damon Lessler will serve as assistants for the 2018 season.
 
"I think all three guys bring a lot of energy, are very hard working and are respected in the college game," Neu said. "Pat is great with the players and he's almost another manager to have with us. He really pushes guys but has a great relationship with the players. Noah is an unbelievable recruiter and hard worker. He's tireless and he knows what it'll take to get the right guys at Cal. And Damon is an unbelievable worker too who will help with our infielders and catchers."
 
Shine brings a wealth of experience and returns to coach in Berkeley for the second time after his most recent stop as manager of the Clinton LumberKings in the Seattle Mariners organization. A coaching veteran at the major league, minor league and collegiate level, Shine joined the LumberKings in 2017 after spending three years as the video replay coordinator for the Miami Marlins. While with the Marlins, Shine also served as a batting practice pitcher and assistant to head coach Don Mattingly.
 
Prior to joining the Marlins, Shine established himself as one of the top coaches on the West Coast as an assistant at UC Irvine, UCLA and New Mexico as well as head coach of Cal State Los Angeles where he was named ABCA West Region Coach of the Year in 2007. His first stint as a Golden Bear came in 1998-99 when he worked with outfielders and served as hitting and base running coach as a volunteer assistant for Bob Milano.
 
A former team captain as a player at Gonzaga, Shine also managed in both the Cape Cod League and Northwoods League. He will work with hitters, infielders and manage Cal's overall team defense in 2018.
 
Jackson returns to Berkeley for his third stint as a Golden Bear as the former Cal outfielder spent the last two years as an assistant for Neu at Pacific. He served as volunteer assistant for the Bears in 2015 after working as a professional scout for the San Diego Padres and will work with hitters as well as with the outfielders in 2018.
 
Jackson played at Cal from 2001-03 after transferring from Arkansas and the Mill Valley, Calif. native went on to play in the Chicago Cubs organization. He is also the co-founder of the First Base Foundation, a 501© non-profit organization dedicated to making travel ball more affordable and transforming lives through positive mentorship as well as the development of leadership skills and self-esteem. And, Jackson is the godson of Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker whose son Darren will join the Bears as a freshman this season.
 
Lessler also brings plenty of West Coast ties with him to Berkeley and he will serve as volunteer assistant for the 2018 season. The Bay Area native spent the 2017 season as an assistant at San Jose State and has worked as an assistant coach at Cal Poly, Southern Mississippi, Chico State and Oakland (Mich.) University.
 
At each of his coaching stops, Lessler has assisted with all aspects of the game, including hitting, defense, base running and scouting. He played high school ball at nearby Castro Valley High School and played collegiately at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, Sonoma State and Mississippi Valley State. He played professionally for several years, both in the United States and abroad, before starting his coaching career in 2011.
 
Neu will serve as his own pitching coach to complete the staff duties for 2018.