BERKELEY – California baseball head coach Mike Neu announced Thursday that Chris Bodishbaugh and Chad Highberger have been elevated to full-time assistant coaches on the Golden Bears' staff.
 
Bodishbaugh will take over pitching coach duties while Highberger will continue to oversee catchers and infielders and assist with the hitters. Former pitching coach and 2012 Cal alumnus Matt Flemer has left coaching to pursue other professional opportunities.
 
Earlier this spring, the NCAA passed legislation that allows Division I baseball and softball programs to increase their full-time assistant coaches from two to three. The rule went into effect July 1.
 
"Chris and Chad have been integral parts of our baseball program and I'm thrilled to expand their roles on our staff," Neu said. "Their tireless work ethic and commitment to our program's core values made this an easy decision, and our current and future players will thrive under their guidance."
 
Bodishbaugh, an East Bay native, is entering his second year with the Bears after serving as the team's director of player development last season. He oversaw the team's analytics and supported the Cal coaching staff – specifically Flemer and Neu – in the previous role.
 
Bodishbaugh began his coaching career in 2012 and has worked with pitchers at all levels. Before joining the Cal coaching staff, he served as the pitching coach and strength and conditioning coach at Los Medanos College from 2021-22. While at LMC, he oversaw 50 pitchers move on to four-year schools and helped the Mustangs capture three league titles while advancing to the CCCBA playoffs eight times. His pitching staff led the Bay Valley Conference in earned-run average six times and he saw two pitchers earn Bay Valley Pitcher of the Year honors. In his last year at Los Medanos, his squad led the league in strikeouts.
 
A graduate of Chico State, Bodishbaugh pitched for one season for the Wildcats before embarking on an eight-year professional career, which most notably included pitching in the minor league system for the Florida Marlins and Chicago White Sox.
 
"It's a coaching staff that I enjoyed really working with last year and I am excited to be taking the next step in my career," Bodishbaugh said. "I am appreciative of Mike giving me the opportunity and I'm going to do everything I can to make the most of it. While I'm here, our goal is to get back to a regional and eventually get to Omaha."
 
Bodishbaugh and his wife Kristina reside in Brentwood with their daughter Savannah (6) and son Nolan (5).
 
Highberger joined the Cal coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2022 and has been in charge of catchers, infielders, and coaching at third base. Two Bears – Cole Elvis (2022) and Caleb Lomavita (2023) have been named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List under Highberger's tutelage. Lomavita, a rising junior, has earned back-to-back all-conference honors and was the first freshman to earn First Team All-Pac-12 honors at Cal since Andrew Vaughn in 2017.
 
Highberger was selected by USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline to instruct infielders this past year.
 
Before joining Neu's staff in 2022, Highberger served as an assistant coach at Holy Names in Oakland. During his first season with the Hawks (2019) he helped the Hawks' catchers allow 20 fewer stolen bases than the previous year while also cutting down on past balls. The HNU offense produced a program-record 24 home runs in the same season. In 2017-18, Highberger was an assistant coach at Los Medanos, serving as the first base coach while working with the catchers and hitters. The Mustangs reached the playoffs in Highberger's two seasons with the program, and he was instrumental in recruiting the 2019 Mustang team that went to the program's first Bay Valley Conference title and reached the NorCal Final 4.
 
"I'm honored and excited to be staying on here at Cal," Highberger said. "It has been surreal to coach for the Bears; I grew up in the East Bay so this is a dream come true getting to coach at home and the highest level. And getting to do so alongside the rest of our talented staff and under the guidance of our skipper Mike Neu has been amazing. I can't wait to build on our success."
 
Highberger played three years of independent ball with the Pittsburg Diamonds (2016-17, 2018) and the Gary Southshore Railcats (2017).

An East Bay native, Highberger started his collegiate playing career at Los Medanos in 2012-13. He later transferred to Eastern New Mexico (2014-15), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Physical Education with a minor in coaching he earned a masters in Education from Holy Names.
 
He resides in the East Bay with his fiancé Stephanie. 
 
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