Todd Eastin

Todd Eastin, once a student-athlete at SMCC, is now the director of Athletics and Fitness, and head baseball coach at South Mountain Community College. He was also recently the Dean of Admissions. He is devoted to the wellbeing of students and athletes alike at SMCC.

Todd Eastin was born in Raised in the small and diverse town of Fullerton, California. Growing up in a household with three brothers, everything Eastin did was a competition. He was encouraged to play outside, get dirty, and most importantly, win. This competitive attribute is what drove him to pursue a career in sports, specifically baseball.

Throughout high school, Eastin was a dedicated student-athlete, playing baseball at a regional
level. He competed in many tournaments around the country, including in Arizona, where he sought opportunities to take his career to another level.

Although he planned on staying in California to pursue his college baseball career, Eastin, along
with his family, moved to South Phoenix, where he became a student at SMCC. This decision
was made at the end of his senior year while playing in a regional tournament, where he was
offered a scholarship opportunity by former SMCC coach George Lopez in 1993. Eagerly, Eastin
took the opportunity and began his legacy at SMCC. After finishing his first two years of college
at SMCC, Eastin transitioned to McNeese State University, where he was selected by the San
Francisco Giants in the 1994 draft while playing Division I baseball. He later graduated with a
B.S. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from McNeese.

Immediately after graduating, Eastin went back to SMCC to begin coaching as an assistant coach in 1997. In 2005, however, then- Athletic Director Dr. Doug Ferguson took what Eastin called a “leap of faith” and gave Eastin the opportunity to be the new head coach if he could make the team succeed within two years. After two years as the head coach, Eastin made history and brought the Cougars to a national championship, securing his role as the full-time coach. Years later, Chris Hanes (another former athletic director) hired Eastin as athletic director in the fall of 2010 to take on the role she was vacating. As if he didn’t already have a major role in SMCC, Eastin later became the interim Dean of Admissions. His knack for athletics recruiting and his connections to the South Phoenix and greater Arizona community endeared him to the college admissions department at a time when they really needed help.

Today, Eastin continues with his passion for recruitment and development. He has opened up
countless opportunities for students and athletes and changed the lives of many. Todd Eastin’s
unwavering drive and competitive spirit continue to shape the workforce and community in
South Mountain, exemplifying his remarkable contributions to the college.

Narrator	Todd Eastin
Birthdate	1975
Place of Origin	Fullerton, California
Place of Residence	Ahwatukee, Phoenix Az
Role	SMCC Athletic Director, Baseball Coach, and Interim Dean of Admissions
Years active in South Phoenix	1993
Interview Date	2/15/23
Location	South Mountain Community College
Duration
Interviewed by	Student Researcher: Emmanuel Godoy Valenzuela Faculty Researcher: Mary Nunn
Story Written by	Student Researcher: Emmanual Godoy Valenzuela