Following a four-year playing career with LMU that ended in 2016, Ryan Erickson is in his fifth season on the coaching staff with the Lions in 2021. Erickson, completed his fourth season on staff in 2020, as the Volunteer Assistant Coach.
In his first season on the LMU staff, Erickson helped guide the 2017 squad to a 38-18 overall record and a 20-7 mark in the WCC to earn a share of the West Coast Conference Championship and a berth into the WCC Championship Tournament. The 38 wins are tied for sixth-most in LMU history, and are the most since posting 40 in 2000. LMU's .679 winning percentage is fourth-best in LMU history, and the best mark since 1990's .726 percentage. LMU lost just one weekend series en route to capturing its first WCC title since 2000, finishing the year 11-1-1 in weekend sets. The Lions also dropped consecutive games just three times in 2017, and 13 of its 18 losses came by three runs or less. LMU featured seven All-WCC selections in 2017, including position players Phil Caulfield and Jamey Smart on the first team, Jimmy Hill on the second team, Spencer Erdman on the honorable mention team, and Cooper Uhl on the All-Freshman squad.
In his third season on the LMU staff, Erickson helped guide the 2019 squad to their first ever WCC Tournament Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. The Lions finished the season with a 34-25 overall record, which was highlighted by a 3-2 victory over No. 1 UCLA in the Los Angeles Regional. Erickson was instrumental in the development of numerous Lions players which resulted in six All-WCC selections, including Codie Paiva and Nick Sogard being named Pitcher of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Erickson was a key member of the Lions bullpen staff and assisted with the development of Nick Frasso, helping him turn into an All-WCC selection and being named to the 2019 Collegiate Baseball National Team Roster.
Erickson is responsible for LMU's infielders and hitters as part of the coaching staff. Erickson will also serve as the team's first base coach.
Erickson also is the President of his own club baseball program, Silicon Beach Baseball Academy. Silicon Beach Baseball Academy has two teams: a 14/13U HS club baseball team and an Academy program that teaches baseball fundamentals to youth players ages 7-12.
Erickson is also responsible for all camps and clinics hosted by LMU. These include, but are not limited to: high school prospect camps, hitting clinics, pitching clinics, defensive clinics and high school team camps.
Erickson also serves as an assistant coach for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He will return to the CBBL for his fourth summer in 2020 working with Firebird hitters, infielders, outfielders and serve as the team's first base coach.
Prior to attending LMU, Erickson was a 2012 graduate of Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif. where he was a two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Cass Olson. As a prep player, he was named Defensive MVP at shortstop and a team captain as a senior.
Erickson graduated from LMU in 2016 with a degree in English. Erickson is also currently pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Studies from LMU.
