Sept. 5, 2012

2012 Coaching Changes  

Nakama named head coach at San Jose State

Dave Nakama has been named the new head coach at San Jose State.

Nakama has been the associate head coach at Washington for the past three seasons. Nakama was an assistant at Stanford in 1997-98 and again from 2002-09. The Cardinal reached the College World Series four times with Nakama on staff (1997, 2002, 2003, 2008).

A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Nakama has eight years of experience as a head coach. He led Mission College in San Jose from 1992-96 and San Francisco State from 1999 to 2001.

Nakama was an infielder at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., graduating in 1984. He was a graduate assistant at Northern Colorado, earning a master’s degree in 1986. Nakama also coached at Iowa, Yavapai College and DeAnza College.

Nakama succeeds Sam Piraro, who retired this past July. Piraro led the Spartans for 25 seasons and compiled 806 victories.