Bio

Dan Padilla begins his eighth season as an assistant coach for the South Mountain Community College baseball team in the 2021-22 academic year. A former Cougar student-athlete, Padilla assists with infielders, baserunning, offensive development and recruiting.

A native Arizonan, Padilla graduated from San Manuel High School in 2011 and played two seasons (2012 and 2013) at South Mountain Community College for head coach Todd Eastin.

During his coaching tenure with the Cougars, Padilla has helped numerous student-athletes secure scholarships at NCAA Division I and II institutions. In 2018, SMCC won the ACCAC conference Championship with a record of 46-15 and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation.

Padilla received his Associate of Arts degree in 2013 and played for one year at Central Christian College in McPherson, Kan.

In addition to his duties at SMCC, Padilla has worked in several summer baseball leagues. In 2016, he served as the head coach of the Pacific Beach Pythons in the San Diego Coastal Collegiate League. The Pythons had nine players selected to the All-Star Game and Padilla served as head coach of one of the All-Star teams.

In 2017, Padilla worked as an assistant coach for Matsu Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. The Miners won the league championship with a 39-15. With the squad, Padilla coached first base, ran the defensive positioning and assisted with the hitters.