Justin Hixson in his his first year as the Trailblazers' new pitching coach ahead of the upcoming 2023 season. Hixson comes to UT after spending last season at CSU Bakersfield, where he served as the Roadrunners pitching coach.
Prior to his one season in Bakersfield, he was a member of the coaching staff at WAC member California Baptist for three seasons, including roles as bullpen coach, catching coach, and assistant pitching coach. In three years with Hixson on the staff, the Lancers posted an 82-44 overall record and won a share of the 2019 and 2021 Western Athletic Conference titles. CBU has produced four WAC Pitchers of the Week and six all-conference pitchers in two seasons with Hixson on staff, including 2019 WAC Pitcher of the Year Logan Rinehart.
Hixson began his collegiate coaching career at Biola University, where he was part of the Eagles’ program for three seasons from 2015-18 as both pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Hixson helped Biola crack the top-25 rankings and to a 35-18 overall record in 2017, with Eagle hurler Jimmy Gallarda earning the team’s first all-conference award for a pitcher since 2013.
In 2018, Biola went 34-22 in its first season in NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference, with Hixson personally overseeing the development of senior Micah Beyer, who earned second-team all-PacWest honors.
Hixson is a 2006 graduate of Cal State San Bernardino, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, and completed work on his Master’s degree in Sports Management at Long Beach State in 2010. Hixson also played baseball collegiately at CBU for three seasons from 1998-2000. In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Hixson served as a pitching coach for Global Baseball in 2011.
Coach Hixson and his wife, Mindy, are the parents of two daughters – Payton and Sawyer.
