Rochester College Athletics - 2012 Baseball Coaches

2012 Baseball

Record: 26-24 Home: 13-8 Away: 8-12 Neutral: 5-4

2012 Baseball Coaches

Jordan Ackerman

Head Coach

5th Season

Jordan enters his 5th season at the helm of the Rochester College Baseball team after leading the Warriors to two consecutive Small College World Series apperances. He brings with him a wealth of playing experience and knowledge about the game. Jordan displays an incredible passion for the game and for the mission of Rochester College.

As a player at Armada High School, under Head Coach Mike Thorman, Jordan set batting records in all categories with the exception of homeruns. He hit .624 as a senior at Armada, allowing him to set the career record with a batting average of .500. His college career started at St. Mary's College, and then to St. Clair Community College, and finally here at Rochester College.

While a player at Rochester College, Jordan was in the top ten in the nation with a .418 batting average earning him All-American status as junior at RC. He was also in the top ten in the nation for doubles both his junior and senior seasons, and holds the single season stolen bases record at Rochester with 24 thefts.

Jordan's coaching experience includes Head Coach of the Detroit Metro Tigers semi-pro team that was the 2008 North Champions. He was the Head Coach of the Michigan Mets 14u travel team. Coach Ackerman was also a Co-Coach at his alma matre Armada High School, where he helped lead the team to its first ever state semi-finals apperance.

Athletic Director Emeritus Garth Pleasant says of Jordan, "We are excited and pleased that Jordan has agreed to take over the Rochester College Baseball program. He will bring an incredible amount of passion and energy to our campus and athletic department. I have no doubt in my mind that Jordan will be a great asset to Rochester College."

Jordan and his wife Kristin reside in Armada, MI and are expecting their first child in early August.

Hal Watts

Assistant Coach

3rd Season

Hal Watts has been around the baseball diamond for quite a while both as a player and coach. He played collegiately at Wayne State University in the 1950's. He started as a head baseball coach in 1957, while in college. He spent several years as head coach in summer recreation leagues while working as a writer/editor full-time and traveling throughout the U.S. and over seas. Coach Watts began his head coaching stints with summer travel teams in 1981 and continued through 2006. His summer teams included coaching Buddy's Pizza, Burke's Sports, TSI, East Side Sports, Michigan Mustangs, Michigan Marauders, and the Grosse Pointe Avengers. Along with his summer teams, coach Watts has limitless experience working with former major league players, scouts, and with several college programs. He has worked with, among others, former Detroit Tigers 1st baseman Dave Bergman, former Cincinnati Reds scout Ken Stack, and Philadelphia Phillies scout James Ford. He has worked with Macomb CC head coach Joe Santilli and former Wayne State University head coach Angelo Gust, to name a couple.

Coach Watts's travel teams have won several league and regional championships, and have qualified for and appeared in eight World Series, winning one and finishing second twice. In three seasons as bench coach for the Warren Woods Tower High School varsity, he helped the teams win two district titles and a regional championship. As to why he loves being an assistant coach, coach Watts says, "The wear-and-tear of being a head coach just took its toll on an old man, but I really enjoy helping young people learn the finer points of the game and also learn some life lessons".

Coach Watts has also helped in the game on the administrative side as vice president and executive board member of the Macomb Amateur Baseball Federation (MABF) -- an organization of 140 teams -- as well as a tournament site director for the national tournament organization, Triple Crown Sports. He was presented with MABF's "Norv" trophy in 2007, becoming the first recipient of this award for "lifetime achievement" in the game.

Rick Desotell

Assistant Coach

3rd Season

Rick Desotell is a well known name when it comes to coaching in southeastern Michigan. Rick has coached athletics at all levels including professional. Highlights of Desotell's coaching career are when he assisted De La Salle Collegiate to the State Football Championship and when he helped coach the former Saginaw Sting to a CIFL Chamionship. Along with an extensive coaching resume, Desotell has also acted in several TV shows including Days of Our Lives and Airwolf which have aired on National Television. As a youth, Desotell showed his versatility by making All-Star teams, playing all positions on the field. As a coach, Desotell displayed that same versatility winning titles in golf, tennis, basketball, football, track, and baseball.

Desotell resides in Rochester Hills with his wife Kimberly, son Josh, and daughter Kennedy.

Coach Ackerman on Desotell:

"Rick is an extraordinary coach. He specializes in the mental aspects of athletics and is a top notch trainer. Since Rick joined my staff last season, my players have been playing with more confidence and taking the right mental approach on each pitch defensively and at the plate. Having Rick has been a Godsend for our program."