CSU Bakersfield Athletics has announced that Bob Macaluso has been relieved of his head coaching duties for Roadrunner baseball effective immediately.

“The University felt that it was in the best interest of the baseball program and our student-athletes to move in a different direction,” said Director of Athletics Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried. “We want to thank him for the work he has put into our program over the last two years as both an assistant and a head coach and we wish him the best moving forward.”

Macaluso was hired as head coach in September of 2015 replacing the retired Bill Kernen. Macaluso was 19-37 as head coach in 2016.

Pitching coach Jeremy Beard will take over as the interim head coach for the upcoming 2017 season.

“I am confident in Coach Beard’s ability and commitment to manage the baseball program this season,” Siegfried said. “He has shown me that he is committed to the vision of the department by promoting academic excellence, providing an outstanding student-athlete experience, pursuing competitive success, and engaging our community.”

Beard joined the CSUB staff last year after two seasons at the University of Portland. He was a student-athlete at Oregon State and is an 18-year veteran of prep and collegiate baseball having spent time as a head coach, associate head coach and associate athletics director.