Head Baseball Coach  

#31 – Dr. Mike Karpel

Coach Karpel is in his second stint and third year as the head baseball coach at Barstow Community College, where he also serves as a full-time faculty member in the physical education department. In 2007, he led the Vikings squad to a 15-win season, which constituted the most improved team in the State of California for Community College baseball that year. Three players each from the 2007 and 2009 squads were voted all-Foothill Conference. In two years (2007 and 2009) Coach Karpel has led the Viking baseball program to 24 total wins.

Prior to his coaching stints at Barstow Community College, Coach Karpel served as an associate scout for the Houston Astros in 2004. From 2000–2003, Coach Karpel served as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Brigham Young University. During his tenure at BYU, the Cougars won two Mountain West Conference Championships and advanced to two Division-I NCAA Regionals - Lincoln, Nebraska (2001), and Los Angeles (2002), where BYU advanced to the Regional final game vs. USC in 2002. While at BYU, he coached two Mountain West Conference Pitchers of the year. One of those coaches is Nate Fernley, who is the current head baseball coach at El Camino Community College, and who led all Division-I pitchers in 2001 with 16 wins. In addition, Coach Karpel has coached current Major League Outfielder Matt Carson of the Oakland A's for three years while at BYU.

In 1999, Coach Karpel served as the Associate Head Baseball Coach at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, California. In 1998, Coach Karpel served as the pitching coach at La Quinta High School in Westminster, California which finished their season 30-2 and were ranked #10 in the final USA Today's National Baseball Poll. While at La Quinta High School, he coached two current Major League Player's, Bobby Crosby (shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and 2004 American League Rookie of the Year for the Oakland A's); as well as Gerald Laird (catcher for the Detroit Tigers). From 1995–1997, Coach Karpel served as the pitching coach at Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California. The 1996 squad was the South Coast Conference Champions. While at Long Beach City College, Coach Karpel was instrumental in the development of former Houston Astros (2003–2006) left-handed relief pitcher, Mike Gallo, who made two appearances in the 2005 World Series. Coach Karpel has instructed over 25 professional baseball players and four Major League players, not to mention numerous all-conference and all-American collegiate student/athletes.

Coach Karpel played his collegiate baseball at California State University, San Bernardino and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in Administration. He then went on to earn a Master's Degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 1998, and a Doctorate Degree in physical education from Brigham Young University in 2006. Coach Karpel has also taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the Kinesiology departments at Cal State Los Angeles and Azusa Pacific University.