Yavapai College

Doug Eastman enters his ninth season at the helm of YC Softball in 2023. Eastman was the Head Softball Coach for 12 years at College of the Siskiyous in Northern California. Eastman gained invaluable experience as a collegiate player at Siskiyous in Northern California, where he received All-State and All-America honors and was the youngest student-athlete to be inducted into the institution’s Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Eastman then transferred to Sacramento State University where he achieved All-American honors and was enshrined in the Sacramento Hornet’s Hall of Fame. In 1986, Eastman was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He played four years in their minor league organization and was awarded Most Valuable Player honors in 1987. A wrist injury changed his focus from player to coach. 

Coaching for the College of the Siskiyous, Eastman’s team posted a record of 301-24 in a seven year span, winning close to 500 overall games and winning seven-consecutive Golden Valley Conference Championships while appearing in five Final-Four State Championships. Eastman was a leader within the California Community College Athletic Association, having numerous All-State and All-American players and two Player of the Year awards. He achieved close to a .900 overall winning percentage, which was one of the highest-ever in California history. In 2007, Eastman was awarded the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Coach of the Year. 

During his current tenure at Yavapai College, Eastman led his team to a Region Championship and fourth-place finish in the nation in 2016. In 2017 and 2018, Eastman’s teams won back-to-back ACCAC Championships. In 2018, Eastman coached the first-ever National Player of the Year in YC Softball history in Jaydee Boursaw who owns the YC home run record with 60 (21 ahead of second place). 

Currently, as the Head Coach for Yavapai College, Eastman has accumulated 343 wins which makes him the winningest softball coach in Yavapai history. Eastman earned his 800th overall win in his coaching career in 2022 in just his 20th coaching season with two of those seasons being program restarts and one season being shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2021, Yavapai Softball again took fourth in the National Championships, having three All-Americans which served as the most chosen on any one team during the 2021 season. 

Eastman’s 2022 squad shattered the record books en route to a 57-6 record and fifth-place finish at nationals, Region Championship and ACCAC Championship. During the season, Eastman earned his 800th career win, his 300th career win at YC, ACCAC Coach of the Year honors and NFCA Region Coaching Staff of the Year (along with Assistant Coach Erika Bennett) honors. His squad also led the NJCAA and NFCA in All-America honors with six student-athletes earning All-American status. In addition, shortstop Lovey Kepa’a earned NJCAA Co-Player of the Year honors after breaking the YC home run record (34) and YC RBI record (104). 

Doug and his wife, Darla, live in Prescott Valley.