Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach Josh Epstein

Assistant Coach Josh Epstein is in his third season as the pitching coach for Spider Baseball for the 2024 season. Epstein joined the Spiders after three seasons at Monmouth University as an assistant coach working with the pitchers.

In 2023, Epstein's pitching staff collected five Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week honors. Vincent Corso (March. 14), Esteban Rodriguez (March 27), Kyle Subers (April 3), Jeremy Neff (May 1) and Brock Weirather (May 8) all were recognized for their pitching performances this season.

Epstein brings with him 17 years of collegiate coaching experience with previous stops at Lincoln Memorial, Bloomsburg and Ramapo College. In his three seasons at Monmouth, the Hawks finished second in the MAAC all three years in ERA, including a 3.21 team ERA after the 2021 campaign. The Hawks' staff ERA dropped more than a full run after he took the reins in 2019. That season, his pitching staff struck out 306 hitters in 289.0 innings, averaging 9.53 per game, ranking 48th nationally and walking just 85 hitters on the season. The Hawks ranked seventh in the country with just 2.65 walks per game. In the classroom, Monmouth earned a 3.31 team GPA, with 20 All-Academic MAAC selections.

Individually, he helped four starters from the 2021 squad earn a sub 3.40 ERA. He tutored Rob Hensey, a ninth round MLB Draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds, to earn an ABCA Second Team All-Region selection and a MAAC Pitcher of the Year honor after making seven starts, owning a 5-0 record with a 1.54 ERA. Senior right-hander Dan Kelpchick and sophomore Alex Barker were a First Team All-MAAC honorees. Barker was a two-way player, taking the field as a position player and a pitcher. Trey Dombroski, the fourth starter on the 2021 squad, was a fourth-round draft pick by the Houston Astros.

Prior to his time in West Long Branch, he helped the NCAA Division II Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters win consecutive SAC titles in 2017 and 2018. His pitching staff broke the school's single-season strikeout record, punching out 480 hitters in 479 innings. He coached NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year and SAC Pitcher of the Year Ethan Elliot to a 10-3 record and a program-record 124 strikeouts. Elliott was also a tenth round draft pick by the San Diego Padres. 2018 saw LMU match the program record with 36 wins.

The 2017 Railsplitters posted the lowest team ERA in eight years at 4.78, walked just 159 hitters in 444 innings and pitched their way to an NCAA Tournament berth. Elliott was named the SAC Freshman of the Year for his efforts. He posted a 5-3 record, a 3.69 ERA and threw two complete games as he started a team-high 14 games in his rookie season. He was also tied for the team lead with two complete games, throwing a total of 83.0 innings.

Epstein was an assistant coach at Bloomsburg for two seasons, helping the 2014 staff earn a 3.16 ERA. The Huskies set a school record with a 20-8 record in conference play, with a pair of student-athletes named All-League.

Prior to Bloomsburg, Epstein spent six seasons at Ramapo College, his alma mater. He spent his final three seasons as the pitching coach and was also the Roadrunners' recruiting coordinator, coaching two to All-NJAC selections in 2012. Ramapo went to three NCAA Tournaments while Epstein was coaching, compiling a 95-45-1 record in three seasons. His three seasons saw the Roadrunners win 30 or more games, all resulting in ERA's that were sub 4.00.

He's a native of Cleveland, graduating from Ramapo in 2006 with a business marketing degree. He played all four seasons with the Roadrunners, being named captain as a senior. He was selected 11th overall in the inaugural Israel Baseball League draft by the Petach Tivka Pioneers in 2007, playing one season.