UNLV REBELS

Nate Yeskie

21

Position: Assistant Coach

Former Rebel ace Nate Yeskie enters his third season as an assistant coach for UNLV's baseball program and works primarily with the pitchers and as director of baseball camps.

"His college and professional experience, accompanied by his ability to develop young talent make him a valuable asset to our staff," Gouldsmith said. "Nate is a Rebel through and through and is an excellent example for our student-athletes."

In his two-plus years working with the Rebels' pitchers, Yeskie has mentored three all-conference pitchers, three all-tournament selections and one tournament MVP. He has also had four pitchers selected in the MLB Draft and another sign a free agent contract.

Yeskie, who was a pitcher for UNLV from 1994-96, spent several years in the Minnesota Twins' minor league system before joining Gouldsmith's staff. Yeskie also coached the Nevada Bulldogs from 2002-04.

Yeskie was one of the top high school pitchers in the country in 1993, earning first-team All-American honors and being named the Nevada Player of the Year by the Reno Gazette-Journal during his senior season. Yeskie posted a 12-0 record while setting school records for strikeouts in a season (158), strikeouts in a game (20) and strikeouts in a week (37). He was selected in the sixth round of the 1993 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but elected to play for UNLV over other colleges such as Georgia Tech, Cal and USC.

Following a stellar high school career, Yeskie was an outstanding college performer for the Rebels. He set the single-season record for strikeouts with 147 during the 1995 season. That strikeout total was fifth in the nation and he was also eighth in the nation in innings pitched. He earned first-team All-Big West honors, first-team all-region honors that season, and led the league with nine complete games. He finished his UNLV career with a record of 22-12, with 16 complete games. In 1996 he was the starting pitcher in the Big West Conference championship game, as UNLV beat Long Beach State 11-2 for the title and a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Yeskie was then selected by the Minnesota Twins in the ninth round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, where he played five seasons in the Twins' organization. Yeskie led the Class A Fort Wayne Wizards in wins during the 1997 season with 11 and was second on the team in strikeouts . Started the 1998 season in Ft. Myers before being promoted to the Class AA New Britain Rockcats. His professional playing career ended after the 2000 season due to injuries. Yeskie was a five-time invitee to the USA National/Olympic Team trials.

Originally from Carson City, Nev., Yeskie earned his communications degree from UNLV in 2003. The son of Dennis and Joan, Yeskie has a younger sister, Kristina.