Merced College is proud to announce the appointment of Jason Ingraham as the new head coach of the Blue Devils baseball program.
Ingraham, a Merced College alumnus, served as adjunct head coach in 2024-25 and was hired to the permanent position in June 2025.
“Jason is a Blue Devil, and his love for the program and its history speak for itself,” said Bob Casey, Associate Dean and Athletics Director. “He is well known throughout the Valley and in the baseball community, and this will only help with our outreach and recruiting. Additionally, Coach Ingraham’s connection to four-year programs in the region and the state will enhance our student-athletes’ chances to play on after Merced College.”
Said Ingraham: “I am excited to continue the tradition of excellence that has been created here at Merced College. My goal is to create an atmosphere that gives my players the best ability to thrive on and off the field.”
Ingraham, the Blue Devils’ seventh head baseball coach, is local product with a baseball pedigree who has never strayed too far from the Merced College diamond. He grew up in Merced, graduating from Merced High in 1996. His senior year, he was named the school’s Athlete of the Year, participating in football, wrestling, and baseball.
He played baseball at Merced College under head coach Chris Pedretti in 1997 and 1998, serving as the team’s shortstop both years and the team’s closer. As a sophomore, he was voted All-CVC and All-NorCal at the utility position.
Ingraham matriculated to CSU Stanislaus for two more years of school and baseball, then took a job at Hughson High, serving as varsity assistant in charge of hitters and infielders from 2001-2004.
In 2005 he joined the coaching staff at alma mater CSU Stanislaus, coaching his specialties—hitters and infielders—and also coordinating recruiting, helping to guide the Warriors to their first ever Division II regional appearance in 2008.
In 2009 he left college coaching to give private lessons while assisting area travel ball teams. In 2015, he was recruited by Chris Pedretti to return to Merced College as an assistant in charge of infield and hitting instruction.
Nate Devine, who had followed Pedretti as head coach in 2018, designated Ingraham as his associate head coach in 2023. When Devine transitioned into college administration as Dean of Enterprise and Academic Partnerships, Ingraham was the logical choice for the head job.
Ingraham will hope to add to the lineage of baseball success at Merced College.
His predecessor, Devine amassed a 148-99 record in six seasons as coach, leading the Blue Devils to the postseason each year. Pedretti was the college’s winningest and longest-serving coach in any sport, with a tenure that spanned 1983-2018 and saw the Blue Devils claim 840 wins, five conference titles and 22 NorCal playoff appearances. And legendary coach Butch Hughes, whose name adorns the baseball clubhouse, went 302-72 as coach from 1971-1981 and won a remarkable seven state championships.
Ingraham lives in Atwater with his wife Jasmine and their two teenage children, son Evan, 15, and daughter Avery, 13.