Former Arizona infielder Garen Caulfield added to coaching staff

Since getting hired at his alma mater five years ago, Chip Hale has never coached a game without Garen Caulfield around. And that trend will continue in 2027.

The former UA second baseman has been hired as the UA’s Director of Player Development and Recruiting, his first full-time coaching position. Caulfield was a graduate assistant last season after four years as a player for the Wildcats.

The 25-year-old Caulfield is the third new coach brought in by Hale since the end of the 2026 season, along with hitting coach Jack Meggs and catching coach Daniel Molinari. That duo, both from Saint Mary’s, replace Toby DeMello, who had handled Arizona’s hitting and catching since 2022.

Returning for 2027 is recruiting coordinator Trip Couch and pitching coach Sean Kenny, who was hired in January after the UA had three pitching coaches leave during the offseason.

Caulfield played in 231 games for the UA from 2022-25, tied for second-most in school history behind Hale (255), and his 877 at-bats trail only Hale (978) on the career list. Caulfield hit .276 in his Wildcat career with 21 home runs and 153 RBI.

A native of Sacramento, Caulfield spent two seasons at San Joaquin Delta College in 2020-21 but did not play because the school had both seasons cancelled due to COVID.