John DeRouin was hired by head coach Chip Hale as Arizona Baseball's in August 2023; he was subsequently promoted twice and in June 2025 he was elevated to Assistant Coach and took over leadership of the Wildcats pitching staff.
Over the last two seasons, DeRouin helped develop the Wildcats pitching staff into one of the most successful units in the nation. Under his direction, Arizona improved their team ERA over a run and a half from 2023 to 2024 (the 20th largest ERA improvement in the country) and ranked among the top 12 teams in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio and BB/9 rate in both 2024 and 2025.
DeRouin was critical to the planning, development, and execution of the Wildcats brand-new and state-of-the-art Pitching Wing lab located inside the Terry Francona Hitting Center. The lab, one of the best in the nation, has been a key piece of Arizona's comprehensive pitching development program that DeRouin has spearheaded.
Under DeRouin's guidance the Wildcats have developed two All-American pitchers, three First Team All-Conference arms, and four MLB Draft selections.
Among the many success stories of the Wildcats pitching development program the last two seasons, perhaps none stand out as much as reliever Tony Pluta. The right-hander posted one of the greatest seasons of relief pitching in program history in 2025 and subsequently was named the NCBWA Stopper of the Year and earned All-America selections by every major national organization.
Following the 2024 season, DeRouin's first with the Wildcats, all three member of the Arizona weekend rotation picked up Pac-12 All-Conference selections; it is believe to be the first time in program history that three Wildcat starting pitchers earned All-Conference recognition. Additionally, four pitchers from the 2024 squad developed by DeRouin heard their names called during the MLB Draft, the most Wildcat arms selected in a single draft since 2013.
DeRouin joined the Wildcats after a year serving as a rehab pitching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers. Previous stops for DeRouin include four years as a pitching coordinator and instructor with Hop's Athletic Performance in Rhode Island, three years as a pitching coordinator, instructor, and coach with North East Baseball, and two years as a pitching coach with the New England Scorpions.
"Since joining our program John has been a tremendous resource for out student-athletes and our staff and a major part of our improvement on the mound over the previous two seasons" Hale said at the time of DeRouin's promotion to Assistant Coach in June 2025. "Retaining and promoting John into a full-time coaching role overseeing our pitching is a great opportunity to continue our upward trajectory and sets us up for near-term and long-term success."
Primary responsibilities for DeRouin include the assessment and development of Arizona pitchers. DeRouin's previous coaching experience has developed proficiencies with Trackman, Trumedia, Hawkeye/Kinatrax, and other advanced technology while also earning him Driveline Baseball certifications in Foundations of Pitching and Basics of Pitch Design.
DeRouin attended Community College of Rhode Island from 2018-20 and spent time pitching for the Knights while in school.
DeRouin Coaching History
- 202–current: Arizona, Assistant Coach
- 2025: Arizona, Director of Pitching Performance and Strategy
- 2024: Arizona, Director of Player Development
- 2022–23: Detroit Tigers, Rehab Pitching Coordinator
- 2019–22: Hop's Athletic Performance, Pitching Coordinator & Instructor
- 2020–22: North East Baseball (NEB), Pitching Coordinator, Instructor & Coach
- 2019–20: New England Scorpions, Pitching Coach
*Last updated: 7/2/2025
