Rusty Filter Position: Assistant (San Diego State '90) -- 3rd year

Rusty Filter enters his third year as an assistant coach at Stanford, primarily as the team's pitching coach.

In his first season and with a roster full of a dozen underclassmen, Filter helped lower the Cardinal's ERA nearly a half a point to 4.88. Stanford also reached an NCAA Regional. They went one step further in year two, lowering it a 3.45 ERA to reach the NCAA Super Regional.

That second year produced 16th overall selection, closer Chris Reed, joining Stephen Strasburg and Addison Reed as top round picks under Filter.

Filter came to Stanford after spending a combined 21 years on the San Diego State campus as both an assistant and a player. Over the past 16 years, the Aztecs have had 58 pitchers drafted for head coaches Jim Dietz and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. In total, 93 players were drafted over his coaching tenure.

In addition to Stephen Strasburg, who dominated hitters en route to the No. 1 overall selection, closer Addison Reed was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association's Stopper of the Year (Reed later would go on the third round). Strasburg led the nation in strikeouts and ERA last year, earning every major player of the year award, including the Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Awards. Strasburg, a member of Team USA at the 2008 Olympics as well, was among the national top-five in ERA and strikeouts each of the last two seasons.

Under Filter's guidance, San Diego State led the Mountain West Conference in ERA in six of the league's first 10 seasons, ranking in the top-three in each of those years. Throughout his tenure, San Diego State went 522-442-3 (.541), winning at least 30 games 11 times, winning 41 games in 1997 and 2009.

Individually, four players were named the MWC's Pitcher of the Year, including Strasburg the last two years (2008, 2009), Bruce Billings (2005), and Scott Shoemaker (2004). Over nine seasons from 2001 to 2009, 21 pitchers were named all-conference In 2009, four of his hurlers - Cincinnati's Aaron Harang, St. Louis' Royce Ring, Boston's Jason Masterson and San Francisco's Alex Hinshaw, pitched in the Majors. Over 16 years, 55 Aztec pitchers were drafted and signed professional contracts.

In 1993 and 1994, Filter was the pitching coach for the Fairbanks Goldpanners of the Alaska Summer League. The Goldpanners went 35-19 in 1994 and 36-23 in 1996.

A converted catcher, Filter left among the Aztec top-10 in relief appearances (80) and saves (6). His 37 appearances as a senior in 1990 were the second-most by any reliever in San Diego State history. He totaled 10 saves and a 3.74 ERA to go along with an 8-4 career record. He went on to get drafted by Toronto in 1990.

In 1991 he began his coaching career as a junior varsity coach for San Diego State, serving as an assistant at his alma mater, Mission Bay High in San Diego in 1992 and 1993. The 1992 team won the CIF title. He graduated from San Diego State in 1990 with a degree in physical education.

The 40-year old has a wife, Gina, daughters Reilly Nicole and Emily Claire and son, Russell Dean II.