Georgia Coaching Staff
Jason Eller Assistant Coach Recruiting Coordinator 8th Season (Ga. State ’98)
CWS: 2004, ’06, ’08 SEC Champions: 2004, ’08
Jason Eller enters his eighth season on the staff at the University of Georgia including his fourth as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. A native of Marietta, Ga., he has helped Georgia to three College World Series (CWS) appearances since 2004. Also, he has set a new standard in Bulldog recruiting with 22 members getting selected in the past three Major League Baseball (MLB) drafts. A record eight signees were drafted in 2007 and 2008 while six were selected in 2009. In the 2007 MLB draft, the eight selections were highlighted by first round pick Ben Revere who opted to turn professional and five others going in the first 18 rounds. Ultimately, four of those Bulldogs made it to Athens. In 2008, Georgia had eight more members of its recruiting class selected by Major League clubs. Also, the 2008 class featured six members among Baseball America’s Top 100 High School Prospects, which tied for the most by any school during the early signing period. In 2009, four of the six signees that were drafted decided to come to UGA. Eller’s duties on the field include working with the outfielders and hitters. He has served as a first base coach and third base coach. In 2003, Eller came to Georgia as a volunteer coach and was promoted to a full-time assistant in August of 2006. Eller helped Georgia hitters set a school record and SEC-best 109 home runs in 2009 as the Bulldogs made their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It was the first time Georgia made back-to-back trips to the NCAA postseason since 2001-02. Georgia’s 2008 recruiting class was ranked fifth nationally by Collegiate Baseball, and the group combined to start 226 games for Georgia in 2009. Eller helped guide the SEC Champion Bulldogs to within a victory of the 2008 national championship. Georgia captured another NCAA Athens Regional and Super Regional, and then the Bulldogs reached the CWS Finals. Georgia earned a consensus final national ranking of number two, marking the second best finish in school history. Georgia’s offense in 2008 set school records for Hits, Total Bases, At Bats and tied the mark for Games Played. His work with the outfielders and hitters helped Georgia to a third place finish at the 2004 CWS, a share of the SEC title, a record of 45-23
and final national ranking of fourth in the country. ate of Georgia State with a degree in sociology. He Also, the Bulldog defense posted a .971 fielding was a four-year letterman for the Panther baseball percentage which ranked the second best in team from 1992-95 and served as a student assisschool history. The 2003 squad set the school tant in 1996. A former first baseman/outfielder, he record with a .972 fielding percentage. One of was named GSU’s most improved player in 1995. Eller’s top newcomers in 2004 was Joey Side who He still holds the school record with 17 putouts in earned Freshman All-America honors by Collegiate a game. He spent a couple of years in Africa and Baseball and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Ecuador playing for Athletes-in-Action as well one Team. year in the Big South Independent League for the By 2006, Side earned All-America and Tennessee Walkers before beginning his coaching All-SEC honors and was a sixth round draft pick career full-time. of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 2006 outfield, In 1998, he was as an assistant manager for which helped carry the Bulldogs back to the CWS, the New Jersey Diamonds of the Ladies Profeswas arguably Georgia’s greatest ever. They set a sional Baseball League before heading to Martin school record for putouts and assists. Along with Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., where he was Side, senior outfielder Bobby Felmy and Kyle an assistant on Jeff Dodson’s staff. The 2000 squad Keen earned an opportunity to play professional posted a school record 42-16 mark including 20-7 baseball while junior Jonathan Wyatt led the team in the TranSouth Athletic Conference. They finished in batting and anchored the 2007 outfield. Wyatt the year ranked 19th in the final NAIA ratings. capped his final year with an SEC-best perfect Eller spent the 2001 season as an assistant fielding percentage in 164 total chances. He was at Wofford College under Steve Traylor where the one of three outfielders nationally to earn a RawlTerriers posted their highest victory total in seven ings Gold Glove Award. Wyatt was a 13th round years of Division One play and tied the mark for draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2007. most wins since 1992. His primary responsibilities Eller came to the Bulldogs from Georgia included working with the hitters, assistant pitching State where he spent the 2002 season as an ascoach, first base coach and recruiting in the state sistant on Mike Hurst’s staff. Eller served as hitting of Georgia. instructor, worked with the outfielders and was the team’s strength training coordinator. Also, Eller was a part of the East Cobb baseball program. The Eller File He was the manager of Born: Feb. 24, 1973 in Kennesaw, Ga. the 2003 Perfect Game High School: Sprayberry HS, Marietta, Ga., 1991 Junior Division champion East Cobb Braves. He College Education: Georgia State, B.A. - 1998 served as manager of Family: Single the 18 and under CABA Collegiate Baseball Experience: Georgia State, 1992-95 World Series championProfessional Baseball Experience: Athletes-In-Action (Africa and ship East Cobb Tigers Ecuador), 1995-96; Tennessee Walkers (Big South Independent squad in 2001 and assistant coach of the 2000 Assoc.), 1997 team that won the CABA Coaching: Asst. Manager, New Jersey Diamonds (LPBL), 1998 World Series. He has Asst. Coach, Martin Methodist College, 1999-2000 worked as an instrucAsst. Coach, Wofford College, 2000-01 tor at various summer Manager/Asst. Coach, East Cobb Tigers (18 and under), 2000-02 baseball camps including at Georgia, Florida State, Asst. Coach, Georgia State, 2002 Griffey International and Volunteer Asst. Coach, Univ. of Georgia, August 2002-2006 the Bucky Dent Baseball Asst. Coach, Univ. of Georgia, August 2006-present School. He is a 1998 gradu-
6 College World Series Appearances: 1987, 1990 National Champions, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008
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