The loudest sound in college baseball in 2021 was Cal State Fullerton hitting the pavement like an experimental rocket.

The Titans, a perennial winner in the sport, hit a bump in 2020 with a 4-12 start before the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled the rest of that season, then they followed up in 2021 with the worst season in program history, a 20-35 wreck that included a 4-12 streak to start the season and a 2-17 skid to end it.

That led to Coach Rick Vanderhook’s retirement and the hiring of Jason Dietrich to rebuild a program that used to sneer at the very concept. Not only does Dietrich inherit a fixer-upper, but a new statue of legendary coach Augie Garrido will be keeping an eye on Goodwin Field all season.

Dietrich might not have the established name value of past Fullerton coaches, but he’s steeped in Southern California baseball. He graduated from Mater Dei and pitched at Santa Ana College and Pepperdine. His coaching career went from Arcadia High to L.A. City College, Irvine Valley College, Cal State L.A., UC Irvine, Fullerton (2013-16) and Oregon before he spent the last two years at East Carolina.

He was the pitching coach with the Titans for four years, producing 160 wins, four postseason appearances and team ERAs of 2.89 or less each season. It was pitching that did in Fullerton last season (6.01 team ERA).

Dietrich’s team opens the season Friday night at No. 7 Stanford and will play its first home series next weekend (Feb. 25-27) against Gonzaga.

Little time has been spent thinking about the past.

“We like the group of men we have,” Dietrich said. “We grew in big strides as a staff and as a team. The players put in a lot of work in fall, so I’m excited to see them take the next step.”

With an emphasis on mound work.

“Throw strikes and get outs and you’ll pitch,” he said. “As simple as it sounds, it goes a long way. We’re not going to do a lot of crazy things. We will try to keep it simple. We are about being aggressive in the strike zone, and we’re not afraid of contact. We need to be fearless.”

The pitching staff has a lot of returning faces, but its base of experience doesn’t go far beyond opening game starter Cameron Repetti (4-2, 4.50, five saves). Tyler Stults, a transfer from Ohlone College, and Christian Rodriguez, who pitched four innings last season, will get the other starts.

Dietrich loaded up on transfers – 6-foot-5 Josh Hewitt (L.A. Valley), 6-6 Brayden Spears (Oregon) and 6-2 Flynn Cheeter (Salt Lake CC). Many of his freshman recruits follow that same pattern of size – 6-4 Gavin Meyer (Tahquitz), 6-5 Izeah Muniz (Bishop Amat), 6-4 Grant Kelly (Palm Desert).

Outfielder Caden Connor (.325), infielder Zach Lew (.284), outfielder Jason Brandow (.274) and utility man Jake Harvey (.271) are the top returning position players. The Titans were picked to finish fifth in the Big West Conference coach’s preseason poll.

CAL STATE FULLERTON AT A GLANCE

Coach: Jason Dietrich, first year

2021 record: 20-35 overall, 13-23 Big West

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Who’s back? IF Caden Connor (.325, 22 RBIs), IF Zach Lew (.284), OF Jason Brandow (.274, 25 RBIs), RHP Cam Repetti

Who’s gone? Tanner Bibee (7-6, 3.61), Kyle Luckham (5-9, 5.25; transferred to Arizona State), OF Isaiah Garcia, IF Josh Urps

Who’s new? RHP Tyler Stults, LHP Josh Hewitt, RHP Brayden Shears, RHP Gavin Meyer, RHP Grant Kelly, IF Jack Haley (transfer from Oregon), IF Braydon Rogers

Coach’s quote: “You’ve got to make sure there is pitching, pitching, pitching.” – Dietrich