Murray State University Athletics
Staff Directory
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- Assistant Coach
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Anthony Ortega enters his second season at Murray State in 2026 as the Racers’ defensive coordinator and assistant hitting coach, continuing to play a key role in one of the most successful eras in program history. Ortega was part of the staff that helped guide Murray State’s historic 2025 run to the College World Series, while also contributing to an offense that led the Missouri Valley Conference in on-base percentage, hits, runs scored, RBIs, doubles, triples and walks. Defensively, Ortega helped the Racers post the top fielding percentage in the MVC in 2025, and he assisted in the development of multiple elite defenders, including Carson Garner and Luke Mistone, both of whom earned MVC All-Defensive Team honors.
Before arriving in Murray, Ortega spent five seasons at Benedictine College, serving four years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being promoted to associate head coach in his final season with the program. Since taking over the Raven offense in 2021, Ortega’s units produced dynamic, high-pressure lineups on the bases, stealing more than 300 bases and setting a school record with 120 stolen bases in 2021. Benedictine also made significant strides defensively during his tenure, improving its fielding percentage by 22 points. Across his time with the Ravens, Ortega oversaw the development of 10 Heart of America Conference all-conference selections and two NAIA All-Americans.
Ortega began his coaching career at his alma mater, California State University, San Bernardino, where he worked with hitters and infielders prior to joining Benedictine as a graduate assistant. A native of Riverside, California, Ortega brings a player-development mindset and an emphasis on detail that has helped drive Murray State’s success on both sides of the ball.
