Jake Portugal began his tenure as a volunteer assistant coach with the UIC Flames in the fall of 2017.
The San Diego, Calif., native coached collegiately in his hometown and alma mater, San Diego Mesa College, from 2015-17. He served for three years as the catching and hitting coach while also taking on the duties as recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coach. Additionally, he was an Adjunct Professor in the Exercise Science Department.
During his stint with the Olympians, he coached four First Team All-State selections, 11 First Team All-Conference Players, and 17 Honorable Mention All-Conference Players. Twenty-three of the athletes coached and recruited by Portugal received scholarships at four-year universities, including freshman outfielder, Andrew McWilliams, who was drafted in the 34th round by the Detroit Tigers.
Prior to coaching, Portugal was a part of two successful seasons at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., under head coach Matt Husted. As a catcher for the Thunder, Portugal helped lead a team to the CCIW Conference Tournament in 2013 and post the highest team fielding percentage in school history .973. In 2014 he helped guide the pitching staff to the second-most strikeouts in school history, 270, and the second-most wins in school history, 23.
Portugal began his collegiate playing career as a first baseman and catcher at San Diego Mesa College where the Olympians made regional appearances in both 2011 and 2012 while also capturing the Pacific Coast Conference Championship in 2012 under the tutelage of Kevin Hazlett, Steven Sanchez, and Mark Wanaka (now an assistant at the University of Arizona).
Portugal has spent the summers as a head coach for numerous summer leagues. In 2017, he led the San Diego Hawks to the California Coastal Collegiate League semi-finals. From 2014-16 he coached the San Diego Samurai of the Western Baseball Association. In 2013 he coached the Lanier Vikings affiliate of RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner-Cities) in Austin, Texas.
Portugal earned his A.A. in Social Sciences from San Diego Mesa College in 2012 and his BA in Communications from Wheaton College in 2014. He also has a Master's degree in Exercise Science from Azusa Pacific University in 2015 and a Secondary Education Teaching Credential with endorsements in Health and Physical Education.
The son of Ron and Stephanie Portugal, he has two younger brothers, Joseph and Nicholas. Joseph plays collegiately for CSU East Bay, pitching for the Pioneers.Â
Jake and his wife Trisha live in Chicago.
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