Jason Hawkins was hired as part of Andrew Checketts' inaugural staff prior to the 2011 season.

During the staff's first season, the Gauchos went 28-28 and established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. Jason's offense ranked in the top-four amongst Big West teams in almost every major statistical category. In 2012, the Gauchos ranked first in stolen bases, second in batting average, runs, hits, and triples, third in doubles, and fourth in home runs. UCSB had the conference leader in batting average and on-base percentage, and had three lineup regulars hit .347 or higher.

He joined UCSB after serving as the head coach at Occidental for the previous three seasons. While heading the Tigers' program, Hawkins helped rebuild the program as Occidental enjoyed its most successful three-year run since 1991-94.

The Tigers' staff ERA dropped by over two full runs under Hawkins and the team was nationally-ranked in stolen bases in all three years with him at the helm.

Prior to Occidental, Hawkins served as the recruiting coordinator and infield and hitting coach at the University of Redlands. In three of his four years there (2005-08) Hawkins' teams led the conference in stolen bases and set a school record for batting average. Also in charge of the infielders, Hawkins' group led the conference in fielding percentage in three of his four years.

Hawkins had also served as the bench coach for the summer league team Palm Springs Power in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League for two seasons and was the Corvallis Knights' pitching coach in the summer of 2008.

He has also served as the head coach of two successful high school programs – Desert Hot Springs High in Calif. and Springfield High in Springfield, Ore.

Hawkins received his B.A. from Western Oregon State College and his Master's degree from Pacific University.