Steven Hardesty was hired at Santa Barbara City College in the summer of 2017 to serve as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator under head Coach Jeff Walker. Hardesty will work with the Vaqueros' infielders and coach third base while assisting in the day-to-day operations of the program.

Hardesty played at Ventura High, leading his team to a CIF-SS playoff berth. He was second-team All-Channel League in 2001. Played at Ventura College in 2002, starting at second base and designated hitter for Coach Don Adams. Received a scholarship to Trinity International University in Chicago, Ill., after freshmen season, playing 2003 as a starter at second base and designated hitter. Completed collegiate career at Westmont College as a 2-year starter at second base, third base and shortstop. Awarded Ron Smith Memorial Award in 2005 and was team captain in 2006.

Prior to joining SBCC, Hardesty was an assistant coach at Ventura College where he handled a variety of roles during his 9-plus seasons.  In 2011, Hardesty took over as the Pirates' outfield coach while remaining as the assistant hitting coach and became the Pirates' recruiting coordinator. In 2012. Hardesty was elevated to hitting coach and directed the Pirates offensive attack for the 2012-13-14 seasons. During this time, the Pirates finished twice among the top 25 offenses in the State while picking up a State Batting Champion in 2013, Conference Offensive Player of the year in 2014, four All-American hitters, three All-Southern California hitters and two players named to one of the All-Pacific Association teams.

Hardesty served as the primary handler of the Pirates' transfer program since 2011, coordinating the efforts to send Pirate baseball players to four-year colleges. Since 2011, the Pirates baseball program has sent 50+ athletes to four-year schools to continue their baseball careers, including three straight years (2013-14-15) with 10+ players transferring to play at four-year colleges. He also assisted in academic progress, a strength and conditioning program, fundraising program and several other aspects of the Pirates' program away from the field.

Prior to joining the Ventura College staff, Hardesty served as the top assistant for head coach Scott Deck for two years at Westmont College. In the fall of 2006, Hardesty was the interim head coach for the Warriors while the school conducted a national coaching search.

Hardesty has coached in a variety of summer and fall leagues. Starting in summer 2006, he served as the top assistant coach for the Bolivar A's of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Then in 2007, he was the Co-Head Coach of the Ventura County Royals, an independent summer team in Southern California. After a few years focusing on his duties at Ventura College, Hardesty returned to serve as the head coach of the So Cal Halos in the Premier Collegiate Baseball League in Southern California for 2013.

In the summer of 2013, he began working as Field Scout for Perfect Game Baseball, helping to evaluate players during the Western Tournaments in Arizona and California. Since 2013, he has served as an associate scout/assistant to area scout supervisor for the Chicago Cubs, providing evaluations on potential MLB draft picks in Southern/Central California and participating in the Cubs pre-draft workouts. Hardesty has additionally worked numerous baseball camps and provided private hitting/fielding/conditioning lessons and programs for the Ventura baseball community since 2007.

Hardesty earned his B.A. from Westmont College in Political Science in 2006. After graduation, Steven preceded to earn his M.S.S. degree in Sports Studies (emphasis in Strength and Conditioning) from the United States Sports Academy in 2009. In 2012, he completed his M.S. in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. Hardesty earned NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification in 2010.