UCLA assistant baseball coach David Berg recently resigned from the school, months after a university investigation concluded that “based on the preponderance of the evidence … he struck a student-athlete” last October.
As a result of the investigation, which was conducted while he was on paid leave, Berg was suspended for a month, had $10,000 in salary withheld — the equivalent of two months’ pay — and was suspended for seven games in February, according to redacted documents reviewed by The Times. He was also ordered to take violence prevention training.
Berg was widely regarded as one of the most dominant closers in college football history, helping the Bruins win the 2013 College World Series before joining the coaching staff.
A spokesman for UCLA’s athletic department declined to comment on the nature of Berg’s departure. He was replaced late last month by Griffin Barnes, the team’s former director of baseball operations and director of player development.
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“We can confirm that a thorough investigation was conducted on campus prior to the start of last season,” the spokesperson said. “Disciplinary action was taken and campus protocols were followed. While the individual is no longer employed by UCLA Athletics, this remains a personnel matter and as such we will not be making any further comment.”
UCLA coach John Savage did not respond to a phone call from The Times, and Berg was not immediately available for comment.
Berg was promoted to assistant coach in August 2023, after serving in various roles over the previous five years, including assistant student coach, director of baseball operations and volunteer assistant coach.
Berg was placed on paid leave on Nov. 2 after someone contacted UCLA athletic officials. She said she received a call from a player’s parent claiming Berg had “struck a child in the face on the court.”
According to 81 pages of documents reviewed by The Times, Berg told an investigator the contact occurred during a recruiting dinner at El Cholo restaurant in Santa Monica, attended by current players and coaches.
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Berg asked the player to switch seats at the dinner and sit next to Savage so that Berg could sit next to a recruit, but the player would not comply. After dinner, when the valet was collecting the cars, Berg said he saw the player complain about having to sit next to Savage and “shake his head.” Berg said he gave the player what he described as a “double tap on the cheek” that was not “violent in intent,” saying it was “inappropriate, but not physically aggressive.”
According to the investigation documents, nearly all five witnesses interviewed stated that the player was “at the very least surprised, while several described him as ’emotionally distraught’ or upset, almost to the point of tears.”
Berg told the investigator that he eventually texted the player an apology and apologized to him in person. He later called his parents and told them the incident was “supposed to be a joke” but that it “seemed worse” than it was.
In his statement to the investigator, Savage said Berg’s alleged actions were “in no way appropriate.” Savage said he told Berg “there was no such thing as a playful slap. I don’t know about you, but you can’t do that again.”
Savage also said he had known Berg since he played for the Bruins and “never experienced anything like this” regarding Berg’s behavior. Savage further told the investigator, “We never laid our hands on any player in any way.”
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Berg is the only Bruin player to be named All-Pac-12 Conference four times. He was UCLA’s closer when the team won the national championship in 2013. He played in all 10 postseason games, made six saves and made the final out to end the Bruins’ victory over Mississippi State in the College World Series.
After being selected by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, Berg posted a 4.63 ERA in three minor league seasons, reaching Triple-A Iowa in 2017.
UCLA finished the 2024 season with a 19-33 record, tied with Washington State for last place in the Pac-12 after a 9-21 record in conference play.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
