Crawdad Chronicle: Alumni in College/ High School Ranks

As players retire, many look to stay in the game by becoming coaches at the high school, community college or four-year college level. For many, it's a chance to return to their roots and give back to the schools that gave them a chance to succeed. 

In 2014, a total of 33 former Crawdads players, coaches and managers donned uniforms to lead their respective teams as head coaches or assistants, with eight returning to schools where they formerly played. In what was a highly successful season for several of them, including national and state tournament berths, two programs - Hinds (MS) Community College, with pitching coach Chad Bradford, and South Kitsap (WA) High with assistant Jared Prince - advanced to title games. Four other college programs advanced to NCAA or NAIA national tournaments.

Below is an overview of the 2014 season involving former Crawdads in the amateur coaching ranks.

 

COLLEGE HEAD COACHES:

Brian Drent ('95, OF) - Morningside (IA) College. In his third season, Drent (86-73) coached the Mustangs to an overall record of 27-25, including an 11-9 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA). The fourth-place finish in the league gave Morningside a berth in the GPAC post-season tournament, where the Mustangs advanced to the semifinal round.

Bob Mumma ('93-'94, C/1B) - University of Maryland-Baltimore County. In his third season, Mumma (45-101) led his alma mater to an overall record of 17-28, including a 7-17 mark in the American East Conference (NCAA Division I), which placed them in a tie for sixth in the conference. The Retrievers' season was highlighted by a seven-game win streak, which included a three-game sweep of Albany.

John Musachio ('97, P) - Oakland (MI) University. In his seventh season (136-228), Musachio led the Grizzlies to a 12-33 overall record, including a 7-17 in the program's first year in the Horizon League (NCAA Division I). Oakland finished fifth in the conference and earned a berth in the post-season conference tournament, where the Grizzlies were eliminated in two straight games. The highlight of the season came on 2/18/04, when the Grzzlies upset #18 Oklahoma at Norman. Also this year, Musachio claimed the school's all-time record in wins.

Gregg Ritchie ('98, hitting coach) - George Washington (DC) University. In his second season (40-62) at his alma mater, Ritchie led the Colonials to an overall record of 20-30, including a 12-15 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference (NCAA Division I). GWU finished tied for eighth place in the league and missed the A-10 post-season tournament.

Brian Schmack ('96, P) - Valparaiso (IN) University. In his first season as the head coach, Schmack led the Crusaders to a 23-26 overall mark, including a 12-12 record in the Horizon League (NCAA Division I). Valpo swept Youngstown St. three straight games in the final regular season series to earn the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League post-season tournament. There, the Crusaders advanced to the semifinals. 

Cliff Smith ('05, P) - Elizabethtown (PA) College. In his eighth season (176-143), Smith took the Blue Jays to an 18-19 overall record, including an 8-13 record in Commonwealth Conference (NCAA Division III) play. The season was highlighted by a 6-3 stretch during a week-long Florida trip that featured two wins against top-25 programs. Elizabethtown also took down 15^th- ranked Shenandoah in a non-conference tilt. The Blue Jays finished tied for sixth and did not qualify for the league's post-season tournament.

Tracy Woodson ('99, Manager) - Richmond (VA) University. Woodson joined the Spiders this season after seven seasons at Valparaiso. In his first season, the Richmond, VA native led the Spiders to a 24-28-1 overall record, including a 13-12 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The season was highlighted by a win at ACC power NC State, Woodson's alma mater, as well as a fifth seed in the A-10 tournament. 

 

COLLEGE ASSISTANT COACHES:

Jon Benick ('04, 1B) - Hitting Coach, Longwood (VA) University. Benick, a member of head coach Brian McCullough's staff, completed his second season with the Lancers, during which the team went 22-33 overall, 9-18 in the Big South Conference (NCAA Division I). Longwood finished last in the Big South's North Division and did not play in the league's post-season tournament.

Adam Boeve ('04, OF) - Head Assistant/ Hitting Coach, Northwestern (IA) College. Boeve, a member of head coach Brian Wede's staff, completed his fifth season as a Red Raiders assistant. The 20^th ranked team in NAIA finished 42-13 overall and 16-4 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, good for second in the league. The season was highlighted by a 16-game winning streak, as well as a second straight trip to NAIA regional.

Chris Heintz ('97, C-1B) - Hitting Coach, University of South Florida. Heintz, a member of head coach Lelo Prado's staff, completed his fourth season as the hitting coach at his alma mater. The Bulls finished with a record of 27-31 overall, including a 10-14 mark in The American Athletic Conference's inaugural season, good for fifth place. The 2014 season was highlighted by a seven-game win streak to open the season and a win over then fifth-ranked Louisville in the league's post-season tournament.

Chris Hernandez ('04, P) - Pitching Coach, Cal State-Los Angeles. Hernandez, a member of head coach Vince Beringhele's staff, completed his second season as the Golden Eagles pitching coach. CSULA finished 16-32 overall and 14-25 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (Division II). The Golden Eagles finished ninth in their conference and did not qualify for the post-season tournament.

Trevor Hurley ('09-'10, P) - Graduate Manager, Kansas State. Hurley, a member of Brad Hill's staff, completed his second season at his alma mater. Coming off a Big XII championship in 2013, the Wildcats started the 2014 season 1-7 during a west coast swing before putting up a 12-game winning streak. However, Kansas State struggled in the conference and finished 25-30 overall, 5-19 in the Big XII, last in the nine-team league. The Wildcats did not qualify for the league's post-season tournament.

Vinny Lopez ('11, assistant coach) - Assistant Coach, University of Southern California. In his first season with the Trojans under head coach Dan Hubbs, USC went 29-24 overall, 16-14 in the Pac-12 Conference, which left the Trojans in sixth place. USC took two out of three against NCAA tournament team Oregon State in the final weekend of the regular season, but did not receive an NCAA berth in the regionals.

Greg Norton ('93, 3B) - Hitting Coach, Auburn (AL) University. In his first season with the Tigers under head coach Sonny Galloway, Auburn 28-28 went overall, which included a 10-20 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers finished seventh in the SEC West and did not qualify for the league's post-season tournament.

Eddie Prasch ('06-'07, 3B) - Graduate Assistant, Georgia Tech. Prasch, a member of Danny Hall's staff, completed his second season with the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech finished at 37-27 overall, 14-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ninth-seeded Yellow Jackets stunned the ACC by winning its post-season tournament and advancing to the NCAA regionals at Oxford, MS, where they lost twice to Washington to end their season.

Josh Sharpless ('04, P) - Volunteer Assistant, La Roche College (PA). Sharpless, a member of Chase Rowe's staff, completed his third season with the Redhawks. La Roche used a 14-game winning streak to build a 32-14 overall record and took the regular season title in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III) at 15-1. The top-seeded Redhawks went on to win the AMCC post-season tournament and advanced to the NCAA Mideast Regional. LaRoche lost two of three games to end its season.

Sean Snedeker ('96-'98, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Oral Roberts University (OK). Snedeker, a member of Ryan Folmar's staff, completed his second year with the Golden Eagles. ORU finished the season at 30-26 overall and 15-15 in the Southland Conference (NCAA Division I). The season was highlighted by a season sweep of in-state rival Oklahoma and a win over nationally-ranked Oklahoma St. ORU finished ninth in the conference and did not advance to the league's post-season tournament.

Juan Thomas ('93, 1B) - Volunteer Assistant, Augustana University (SD). Thomas, a member of Tim Huber's staff, completed his third season at the Division II school. The Vikings put together a memorable season by going 41-16 overall and in the process set a school record for wins. After posting a 25-8 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the second-seeded Vikings won the league's post-season tournament. AU went on to the D-2 Central region and won the program's first NCAA win. However, the Vikings went 1-2 to end its season.

 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSISTANT COACHES:

Chad Bradford ('96, P) - Pitching Coach, Hinds (MS) Community College. Bradford, a member of Sam Temple's staff, completed his second season at his alma mater. The Eagles put together a memorable season with a 40-21 record, which included a 17-7 record in the MACJC. The second-seeded Eagles lost in the conference tournament, but then won the Region XXIII title to move on to the NJCAA Division II World Series. HCC took the national championship game to the 11^th inning before losing to Mesa (AZ) CC.

Pete Pryor ('96, 1B) - Assistant Coach, Sacramento (CA) City College. Pryor, a member of Derek Sullivan's staff, completed the 13^th season at his alma mater. The Panthers used a 15-game winning streak to post a 24-13 record overall, 12-9 in the Big 8 Conference. A fifth-place finish moved SCC into the Nor-Cal Division I playoffs where the Panthers lost two out of three to Cabrillo College in the first-round series.

Mickey Scala ('02, OF) - Hitting Coach, Oakton Community College (IL). Scala, a member of Bill Fratto's staff, completed the eighth season with his alma mater. OCC went 30-23 overall and finished fifth in the Skyway Conference with an 8-6 record. The Raiders won the first game of the Section 4 tournament, but then last two straight to end the season.

 

HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACHES:

Chuck Antczak ('95-'97, C) - Riverview High (Sarasota, FL). In his third season, Antczak led the Rams to a 16-12 overall record, including a 3-3 mark in Class 8-District 8 play. RHS won the league's district tournament before dropping a first-round game in the Region 2 tournament.

Russ Bayer ('03, P) - South Forsyth High (Cumming, GA). In his fourth season with the metro-Atlanta school, Bayer led the War Eagles to a 10-16 record overall, 5-9 in Region 6-AAAAAA.

Jay Meyer ('94, P) - Lee's Summit West (MO) High. In his eighth season with the Kansas City area school, Meyer led the Titans to a 27-4 record and a district championship. LSW advanced to the sectional round of the Class 5 state playoffs.

Steve Schorzman ('08, P) - Bremerton (WA) High. In his third season, Schorzman led the Knights to a 10-8 record overall, 9-7 in the Class 2A Olympic League.

Barry Shelton ('96, 1B) - Franklin County High (Rocky Mount, VA). In his third season, Shelton led the Eagles to a 9-12 record overall, 5-6 in the Piedmont District. The Eagles went on to lose in the first round of the Conference 3 tournament.

Keanon Simon ('08 OF) - El Reno (OK) High. In his first season as a head coach at the Oklahoma City area school, Simon led the Indians to a 16-17 record, including a 7-7 mark in Class 5A-District 1. El Reno lost two of three in the regional tournament to end the season.

 

HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT COACHES:

Brad Corley ('06, OF) - Assistant Coach, Gulfport (MS) High. Corley, a member of Jamie McMahon's staff, completed his first season at the school. The Admirals went 18-12 overall, 9-5 in district, and advanced to second round of the 6A playoffs.

Denny Crine ('95, P) - Assistant Coach, Foothills High (Henderson, NV). Crine, a member of Matt Iglitz's staff, completed his 11^th season at the school. The Falcons went 19-15 overall, 5-5 in the Southeast League and advanced to the semifinal round of the Sunrise Region tournament.

Jose Luis Lopez ('00, '02, P) - Assistant Coach, Calallen High (Corpus Christi, TX). Lopez, a member of Steve Chapman's staff, completed his eighth season at the school. The Wildcats went 32-5 overall, 11-1 in district play and advanced to the 4A Regional quarterfinal.

Jared Prince ('10, OF) - Assistant Coach, South Kitsap (WA) High. Prince, a member of Marcus Logue's staff, completed his first season at the school. The Wolves went on to the state 4A finals, where they lost to Puyallup in the title game. Overall, South Kitsap went 22-6 and won the Narrows League title with a perfect 12-0 record.

Chris Shelton ('02, C-1B) - Assistant Coach, Cottonwood High (Salt Lake City, UT). Shelton, a member of Jason Crawford's staff, completed the fourth season at his alma mater. The Colts posted a 19-8 overall record with a 12-2 mark in Region 2. Cottonwood lost two straight in the Class 5A playoffs.

Scott Vollmer ('94, C) Assistant Coach, La Sierra High (Riverside, CA). Vollmer, a member of Michael Palo's staff, completed his 14^th season at the school. The Eagles posted a 22-7 overall record, including a 14-1 record and a first place finish in the River Valley League. La Sierra advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.