Thomas Announces Hiring of Walck; Major Restructure of Coaching Staff

AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken head baseball coach Kenny Thomas announced the addition of Jason Walck as an assistant coach on Saturday, July 3, 2010.

Due to the hiring of Walck, Thomas also took the time to announce a major restructure of the USC Aiken baseball coaching staff with current assistant coach Michael Holder becoming not only the pitching coach, but also the assistant head coach.

The staff will also still consist of Josh Eachues and Brian English, who were both on staff during the 2010 USC Aiken baseball campaign.

“This is something that I have been thinking about for a very long time,” said Thomas. “I have put many hours of thought into this and I fully believe that this restructure helps us immensely. I also believe this staff is as good as we could possibly put together. It is a perfect mix as it has plenty of experience and just an overall group of talented individuals.”

Walck has spent the last three seasons as a member of the New Orleans coaching staff. For his final two seasons with the Privateers, Walck served as the first base coach and worked with the hitters and outfielders. He was also used as a batting practice pitcher, while also handling various gameday responsibilities.

This summer Walck is working as an assistant coach of the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In the summer of 2009, Walck coached the Silver Springs Thunderbolts in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.

Prior to joining the staff at UNO, Walck worked with the Mid-Maryland Red Sox and as an assistant coach at Reservoir High School in Columbia, Md.

Walck was a four-year starter at Shepherd University where he was a part of a conference championship team.

“In addition to helping to work with our hitters, I will have Coach Walck working with the position players, focusing particularly on the infielders,” remarked Thomas. “I believe that as a coach, Jason will bring some new energy to our staff. He was highly recommended and I am really excited to have him here.”

Holder is entering his seventh season with the Pacer baseball program after joining the program from his volunteer assistant coaching position with Vanderbilt.

A former catcher, Thomas believes his background will lead to him being a great pitching coach.

“Some of the best pitching coaches out there are former catchers,” noted Thomas. “I truly believe that he will be a great fit as our pitching coach.”

Eachues, who is coaching in the Coastal Plains League this summer, is described by Thomas “as a great teacher of the game.” Thomas notes that as part of the new structure he will be working with the Pacer catchers and hitters.

English will continue to work with pitchers and outfielders, but will be heavily involved in the Pacer recruiting efforts where Thomas notes that he can easily be described as a “recruiting guru.”

The coaching staff continues to pace a USC Aiken baseball program that has won 30 or more games in each of the last 10 seasons, while also having played in five of the last six NCAA Division II Tournaments.