Wesley College Athletic Director Mike Drass has announced that Bret Underwood has been promoted to head baseball coach.  Underwood, who has served as the assistant coach for the last six seasons, replaces Tripp Keister who accepted the managerial position with the Gulf Coast League Nationals, the rookie-level affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

Underwood, who will serve as head coach on an interim basis, has primarily worked with the hitters and infielders as well as coaching first base for the Wolverines.  Since arriving at Wesley in 2006, the Wolverines made the Conference playoffs each season, won the ECAC South Region title in 2010 and have enjoyed the winningest six-year run in school history (157-92-1, .630)

A four-year starter at Delaware State University at first base, Underwood was one of the most prolific hitters in school history and was named first team All-MEAC in his three final seasons. He still holds the Hornets career record for hits (272), while ranking in the top three in home runs (50), runs batted in (224), runs scored (185), and extra base hits (107) while hitting .354. As a sophomore, he finished 19th in Division I with 77 RBIs, which is also a school-record.

After completing his senior year at Delaware State in 2004, he signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox. Underwood attended Dickinson High School in Wilmington, Del., where he was a two-time all-state selection.

The Wolverines open the 2012 season on February 18, when they host Penn State-Harrisburg in a 12:00 pm doubleheader.