Roanoke athletics photo |
Matt McGuire will serve as the new head coach of the Roanoke
College Baseball program announced by Director of Athletics, Scott
Allison Friday. He will replace Larry Wood, who retired after
the 2012 season. The Maroons were 16-21 in 2012.
"We are very pleased to have Matt join our program," said
Allison. "His baseball pedigree, coupled with his
knowledge of both the ODAC and Roanoke Valley baseball scenes allow
us to hit the ground running. Matt stands ready to lead our
program to new heights, on and off the field.”
McGuire earned his stripes with several Assistant Coaching
stints. He returns to the Roanoke Valley after a year at ODAC
rival Randolph-Macon College and a three-year post at Ferrum
College. During the 2007-08 season, McGuire served as an assistant
at Tennessee Wesleyan College (NAIA). The Bulldogs won the
Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season and tournament
championship.
In 2006-07 McGuire joined his collegiate coach, Marlin Ikenberry,
at Division I Virginia Military Institute. The Keydets posted
their first wins over ranked opponents that season, defeating No. 3
Virginia and No. 10 Auburn. VMI set the school-record for
wins that year. In addition to the wins over the Cavaliers and the
Tigers, the Keydets defeated the University of Florida.
"I am extremely excited to be coming home to the Valley and landing
my first head coaching position at Roanoke College," said McGuire.
"I've known about the program for ten years. I am very
anxious to get started."
The program brings back a strong local nucleus of talent from the
Roanoke Valley, which include First-Team All-ODAC selection, Brian
Kluge, Third-Team All-ODAC pitcher Dalton Altizer, slugger Mark
Manthe and third basemen and fellow William Byrd products, Jacob
Clifton, Jacob McMillian, Chad Hill and Bradley Mattox.
Senior 2011 All-ODAC hurler Tyler Grouten also returns after a
tough season following a knee surgery last summer.
McGuire earned his bachelor's degree in 2003 from the College of
William & Mary, where he played baseball for the Tribe. An
infielder, McGuire was team captain of the Tribe in 2002 and the
W&M squad that captured the programs' first CAA Championship
and advanced to the NCAA Clemson Regional in 2001.