Barry Craddock, a longtime member of The College of Wooster baseball staff, has been named the interim head coach for the 2019-20 academic year, announced the College's director of athletics, Keith Beckett, on Monday. He'll provide a year of transition for the program upon the retirement of Tim Pettorini at the conclusion of the 2019 season.
"It is with enthusiasm that I welcome Barry Craddock as the interim head coach for the 2019-20 season," said Beckett. "Barry has been a cornerstone of the program with Coach Pettorini for over a decade. His positive influence on recruiting and all facets of the program are and have been significant. Coach Craddock's knowledge of the game and strategies for success are at the highest level. He is an exceptional coach and will provide a seamless transition in this role."
"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to continue the strong tradition of Wooster baseball, having worn the uniform for 20 years as a player and a coach," said Craddock. "I'm thankful to Sarah Bolton, Carolyn Newton, and Keith Beckett for this opportunity to lead the program at my alma mater. I look forward to great success on and off the field for the Fighting Scots."
Craddock's been instrumental in helping Wooster post a 373-135 record since rejoining the staff prior to the 2008 season. Since then, the Fighting Scots have advanced to the NCAA Div. III World Series twice, with the 2009 squad finishing as the national runner-up. Within the North Coast Athletic Conference, Wooster's won the league title seven times during Craddock's second stretch as an assistant at his alma mater.
Craddock previously was an assistant coach at Wooster from 1996-99. During that stretch, the Scots went 154-43-1 and reached the 1997 NCAA Div. III national championship game.
In between his stints at Wooster, Craddock transformed the Denison University baseball program from an also-ran into a regular contender for championships in the NCAC. Overall, he compiled a school-record 182 victories (182-130) from 2000-07. Highlighting Craddock's tenure were a pair of 30-win seasons, and under him, the Big Red advanced to the finals of the NCAC Tournament three times (2003, 2004, 2005).
As a student-athlete, Craddock was a member of a Mideast Regional championship team. It was his senior season (1994), when the left-hander went 3-2 with two saves, a 4.32 ERA, and 33 strikeouts over 56 1/3 innings. For his career, Craddock was primarily a reliever, appearing in 52 games and earning seven saves – the third-most in team history in both categories upon graduation.
Craddock majored in mathematics at Wooster.
A national search for Wooster's next head coach will take place during the 2019-20 academic year.