Kevin McMullan
Encyclopedia
Kevin "Mac" McMullan is an American baseball coach
, currently the assistant baseball coach for the University of Virginia
Cavaliers
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCCA).
As a member of the Cavaliers baseball coaching staff, McMullan recruits and trains players to develop the quality of the baseball program at the university; under his tutelage baseball classes have achieved rankings of 12th (2004), 10th (2005), 8th (2006), 13th (2007), and 14th (2008) in inter-college NCCA competitions. Four of five teams coached by McMullan have been placed in USA's top 40 for fielding percentage
.
; at college he was a multi-sport athlete. He played as catcher
for the IUP baseball
baseball team and as linebacker
for the IUP football
team
; he was awarded the honor of All-America
n for both sports. During his college career he was a part of six championship
teams at IUP. After graduating in 1990 he became a professional baseball
player for the New York Yankees
(1990–92) and the Salt Lake City Trappers
(1990 and 1992). In 1990, he was a Pioneer League All-Star
with the Trappers.
McMullan began coaching on the University of Virginia baseball program in 2003. Previously he had coached within other college programs and was a manager
and coordinator
for the Atlanta Braves
, coaching the club's catchers and hitters during spring training
.
In 2001–02, he was a recruiting coordinator, hitting coach, and catching instructor for the Pirates, East Carolina University
's baseball team
; he later became the Pirate's acting head coach
. Under McMullan's three year tenure
, the Pirates recorded 138 wins and 46 losses, finished within the top 25 teams each year, and won three conference championships and an NCAA Regional Championship.
Players coached by McMullan have gone on to play in Major League Baseball
, including Ryan Zimmerman
(Washington Nationals
), Mark Reynolds
(Arizona Diamondbacks
) and Joe Koshansky
(Colorado Rockies
).
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, currently the assistant baseball coach for the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCCA).
As a member of the Cavaliers baseball coaching staff, McMullan recruits and trains players to develop the quality of the baseball program at the university; under his tutelage baseball classes have achieved rankings of 12th (2004), 10th (2005), 8th (2006), 13th (2007), and 14th (2008) in inter-college NCCA competitions. Four of five teams coached by McMullan have been placed in USA's top 40 for fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Biography
McMullan studied at the Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
; at college he was a multi-sport athlete. He played as catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the IUP baseball
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
baseball team and as linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the IUP football
IUP Crimson Hawks football
The IUP Crimson Hawks football program represents Indiana University of Pennsylvania in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Crimson Hawks play their home games at George P. Miller Stadium in Indiana, Pennsylvania....
team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
; he was awarded the honor of All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n for both sports. During his college career he was a part of six championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
teams at IUP. After graduating in 1990 he became a professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1990–92) and the Salt Lake City Trappers
Salt Lake City Trappers
The Salt Lake City Trappers were an independent Pioneer League minor league baseball team, based in Salt Lake City from 1985 to 1992. The Trappers played their home games at Derks Field, located at the present-day site of Spring Mobile Ballpark. The team is best known for winning 29 consecutive...
(1990 and 1992). In 1990, he was a Pioneer League All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
with the Trappers.
McMullan began coaching on the University of Virginia baseball program in 2003. Previously he had coached within other college programs and was a manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and coordinator
Coordinator
Coordinator may refer to:*In academics: one who administers the research and teaching activities of the other professors.*Coordinators , genetically engineered humans in the Gundam SEED series...
for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, coaching the club's catchers and hitters during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
In 2001–02, he was a recruiting coordinator, hitting coach, and catching instructor for the Pirates, East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
's baseball team
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
; he later became the Pirate's acting head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. Under McMullan's three year tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
, the Pirates recorded 138 wins and 46 losses, finished within the top 25 teams each year, and won three conference championships and an NCAA Regional Championship.
Players coached by McMullan have gone on to play in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, including Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Wallace Zimmerman is a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Washington Nationals. A 6-foot 3-inch player from the University of Virginia and Kellam High School, Zimmerman has been a member of the Nationals since his debut on September 1, 2005...
(Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
), Mark Reynolds
Mark Reynolds (baseball)
Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known both for his power-hitting abilities and for his record-breaking strike out totals...
(Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
) and Joe Koshansky
Joe Koshansky
Joseph S. Koshansky is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is presently a member of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.-Early life:...
(Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
).
Links
- Sweep confirms potential – Al Myatt 2011, retrieved 12 March 2011
- Kevin McMullan Biographical Information, retrieved 12 March 2011
- Kevin McMullan biography: northjersey.com, retrieved 12 March 2011
- All Star Baseball Academy 2009, retrieved 12 March 2011