Wednesday,
August 11, 2004
KOVASH
RESIGNS AS BASEBALL COACH AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
Kovash
to be named assistant coach at NCAA Division I Birmingham
Southern
CLINTON,
S.C. —
Presbyterian College officials announced today that Doug
Kovash has resigned as head coach of the college’s
baseball program.
Kovash,
who just completed his 11th season at the helm of the baseball
program, will take over as an assistant coach at NCAA Division
I Birmingham Southern College where he will be in charge of
pitchers and serve as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
“This
was the toughest decision that I have had to make
professionally,” said Kovash. “Presbyterian College and
the baseball program have been great for me and my family. The
PC family and the Clinton community welcomed us 11 years ago
and it will be tough to leave them behind. This is a great
opportunity professionally to work for Birmingham Southern
Baseball and head coach Brian Shoop. I look forward to working
for a great coach and a great program that has won a national
championship (NAIA in 2001) and this past season advanced to
their first NCAA Division I Regional.”
“We
are happy for Doug and his family as they leave PC to pursue
this great opportunity,” said Director of Athletics, Dr. Bee
Carlton. “Coach Kovash has done an outstanding job with our
baseball program for more than a decade. He has recruited
quality student-athletes and has built the program into of the
most competitive in NCAA Division II. Doug has accomplished so
much during his time at PC and we will miss him a lot. He will
be hard to replace.”
During
his tenure with the Blue Hose, Kovash compiled a 320-284
overall record while finishing in the top half of the South
Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular season six times including
the 1998 title. In addition, he has led the program to five
30-win seasons, two Food Lion/SAC Tournament titles, and a
pair of NCAA Division II postseason appearances (1998 &
2003). While at PC, he coached eight players that went on to
play professionally in the minor leagues.
This
past fall, he led the Blue Hose to an 25-30 overall record and
a fourth place finish in the SAC regular season race. This
year was a special one for Kovash as he reached a pair of
career coaching milestones. On February 22, he won his 300th
game at PC and followed with his 400th career
coaching victory on March 19.
Carlton
said a search will begin immediately for a replacement.
Assistant Coach Mark Johnson will take over as Interim Head
Coach until a new coach has been hired.