HALL OF HONOR

The University of Hall of Honor was es- 1978 2002 tablished in 1971 to recognize and honor those Tom Paciorek (BB, ‘66-68) Danny Davis (FB, ‘76-78) whose particpation and contributions enriched Homero Blancas (Golf, ‘60-62) Dwight Jones (MBB, ‘71-73) STAFF COACHING and strengthened the Athletics Department. Carol Lewis (TR, ‘82-85) 1981 (Golf, ‘70-73) All student-athletes are required to wait five Johnny Goyen (City Councilman) (Broadcasting) years after they complete their eligibility before Don Chaney (MBB, ‘65-68) (TR , ‘76-98) they qualify for the honor. Bill Rogers (Golf, ‘70-73) 2004 1971 1982 Billy Ray Brown (Golf, ‘82-85) Guy V. Lewis (MBB, ‘46-47) Alden Pasche (MBB Coach, ‘46-56) Ollan Cassel (TR, ‘60-61) Rex Baxter, Jr. (Golf, ‘55-57) Bo Burris (FB, ‘64-66) Carin Cone (Swimming, ‘58-60) Gene Shannon (FB, ‘49-51) Richard Crawford (Golf, ‘59-61) 1983 Lovette Hill (BB Coach, ‘50-74) 1972 Harry Fouke (AD, ‘45-79) Jolanda Jones (TR, ‘85-88) Gary Phillips (MBB, ‘58-61) Warren McVea (FB, ‘65-67) John E. Hoff (Tennis coach, ‘46-66) 1998 Ted Nance (SID, ‘56-79, 87-93) (MBB, ‘80-83) Michael Young (MBB, ‘80-84) 1973 Sue Garrison (Director of Women’s Athletics, ‘45-79) J.D. Kimmel (FB, ‘52) Flo Hyman (VB, ‘74-76) 2006 (TR, ‘80-81) Dwight Davis (MBB, ‘69-72) 1974 Guy V Lewis (MBB Coach, ‘56-86) Joe DeLoach (TR, ‘87-88) Hogan Wharton (FB, ‘57-58) (MBB, ‘81-84) Marty Fleckman (Golf, ‘64-66) Dick Post (FB, ‘64-66) Ken Spain (MBB, ‘66-69) Leonard Hilton (TR, ‘67-71) Elvin Hayes (MBB, ‘65-68) Wilson Whitley (FB, ‘73-76) David Hodge (FB, ‘75-79) Dave Williams (Golf Coach, ‘52-87) Dianne Johannigman (Swimming, ‘78-81) 1975 (FB Coach, ‘62-86) Margaret Redfearn (Kitchen) (Tennis, ‘82-85) Corbin J. Robertson (Philanthropist) Jason Phillips (FB, ‘87-88) 2000 Rolan Walton (BB ‘48-51; BB Coach ‘75-86) 1976 Otis Birdsong (MBB, ‘73-77) Rob Williams (MBB, ‘79-82) Elmo Wright (FB, ‘68-70) Leroy Burrell (TR, ‘86-90) Paul Carr (FB, ‘51-53) (Golf, ‘77-80) (Golf, ‘68-69) (BB, ‘81-83) Jason Morton (Tennis, ‘48-51) (Golf, ‘82-85) Don Boldebuck (MBB, ‘54-56) John and Rebecca Moores (Philanthropists) Rich Stotter (FB, ‘65-67) 1977 Andre Ware (FB, ‘87-89) Ken Hebert (FB, ‘65-67) Tom Wilson (Athletics Trainer, ‘53-93) Robert Newhouse (FB, ‘69-71) (TR, ‘60-63) 2006 INDUCTEES

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 33 ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION HISTORY

President Senior WomAN Administrator Women’s Coach 2008 - 2007 - DeJuena Chizer 1998 - Joe Curl 2007-08 * John M. Rudley 1994-07 Diane Hall 1990-98 Jessie Kenlaw 2003-07 G. 1989-94 Cathy Beene 1985-90 Greg Williams 1997-03 Arthur K. Smith 1976-85 Dot Woodfin 1995-97 Glenn A. Goerke Sports Information Director 1975-76 Connie Payne 1992-95 James H. Pickering 1999 - Chris Burkhalter 1994-99 Donna Turner COACHING STAFF 1990-92 Marguerite Ross Barnett Coach 1983-89 Richard L. Van Horn 1988-94 Ted Nance 1995 - Rayner Noble 1987-88 Rick Rivers 1977-82 1987-94 Bragg Stockton 1979-87 Jay Goldberg 1961-77 Philip G. Hoffman 1975-86 Rolan Walton 1960-79 Ted Nance 1956-61 Clanton W. Williams 1950-74 Lovette Hill 1952-60 Jack Scott 1954-56 A.D. Bruce 1949 Bill Lutz 1950-53 Walter W. Kemerer 1951-52 Bob McCarthy 1950-51 Jim Clemons 1948 Dalton Albert 1927-50 Edison E. Oberholtzer 1946-50 N.S. Patterson 1947 Ned Thompson Chancellor Football Coach Softball Coach 2008 Renu Khator 2007 - 2001 - Kyla Holas 2007-08 * John M. Rudley 2007 * 2003-07 G. Jay Gogue 2003-07 Golf Coach 1997-03 Arthur K. Smith 2000-02 2003 - Vince Jarrett 1989-95 Alexander Schilt 1993-99 1994-03 Mike Dirks 1986-89 Wilbur L. Meier 1990-92 John Jenkins 1987-94 Keith Fergus 1980-86 Charles E. Bishop 1987-89 1952-87 Dave Williams 1977-79 Philip G. Hoffman 1962-86 Bill Yeoman 1946-52 Harry Fouke 1956-61 A.D. Bruce 1957-61 Harold Lahar 1955-56 Swimming & Diving Coach Director of Athletics 1948-54 Clyde Lee 2002 - Mark Taylor 2002 - 1946-47 1996-02 Ginger Hurley 2001-02 * Larry Leckonby 1975-96 Phill Hansel 1997-01 Chet Gladchuk Volleyball Coach 1997 Richard Scamell 1986 - Bill Walton Tennis Coach 1997 Bill McGillis 1981-85 Dave Olbright 2004 - John Severance 1993-97 Bill Carr 1975-80 Ruth Nelson 1999-04 Jennifer Hyde 1992-93 * Bill McGillis 1974 Ruth Nelson/ 1993-99 Stina Mosvold 1987-92 Rudy Davalos Martha Hawthorne 1986-93 Cathy Beene 1986 * Michael Johnson 1984-86 May Nyholm 1984-86 Tom Ford Soccer Coach 1979-84 Daryl Gralka 1982-84 John Kasser 2007 - Susan Bush 1977-79 Karen Linden 1979-82 2000-07 Bill Solberg 1945-79 Harry Fouke 1998-99 Chris Huston Track & Field Coach 1998 - Leroy Burrell Faculty AthleticS Representative Men’s Basketball Coach 1975-98 Tom Tellez 1996 - Richard Scamell 2004 - 1988-96 James Benbrook 2000-04 Ray McCallum 1954-75 Johnny Morriss 1977-88 Michael T. Johnson 1998-00 Clyde Drexler 1950-54 Jack Patterson 1969-77 A.A. White 1993-98 1951-69 Frank Stovall 1986-93 * – Interim 1956-86 Guy V. Lewis 1950-51 Harry Fouke 1945-56 Alden Pasche

34 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL DR. RENU KHATOR & BOARD OF REGENTS

Dr. Renu Khator was unanimously appointed chancellor USF, where Khator was the second-highest-ranking of the System and UH president by the administrator, is a comprehensive, doctoral-extensive, research

Board of Regents in November, 2007. university with four campuses, including a medical school, in STAFF COACHING Khator, who had been serving as provost and senior vice Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. Last president at the University of South Florida, officially took office year, USF enrolled 44,000 students and had a budget of $1.6 in mid-January. billion. A devoted teacher, seasoned educational administrator Khator has a long history of community engagement, and respected scholar, Khator has a doctorate and master’s serving on numerous boards, including the Moffitt Cancer degree in political science from Purdue University and earned Hospital Board of Directors, the Hillsborough Education her bachelor’s degree from Kanpur University in India. Khator, Foundation Board, the Lowry Park Zoo Board, and she 52, has served as provost at USF since 2003, and was dean of recently served as a member of the National Advisory Council the College of Arts & Sciences for three years prior to that. From on Environmental Policy and Management. She has recently 1997 to 2000, she served as the director of USF’s Environmental been appointed to the National Science Foundation Integrative Science and Policy Department. She has served as professor of Graduate Education and Research Program Panel and the government & international affairs at the university since 1995. American Council on Education Forum on Internationalism and She is the author or editor of five scholarly books and numerous Multiculturalism. articles concerning global public administration, environmental She enjoys writing poetry and short stories, several of which policy and South Asian politics. have been published. In addition to her duties as provost, she A native of India, she came to the in 1974 after has been teaching a course in Hindi at USF this year. The her marriage to Suresh Khator. Both pursued graduate degrees Khators were honored by India this year, receiving the Jewel at Purdue University and later accepted teaching positions at of India, a special award recognizing non-resident Indians for USF. He is a professor of Industrial & Management Systems making outstanding contributions in their field. Engineering and director of computing for the College of The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Engineering at USF. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial included Renu Khator among its 2006 Outstanding American Dr. RENU KHATOR Engineers and serves as faculty athletic representative to the by Choice awardees. The award recognizes outstanding UH System Chancellor NCAA. They have two daughters, both ophthalmologists. achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Also in 2006, Khator She becomes the third person to hold the dual title of UH received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Purdue UH President System chancellor and UH president. She follows Arthur Smith, University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Outstanding who retired in 2003, and Jay Gogue, who became president of Educator Award from the American Foundation for Greek Auburn University, his alma mater, this summer. Language and Culture for enhancing Hellenic studies.

University of Houston System Board of Regents The Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Houston System (University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston- Downtown, University of Houston-Victoria, UH System at Cinco Ranch, UH System at Sugar Land, KUHT Television, and KUHF Radio). The Board of Regents is composed of nine voting members (chair, vice chair, secretary, and six members) and a non-voting student member. Every two years, the Governor of the State of , subject to Senate confirmation, appoints three members to the Board of Regents. Each member serves a six-year term.

WELCOME W. WILSON (‘49) CALVIN W. STEPHENS (‘72) JIM P. WISE (‘66) MICHAEL J. CEMO (‘68) DENNIS D. GOLDEN (‘76 O.D., ‘77) Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary

RAUL A. GONZALEZ (J.D. ‘66) LEROY L. HERMES (‘66) MORGAN DUNN O’CONNOR LYNDEN B. ROSE (‘83, J.D. ‘89) CHRISTOPHER SHARPE Immediate Past Chair

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 35 DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS DAVE MAGGARD COACHING STAFF

DAVE MAGGARD Director of Athletics Sixth Year California-Berkeley ‘62

He’s carried an Olympic flag and now, as one of the most respected leaders in intercollegiate He created a vigorous Bear Backer fund-raising organization that established endowed scholar- athletics, Dave Maggard is in his sixth year as director of athletics for the University of Houston ships in 13 sports and enabled facilities to be upgraded and maintained. He also established a Athletics program. comprehensive academic support and a faculty mentoring programs. Under his direction during the past five years, the Cougars have improved their academic The Golden Bears won 22 national championships in six different sports: water polo, rugby, achievements, won 20 Conference USA championships, and competed on a national level. In swimming, tennis, crew and gymnastics. California’s baseball team also finished third nationally addition, donations to the Cougar Pride fund-raising organization have nearly tripled and more during his tenure. Maggard also was instrumental in the resurgence of Cal’s football and bas- than $5 million has been spent to improve the UH weight room and the football, basketball, ketball programs that yielded the school’s best record and first NCAA Tournament appearance baseball, softball and facilities. in 30 years. Houston’s football team won the 2006 C-USA championship and played in a bowl game He has served on the NCAA Academic Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet and the chair of the for the third time in the last four seasons. The women’s softball team won 40 games for the Committee on Agents and Amateurism while at Houston, and served on more than 20 NCAA second straight year, captured both the conference regular season tournament titles in 2007, governing bodies while he was at Miami and California. and played in its second NCAA Regional since 2004. The men’s track and field team garnered Following his success at California and Miami, Maggard was named as Managing Director its fourth indoor track championship in five years last season, and captured the 2004 C-USA of Sports for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic games in 1993, and managed a staff of over cross-country title. 900 paid and volunteer members throughout the 1996 Olympic games. Some of his other duties In addition, the men’s basketball team enjoyed its best conference finish, produced three included overseeing site selection, the acquisition and building of all venues, and purchasing straight winning seasons and played in its second straight postseason in 2006. The women’s equipment for all competitions and training. In addition, Maggard organized 30 pre-Olympic basketball team featured a two-time All-Conference player and won the 2004 C-USA regular Test events, and was the primary interface between the International Olympic Committee and season and tournament championships. Sports Federations. The baseball team won the 2002 C-USA title, advanced to the NCAA Super Regional Cham- Following the 1996 Olympic games, Maggard was the Vice President of Sports Administra- pionships twice and produced the 2006 National Player of the Year. The golf team played in the tion for Turner Sports/Time Warner, Inc. and was the Executive Vice President for the Atlanta NCAA Regional Championships twice, and the women’s swimming and diving squad placed Thrashers hockey team until 2000. among the Top 25 teams at the last four NCAA Championships, and set a school record by A former Olympian himself, Maggard earned one letter in football and three letters in track winning 18 dual meets in 2006-07. The women’s track and field team won both the indoor and and field at California-Berkeley. There, he set a school record in the shot put that stood for more outdoor C-USA team titles in 2005 and 2006, and featured All-American sprinter Ebonie Floyd than 19 years, and was the recipient of both the Award for outstanding leader- in 2007. ship in track and field and the Jake Gimbel Award as California’s senior athlete exhibiting the Maggard came to Houston in January 2002, after serving as a consultant for the Sacramento best attitude toward athletics. An endowed scholarship in football carries his name. (Calif.) Sports Commission and UC-Davis Medical Center for one and a half years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and social science in 1962, and was He also brought a wealth of intercollegiate athletics experience and insight as well as a a teacher and coach at several Bay Area high schools while a member of the U.S. National history of integrity to Houston. He was the director of athletics at the University of Miami from Track Team and in training for the shot put for the 1968 Olympic Trials. There, he recorded the 1991-93, where the Hurricanes won a national football championship in his first year, and was fifth-longest shot put mark in history to earn a spot on the USA Team. At the Olympic Games, he the nation’s No. Two-ranked team in his second. The baseball team also finished third in the finished in fifth place despite being ill while he competed.

College , and the women’s basketball team advanced to the 1992 NCAA Sweet 16 Later that year, he returned to his alma mater, and served as an assistant track and field and won two Big East Conference Championships. Two other teams, men’s golf and women’s coach before assuming the head coaching duties a year later. In 1972, he was named the tennis, captured Big East Championships in their first seasons as league members. school’s director of athletics at age 32, making him the youngest AD in the nation. Off the field, Maggard led the Hurricanes to unprecedented success when he established Born January 12, 1940, Maggard and his wife, Carolyn, have three adult children: David, the school’s first endowed scholarship fund, and created an additional $6 million surplus in its Darin and Dana, and two grandchildren: Erika and Evan. athletics programs. In addition, 22 Hurricane student-athletes were named to the Big East All- Maggard was inducted into California’s Hall of Fame in 1996, and received both the U.S. Academic team and three received District Academic All-America honors. Miami’s football team Sports Academy’s Carl Maddox Sports Management Award and the International Olympic received honorable mention academic honors by the College Football Association in 1991. Committee’s Olympic Order that year. He received the General Robert Reese Nyeland Athletic Maggard arrived at Miami after serving 19 years as athletics director at his alma mater, the Director Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. University of California-Berkeley, which under his direction enjoyed success on several fronts.

36 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION COACHING STAFF COACHING

DR. RICHARD SCAMELL JOHN A. ROBINSON, DEJUENA CHIZER CHRIS BURKHALTER KEVIN FITE KATINA JACKSON MARIA C. PEDEN Faculty Athletics Jr., J.D. Senior Woman Associate AD - Associate AD - Associate AD - Associate AD - Representative Deputy Athletics Director Administrator Communications Compliance & Eligibility Development Life Skills

DERRICK MAYFIELD T.J. MEAGHER JAMES NICAS MATHILDA PETERSO N MIKE REA JAY TAKACH STEVEN BEATTY Assistant AD - Assistant AD - Assistant AD - Assistant AD - Assistant AD - Assistant AD - IT Facilities & Operations Compliance & Special Projects Development Business Services Ticket Operations Equipment Room Operations

LEE DE LEON GRANTSCOTT GREENE MIKE KOHLER MICHAEL O’SHEA Director of Marketing Director of Video Operations Asst. Vice President/GM Head Athletics Trainer ISP Sports

HEAD COACHES

LEROY BURRELL SUSAN BUSH JOE CURL JANE FIGUEIREDO KYLA HOLAS VINCE JARRETT RAYNER NOBLE Track & Field Soccer Women’s Basketball Diving Softball Golf Baseball

TOM PENDERS JOHN SEVERANCE KEVIN SUMLIN MARK TAYLOR RYAN TURNER BILL WALTON Men’s Basketball Tennis Football Swimming & Diving Cross Country Volleyball

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 37 2008 SUMMER CAMPS

If you have any questions or would like more information about the 2008 Cougar Baseball Camps, please call:

713-743-9396 or visit CougarBaseballCamp.com

The University of Houston UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON • 2008 BASEBALL CAMPS Baseball program will offer Camp Dates Type Ages several opportunities during COACHING STAFF Camp 1 June 11 - 14 Junior Skills 7-12 years 2008 for players to receive Camp 2 June 18 - 22 Junior Skills 7-12 years instruction in all areas of Çamp 3 June 27 - 29 Junior Skills 7-12 years the game from some of the Camp 4 July 9 - 12 Advanced Video 7-18 years finest minds in high school Camp 5 July 15 - 19 Advanced (Resident) 10-18 years and college baseball. Camp 6 July 16 - 19 Advanced (Commuter) 10-18 years

Under the leadership of UH “My kids learned a lot head coach Rayner Noble with an emphasis on the fundamentals, which the and assistant coaches young guys really need. Kirk Blount, Jorge Garza There was a lot of 1-on-1 attention and they create and Abe Arguello, the an environment that’s camps are designed to fun. They’re ready to go back.” teach young players the -- Brian Teykl, parent, finer points of the game in a Sugar Land, Texas -- positive, fun atmosphere.

The camp staff will be “My son Landon had a blast. He was so impressed with his camp designed to maintain an coaches. The coaches really 8:1 camper-to-coach ratio. related well to the campers and were such positive role models. ensuring that all campers His baseball skills increased, will receive the individual and he met new friends. Overall, it was a wonderful experience instruction that they need. for him.” -- Phyllis Appling, The primary goal of the parent, El Campo, Texas -- Cougar Baseball Camps is for all participants to walk

away with a positive attitude Call 713-743-9396 or visit about themselves and the wonderful game of baseball. CougarBaseballCamp.com to join today! 38 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL HEAD COACH RAYNER NOBLE

COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH RAYNER NOBLE

85 RAYNER NOBLE THE RAYNER NOBLE FILE HEAD COACH • Three NCAA Super Regional Appearances HOUSTON ‘88 • Seven NCAA Regional Appearances 14TH SEASON AT UH 457-333 CAREER RECORD • Three Conference USA Titles • Two Conference USA Tournament Titles • One Trophy Winner

COACHING STAFF • One Winner • Twelve All-Americans The impact of head coach Rayner Noble on the baseball program at his • 10 Freshman All-Americans alma mater is easy to see. In the win column, in the NCAA Tournament bids, in • One Award Finalist the Major League draft and in the classroom, Cougar Baseball has soared with • One Award Finalist Noble at the helm. • One R.E. “Bob” Smith Award Finalist In 13 seasons, Noble has guided the Cougars to three NCAA Super Regional • Three Conference USA of the Year berths, seven NCAA Regional appearances, three Conference USA regular-sea- son titles and two C-USA Tournament championships. • 26 All-Conference First-Team selections With their third NCAA Super Regional in a four-year span in 2003, Noble’s • Six Major League Players Cougars became only the 10th team nationally to accomplish that feat. • 43 Players Drafted Professionally He is the only baseball coach in school history to lead his team to five con- • Seven Team USA and Team Canada secutive NCAA postseason appearances and has accumulated a school-record Players and Assistant Coaches 457 wins during his outstanding career, including a record-breaking 48 wins in • Two-Time C-USA Coach of the Year both 2000 and 2002. • 2002 South Central Region Coach of the Year Noble joins former legendary men’s basketball NCAA postseason after racking up 39 wins during the regular season. Picked to head coach Guy V. Lewis finish fourth in the competitive C-USA race, Noble’s Cougar team topped those and current volleyball head expectations on the way to a second-place showing in the highly competitive coach Bill Walton as the league. only coaches in the history Individually, /DH established himself as one of the most of the UH Athletics Depart- decorated student-athletes in the history of the UH Athletics Department. Lincoln ment to lead their teams was named the winner of the and the Brooks Wallace Award, to more than 400 victories given annually to the nation’s top collegiate player, and received National Player at UH. of the Year honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings, In 2007, the Cougars CSTV.com and RosenblattReport.com. overcame a rash of injuries He became the first player in both UH and C-USA history to be named a to finish among the Top baseball national player of the year. Later, he would add another UH and C-USA Five leaders of Conference first to his resume when he was picked with the No. 4 overall pick by the USA. Jimmy Ce- Pirates in the annual amateur draft. sario and redshirt freshman Lincoln joined outfielder Matt Weston, Brett Logan, Isa pitcher Wes Musick were Garcia and pitcher Matt Farrington as professional signees following the end of named to the All-Confer- their collegiate careers. It marked the fifth consecutive season that at least five ence USA First Team with players signed professional contracts following their UH playing days. Cesario snaring additional It also was the sixth time in the last seven seasons that at least one Cougar honors as C-USA New- player was taken in the draft’s first five rounds. comer of the Year. In 2005, Noble’s team struggled at times but managed to come on strong Pitcher Aaron Brown down the stretch to win a pair of games at the C-USA Tournament and eliminate was taken in the ninth round No. 4 seed East Carolina.

of the annual first-year play- Outfielder Travis Tully and Farrington were named to the All-Conference er draft, the 15th Cougar USA First Team. Utility star Kevin Roberts and Justin Vaclavik were taken player selected in the Top in the first seven rounds of the annual amateur draft. 10 rounds since 2000. In 2004, the Cougars finished among the leaders in Conference USA and saw In 2006, Noble led his six players sign professional contracts at the end of the season, including pitcher Cougar team back to the Garrett Mock and catcher Rob Johnson, who were taken in the first five rounds. In 2003, Noble’s Cougars established themselves as a member of the

40 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL HEAD COACH RAYNER NOBLE

ABOUT RAYNER NOBLE COACHING STAFF COACHING Full Name: James Rayner Noble Birthdate: August 7, 1961

Education • Spring Woods High School, Houston, Texas 1979 • University of Houston, B.B.A. in management 1988 • University of Houston, M.A. in sports management 1991

Family Wife: The former Lisa Martin Children: Hannah and Kelsey

Coaching Experience 1995 - Head Coach, Houston 1991-94 Assistant Coach, Rice 1987-90 Assistant Coach, Houston

Head Coach Rayner Noble with his wife Lisa and daughters Hannah (left) and Kelsey (right). Head Coaching Team Notes • 457-333 (.578) in 13 years at Houston nation’s elite programs. Guiding his team through the season began. • Three NCAA Super Regional Berths (2003, 2002, 2000) a myriad of injuries, Noble led the Cougars to the After taking over the pitching coach responsi- • Seven NCAA Regional Berths (2006, 2003, 2002, 2001, NCAA Regional at College Station championship. bilities, Noble helped lead the Cougar pitching staff 2000, 1999, 1997) • Three Conference USA Titles (2002, 2000, 1999) The Cougars accomplished that feat the hard way, to one of the finest seasons in school history. The • Two C-USA Tournament Titles (2000, 1997) winning back-to-back games against host Texas 2003 Cougar pitchers set a new UH single-season • Four 40-win seasons A&M on the final day of the tournament, includ- record with 605 — becoming the first Coaching Honors ing a come-from-behind 7-6 win in 10 innings in staff to ever reach the 600- milestone in • 2002 ABCA South Central Region Coach of the Year the championship game — a win that will be long one season — and became only the second group • 2000 C-USA Coach of the Year remembered in Cougar Baseball history. in school history to throw more strikeouts than in- • 1999 C-USA Coach of the Year With that performance, his team cemented its nings pitched. Coaching Accomplishments place in the final rankings of all four national polls, Noble led the Cougars to one of the greatest • Worked closely with pitcher/DH Brad Lincoln, a 2006 the fourth time in a five-season span that UH finished seasons in UH history during the 2002 campaign. National Player of the Year by many organizations, and the No. 4 overall pick in the annual amateur draft. with a Top 25 ranking. Armed with a young squad consisting mostly of • Mentored four players who advanced to play in Major Five Cougars were drafted in the first seven sophomores, Noble led UH to a school-record-tying League Baseball. rounds of the 2003 amateur draft with Ryan Wagner 48 wins and a berth in the NCAA Super Regional. • Guided 50 players who have signed contracts, including three first-round selections. and Brad Sullivan becoming the first first-round His Cougars ran away with the Conference • Coached 20 players who have earned All-America honors selections in school history. USA regular-season title — the team’s third in a Wagner also earned First-Team All-America four-year span — and finished as the runner-up MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS coached • Michael Bourn Outfield honors as the team’s closer, the second straight at the league’s annual postseason tournament • Tim Byrdak Pitcher year that a Cougar received that award. against host East Carolina. With a 25-9 record • Jesse Crain Pitcher Noble guided the Cougars through an emo- against nationally-ranked opponents in 2002, the • Jose Cruz, Jr. Outfield Houston Astros • Rob Johnson Catcher Mariners tional stretch before the year started, when former Cougars finished in the Top 10 of all four national • Shane Nance Pitcher head coach and volunteer assistant coach Dr. Bragg polls, including a spot at No. 9 in the final National • Mark Quinn Outfield Stockton passed away less than two weeks before Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. • Chris Snyder Catcher Arizona Diamondbacks • Ryan Wagner Pitcher NOBLE’S YEAR-BY-YEAR After finishing the C-USA regular season and • Woody Williams Pitcher Houston Astros tournament, Noble guided the Cougars out west, • Anthony Young Pitcher Houston Astros Overall Conference where his team swept through the NCAA Regional Year W L Pct. W L Pct. Playing Experience at Mesa (Ariz.) on the way to claiming UH’s second 2007 28 28 .500 12 12 .500 College 2006 39 22 .639 18 6 .750 NCAA Regional championship. 1980-83 Lettered in baseball at Houston 2005 29 30 .492 16 13 .552 Individually, Sullivan, Jesse Crain and Chris 2004 30 29 .508 19 11 .633 College Playing Honors 2003 37 30 .522 18 12 .600 Snyder were honored as All-Americans, with Crain 1983 First-Team All-America 2002 48 17 .738 22 7 .759 and Snyder being drafted in the second round of 2001 29 30 .492 20 7 .741 MVP 2000 48 18 .727 21 4 .840 the amateur draft. Sullivan also became the first 1981-83 All-SWC First Team 1999 40 24 .625 20 7 .741 player in Conference USA history to be honored as 1998 34 25 .576 21 6 .778 Professional 1997 40 23 .635 19 8 .703 a consensus All-American. 1985-86 (AAA) 1996 29 28 .509 9 15 .400 For his team’s impressive efforts, Noble was 1984-85 Columbus Astros (AA) 1995 26 29 .473 6 18 .333 recognized as the South Central Region Coach of 1983-84 Daytona Beach Astros (A) Totals 457 333 .578 221 126 .637 1983 Drafted by the Houston Astros, Fifth Round

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 41 HEAD COACH RAYNER NOBLE

the Year by the American Baseball Coaches As- PIPELINE TO THE PROS sociation. It was the third Coach of the Year honor In 13 seasons, UH head coach Rayner Noble has in his career. guided 50 players who signed professional contracts He also became the third-winningest coach in after their collegiate playing days. That includes 11 players drafted following the 2000 season. UH history with the Cougars’ 5-4 win at Baylor on Pitcher Brad Lincoln became the first player in UH May 14, 2002. That win moved him past Stockton, history to be taken in the Top 10 picks of the annual the man who preceded him as the Cougar skipper. amateur draft when he was selected with the No. 4 overall pick by the in 2006. In 2001, a young Cougar squad — consisting

COACHING STAFF In 2003, pitchers Ryan Wagner and Brad Sullivan of seven true freshmen in the lineup at one became the first players in school history to be taken in the first round and made UH the only school — at the — struggled at times. Nevertheless, the Cougars college or high school level — to have two first-round were impressive enough to advance to their third Noble was a three- draft picks that year. consecutive NCAA Regional and finished second time All-SWC selec- Wagner later became the first player in Cincinnati tion and capped Reds, UH and C-USA history to play at the Major in Conference USA with a 20-7 record. his senior season League level in the same season that he was drafted. Noble’s sixth season with the Cougars in 2000 in 1983 by being Wagner made his MLB debut only 40 days after pitch- named a First-Team ing his last game as a Cougar. was simply off the charts. In orchestrating all the All-American. Below are the names of the players who have components necessary for a successful season, continued their baseball careers professionally after the program had its best season in more than 30 working with Noble. Bold Italics indicates played at Major League level. years and came within one of reaching the NCAA College World Series. Along the way, UH won the Year Player Team Rd. their inaugural season in the league. For their efforts, Conference USA regular-season and tournament 2007 Aaron Brown Seattle 9th the team was rewarded with a berth to the NCAA South 2006 Brad Lincoln Pittsburgh 1st championships, hosted an NCAA Regional and Super I Regional. Matt Weston San Francisco 12th Regional and earned national respect as one of the Brett Logan Washington 26th In 1996, Noble led his team against 20 ranked Isa Garcia St. Louis 34th country’s elite programs. teams, including a win at No. 4 Texas Tech to snap the Matt Farrington San Diego FA As the architect of Houston baseball’s sensa- 2005 Kevin Roberts Milwaukee 5th Red Raiders’ 28-game home winning streak. Justin Vaclavik Pittsburgh 7th tional accomplishments, Noble’s coaching peers in the During his first season as a collegiate head coach, Travis Tully Arizona 23rd conference voted him as the league’s 2000 Coach of Gene Flores Boston FA the Cougars compiled 26 victories, including a win over 2004 Garrett Mock Arizona 3rd the Year, the second straight season that he received No. 1 ranked LSU. Rob Johnson Seattle 4th the award. Matt Varner San Diego 11th Houston knew it had a winner in Rayner Noble the Rickey Putman San Diego 20th In 1999, Noble guided his Cougars to the C-USA day it hired him in May 1994. The subsequent wins over Patrick Breen Tampa Bay 21st championship, the first regular season conference Brett Cooley St. Louis 36th nationally-ranked teams, the conference regular-season Cole Bruce Los Angeles FA championship in 39 years. In addition, he and his team and tournament titles, NCAA Regional bids and national Brandon Roznovsky Montreal FA hosted the program’s first NCAA Regional on campus 2003 Ryan Wagner Cincinnati 1st ranking simply drive the point home. Brad Sullivan Oakland 1st at Cougar Field as the No. 1 seed. After taking over a program that had been at Michael Bourn 4th Despite leading a young team of 10 freshmen and Danny Zell 5th the bottom of the old Southwest Conference for three Brian Henderson Tampa Bay 7th 10 sophomores, the Cougars finished second in the consecutive years prior to his arrival, Noble started Hyung Cho Seattle FA 1998 conference race with a 21-6 league record. 2002 Jesse Crain Minnesota 2nd the turnaround process, rebuilding the program from Chris Snyder Arizona 2nd After joining Conference USA in time for the the ground up. Keith Whatley Arizona 41st 1997 season, Noble and his Cougar team wasted little Nathan Mitchell Chicago (N) FA He installed his hustling style of play on offense time in making their presence felt within the league. 2000 Greg Runser Texas 5th and defense, and his teams have quickly ranked among Kyle Crowell Oakland 8th The Cougars ended the year with a 40-23 record and Shane Nance Los Angeles 11th the best in school history. He worked on recruiting Kris Wilken Baltimore 12th captured the C-USA Tournament championship during Brandon Caraway Philadelphia 12th J.P. Woodward San Diego 14th Noble’s Career Pitching Statistics at UH Eric Lee Houston 18th Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SV IP H R ER BB K HB Aaron Melebeck Kansas City 19th 1980 3.41 3-5 9-5 5 * 1 63.1 67 25 24 32 39 1 Duncan McAdoo San Diego FA 1981 4.07 5-1 24-2 0 6 55.1 56 31 25 32 34 3 Jeremy Swindell Detroit 20th 1982 3.18 5-3 20-9 0 0 76.1 55 28 27 35 47 0 Jason Pekar San Francisco 30th 1983 1.31 12-3 19-8 7 1 102.2 73 25 15 29 78 2 Jarrod Bitter San Diego 33rd Totals 2.75 25-12 76-28 12 8 297.2 261 109 91 128 198 6

1999 Erick Burke Detroit 11th Bryan Moore Florida 13th Noble’s Career Hitting Statistics at UH Brandon Caraway Colorado 18th Year G Avg. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-A Shane Nance Los Angeles 24th 1980 42 .293 116 29 34 7 2 5 20 * 32 17 2-5 1998 Shaun Skrehot Pittsburgh 38th 1981 35 .310 87 24 27 5 2 3 15 29 14 4-6 1997 Goefrey Tomlinson Kansas City 4th Dustin Carr Tampa Bay 22nd 1982 24 .196 56 13 11 3 1 1 10 21 4 4-5 Mark Manbeck Philadelphia 35th 1983 51 .351 148 40 52 14 0 2 31 46 17 8-13 1995 Jason Farrow Pittsburgh 27th Totals 152 .305 407 106 124 29 5 11 76 128 52 18-29 Tom Maleski Chicago (N) 32nd Bold Italics indicates team leader * - indicates tied for team lead

42 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL HEAD COACH RAYNER NOBLE

a 1.32 ERA to become the first UH pitcher to be named All- NOBLE’S MILESTONE WINS NOBLE VS. THE OPPOSITION America. He was also the first Cougar to earn SWC Player No. Score Date of the Year honors. Team W L Pct. STAFF COACHING Alabama 4 5 .444 #1 UH 5, at Texas State 1 Feb. 11, 1995 After his stellar senior season in 1983, the lefthander #50 UH 10, TCU 9 April 20, 1996 Arizona 2 0 1.000 #100 UH 10, Illinois 2 Feb. 28, 1998 was selected in the fifth round of the major league draft Arizona State 2 4 .333 #150 UH 7, Saint Louis 6 April 10, 1999 by the Houston Astros. Noble was drafted ahead of future Baylor 14 18 .438 Cal State Fullerton 2 8 .200 #200 UH 4, at Saint Louis 0 April 28, 2000 big leaguers like Drabek, , Kevin Seitzer, Terry Charlotte 21 8 .724 #250 UH 10, #17 Baylor 4 Feb. 20, 2002 Steinbach, Mike Aldrete and Tom Pagnozzi. Cincinnati 23 4 .852 #300 UH 5, Louisiana-Lafayette 1 March 2, 2003 Dallas Baptist 0 1 .000 #350 UH 7, Cincinnati 6 April 24, 2004 Noble advanced all the way to the -A level in the East Carolina 8 14 .364 #379 * UH 3, USF 2 April 24, 2005 Astros’ organization but nagging arm injuries prompted him Fresno State 1 0 1.000 #400 UH 3, at UC Irvine 2 March 10, 2006 Houston Baptist 0 1 .000 #450 UH 2, at #23 Tulane 1 April 21, 2007 to reassess the direction his career was taking. In 1987, Illinois 6 3 .667 with a wife and growing family, he decided to stop playing Incarnate Word 1 1 .500 # - Became winningest coach in school history Kansas 1 0 1.000 professional baseball. Kansas State 1 0 1.000 — signing his type of student-athlete by selling with personal One door closed, but another door opened. In the Lamar 9 3 .750 conviction the academic and athletic success of the university fall of 1987 he returned to UH as an assistant coach under Long Beach State 2 4 .333 Louisiana-Lafayette 8 2 .800 from which he earned two degrees. Stockton. By 1990, with Noble coaching the pitchers and Louisiana Tech 2 0 1.000 As a result, the Noble-led Houston program has playing a major role in recruiting, the Cougars recorded one Louisville 17 9 .654 Loyola Marymount 2 1 .667 evolved. It started with a modest 26 wins in his rookie year of the most successful seasons in years, finishing third at the LSU 10 13 .435 of 1995 and has grown into four 40-win seasons, including NCAA South Regional in Baton Rouge, La. Marshall 5 2 .714 McNeese State 10 3 .769 school records of 48 wins in 2000 and 2002. Along the way he helped refine the skills of UH pitchers Memphis 28 7 .800 His enthusiasm and work ethic helped make him suc- Woody Williams and Vaughn Eshelman, both of whom played Miami (Fla.) 1 0 1.000 Michigan 7 0 1.000 cessful as a college and professional player and then as at the Major League level in the 1990s. Monmouth 3 0 1.000 an assistant coach. That fact was not lost on UH athletics Noble then went to work across town at Rice University New Mexico State 1 0 1.000 officials when they began searching for a head coach. The for three years under head coach . While New Orleans 0 1 .000 Northwestern State 5 8 .385 university’s search went na- there, he helped rebuild the Ohio State 3 0 1.000 tionwide, but it really didn’t Owls’ program and lay the Oklahoma 2 8 .200 Oklahoma State 0 1 .000 need to go any further than foundation for their recent Oral Roberts 2 1 .667 the school’s record book, success. On May 26, 1994, Pacific 0 0 .000 Pepperdine 2 2 .500 which Noble personally re- his career came full circle Prairie View A&M 0 0 .000 wrote from 1980-83. Noble when he was named the Princeton 4 0 1.000 is no stranger to success; Cougars’ seventh head Rice 20 43 .317 Sacred Heart 0 0 .000 it has followed him every- coach since 1947. Saint Louis 28 2 .933 where he’s been. It didn’t take long for Sam Houston State 17 4 .810 San Diego 1 6 .143 Though originally the first Noble-coached San Diego State 2 4 .333 from California, he began UH team to give an indi- San Francisco 0 0 .000 San Jose State 1 2 .333 his career at Spring Woods cation of what to expect South Alabama 0 1 .000 High School in Houston. As from the program. While Southern Miss 21 16 .568 Stephen F. Austin 3 1 .750 the top hitter and ace of the playing at the Winn-Dixie TCU 13 11 .542 Spring Woods staff that in- Showdown Tournament in Texas 7 19 .269 cluded future major leaguer New Orleans, the Cougars Texas A&M 12 23 .343 Texas-Arlington 1 1 .500 Roger Clemens, the Tigers upset No. 1 ranked LSU Texas-Pan American 1 1 .500 advanced to the semifinals 4-3. To prove it wasn’t a Texas-San Antonio 9 1 .900 Texas State 14 5 .737 of the state playoffs. fluke, the team beat No. 8 Texas Southern 7 0 1.000 When Noble joined ranked and eventual SWC Texas Tech 5 9 .357 Tulane 20 18 .526 the University of Houston champion Texas Tech later UAB 27 7 .794 as a freshman in 1980 his- in the year. UC Irvine 2 4 .333 UC Santa Barbara 0 1 .000 tory soon repeated itself. Noble and his wife UCF 11 3 .786 With the Cougars he would Lisa have two daughters, UCLA 1 0 1.000 eventually become a team- Kelsey and Hannah, who UNC Greensboro 0 1 .000 USC 4 3 .571 mate of Doug Drabek, but graduated from the Uni- USF 17 10 .630 again it was Noble who versity of Houston with a Vanderbilt 1 0 1.000 Washington 0 1 .000 was in the spotlight. In a bachelor’s degree in educa- Washington State 0 1 .000 stellar 1983 season, Noble tion in December 2007. The Wichita State 2 3 .400 Totals 457 333 .578 won 12 games and posted family lives in Houston.

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 43 ASSISTANT COACH KIRK BLOUNT

at Houston. 25 KIRK BLOUNT That year, pitcher ABOUT KIRK BLOUNT ASSISTANT COACH Shane Nance set a then- Full Name: James Kirk Blount /RECRUITING COORDINATOR UH single-season record Birthdate: November 6, 1971 with 119 strikeouts. HOUSTON ‘95 Education FIFTH SEASON AT UH One year later, Blount helped lead the Cougars to • Waltrip High School, Houston, Texas, 1990 • Angelina Junior College, A.A. 1992 one of the finest seasons • University of Houston, B.A. in Communications 1995 in school history. UH set

COACHING STAFF a new school record with Family 48 wins and fell just one Wife: The former Laura McAnally win short of advancing to Former Cougar Kirk Blount begins his fifth season with the UH program in Coaching Experience the NCAA College World 2003 - Assistant. Coach, Houston 2008. The Houston native works closely with the Cougar catchers and serves as Series. 1999-00 Assistant Coach, Houston the team’s recruiting coordinator. The Cougar pitching 1998 Director of Operations, Alabama In 2007, Blount guided sophomore Luis Flores, who was named to the All- staff was a major reason for 1996-97 Volunteer Assistant Coach, Alabama Conference USA Second Team, while centerfielder Zak Presley was named to the team’s success in 2000. the C-USA All-Freshmen squad. In addition, his recruiting class was named one Coaching Accomplishments UH hurlers compiled a • 2007 signing class was ranked among the nation’s of the nation’s best by Baseball America magazine. 3.58 team ERA and hurled best by Baseball America magazine. In 2006, Blount’s catchers directed a pitching staff which saw each of its 440 strikeouts with Nance • 2006 senior catcher Brett Logan was drafted by the weekend starters finish among Conference USA’s Top Seven individual leaders tossing 117 strikeouts, the . in ERA, making the Cougars the only league team to accomplish that feat. then-second highest mark • 2005 signing class was ranked No. 19 nationally by Brett Logan was taken in the 31st round of the amateur draft by the Wash- the staff of StudentSportsBaseball.com and in the in Cougar single-season nation’s Top 40 by Collegiate Baseball. ington Nationals, while Flores was named a Freshman First-Team All-American, history. • Brad Lincoln became the seventh player to throw thanks to his offensive production and leadership behind the plate. Blount began his 100+ strikeouts in a season in 2005. In 2005, Blount’s pitchers and catchers combined to throw 488 strikeouts, coaching career at Ala- • In 2004, Cougar pitching staff led league in ERA the fourth-highest total in UH single-season history, and record a 4.01 ERA to tie bama where he worked and strikeouts in C-USA games only. for second in Conference USA. In addition, righthander Brad Lincoln became just • Cougar pitching staff co-led C-USA with 4.60 ERA for three years from 1996 and .271 opposing batting average in 1999. the seventh player in school history to throw triple-digit strikeouts in one year. to 1998. He served as a • Shane Nance (119 strikeouts in 1999) and Kyle Blount displayed his prowess on the recruiting trail as his 2005 signing class volunteer coach from 1996 Crowell (117 strikeouts in 2000) recorded the then was ranked No. 19 nationally by the staff of StudentSportsBaseball.com and was to 1997 and worked as two highest marks in UH single-season history. ranked in the nation’s Top 40 by Collegiate Baseball. the director of operations • Member of two Alabama coaching staffs which In his first year back with the Cougars as a full-time assistant in 2004, Blount advanced to the NCAA College World Series in 1998. (1996-97). made an immediate impact on the UH pitching staff. Although injuries forced him During his tenure in to rely on 10 different starting pitchers, Blount guided the Cougar hurlers to a Alabama, the Crimson Tide Playing Experience pair of shutouts and posted an an impressive 1995 Lettered in baseball at Houston nearly 450 strikeouts 152-51 record, enjoyed as a staff. three consecutive appearances to the NCAA postseason with back-to-back berths By the time that to the NCAA College World Series in 1996 and 1997. Alabama captured the SEC the season had ended, Tournament championships in both 1996 and 1997, while the 1997 team advanced UH pitchers led Confer- to the NCAA College World Series title game before falling to LSU. ence USA in ERA and Blount lettered at UH in 1995 during Noble’s first year as the Cougar skipper. strikeouts in league He appeared in 26 games with games. 19 starts behind the plate and Blount returned added a , and to UH in the fall of eight RBIs. 2003 after working in Before enrolling at UH, private business for Blount attended Angelina Ju- three years. Prior to nior College in Lufkin, where that, he served as an he was a two-year starter at assistant coach at UH catcher. During that time, he for two years. batted .313 and was a member In 1999, the of the Angelina Dean’s List. Cougar pitching staff Blount is a 1990 graduate tied for the Confer- of Waltrip High School, where ence USA lead with he maintained a 4.0 grade a 4.60 ERA and .271 point average. He was an All- opponents’ batting av- District selection as a senior erage and tossed five and earned the Army Academic shutouts. That team Leadership Award. also advanced to the Blount and his wife Laura championship game live in Houston. of the NCAA Regional Coach Kirk Blount and his wife Laura

44 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL ASSISTANT COACH JORGE GARZA

lish teacher at Lamar 23 JORGE GARZA Senior High. ABOUT JORGE GARZA COACHING STAFF COACHING ASSISTANT COACH He joined the staff Full Name: Jorge Lazaro Garza II /HITTING/THIRD BASE COACH at Lamar Senior High Birthdate: April 19, 1972 TEXAS TECH ‘94 in August 1997 as an Education THIRD SEASON AT UH assistant coach and • Robert E. Lee Senior High School, Houston 1990 helped lead the team • Texas Tech, B.A in English 1994 to the 1998 District Family championship and a Single Bi-District title during Children: Sarah, Jacob and Kathryn his first season with the Coaching Experience Jorge (pronounced George) Garza begins his first season as a full-time program. 2005 - Vol. Asst. Coach, Univ. of Houston member of head coach Rayner Noble’s staff in 2008. However, it will be his Prior to joining La- 1998-05 Head Coach, Lamar Senior High School third season overall with the program after working the previous two years as a mar Senior High, Garza 1997-98 Asst. Coach, Lamar Senior High School 1994-97 Asst. Coach, Robert E. Lee Senior High School volunteer assistant coach. began his professional In his new role, Garza (whose first name is pronounced George) will serve career at Houston’s Coaching Accomplishments as the team’s hitting coach while working with the infielders. Robert E. Lee Senior • In 2007, Bryan Tully recorded eight outfield assists, the fifth-highest mark in UH single-season history... Tully In 2007, Garza worked with the Cougar , including Bryan Tully, High School in Janu- ranks fifth in career history with 13 outfield assists. who recorded a team-best eight assists from right field, the fifth-highest total in ary 1994. He served • Tully threw out two runners in a game against Princeton UH single-season history. as an assistant coach on March 11, 2007, becoming only the third player in Altogether, his outfielders posted a combined 14 assists. That marked the UH history to record multiple outfield assists in a with the varsity baseball game twice. second straight season that Garza’s players recorded a Top-15 outfield team and helped lead • 2006 senior outfielder Matt Weston was drafted in the mark in Cougar single-season history. the school to back-to- 12th round by the . He wasted little time in making his impact felt with the Cougars in 2006. His back Bi-District cham- • Outfielders recorded 13 assists in 2006. • Tully and Jake Stewart recorded two outfield assists in outfielders recorded 13 assists in 2006 with Bryan Tully and Jake Stewart recording pionships in 1995 and a game in 2006, marking first time since 1995 that two games with two assists each against Tulane and LSU, respectively. 1996. UH outfielders recorded multiple assists in a game. That marked the first time in more than a decade that two different UH In May 1998, he outfielders recorded mulitple assists from the outfield in a game. served as the head coach of the Alief Diamondbacks, a semi-pro/college league Garza, whose first name that featured a mixture of area-college players who traveled and competed around is pronounced George, was an southwest Texas. award-winning prep head coach He graduated from Texas Tech in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in English at Lamar Senior High prior to his and finished his academic career with honors, earning a place on the Dean’s List stint with UH. After taking over in the spring and summer of 1994. the reins in August 1998, he built A Houston native, Garza prepped at Robert E. Lee Senior High School. As a program which earned three member of the baseball team, he competed for a district championship against a District championships (2005, Waltrip High School team led by current Cougar assistant coach Kirk Blount. 2004, 2002) and five Bi-District He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Texas High crowns (2000-04) and compiled School Baseball Coaches Association and the Houston Area Baseball Coaches an impressive 158-57 record Association. during his tenure. Garza is single and has three children: Sarah, Jake and Kathryn. He lives He was named the District in Houston. 17-5A Coach of the Year and Coach of the Year by the Hous- ton Athletic Committee in 2002 after guiding the Redskins to the District 17-5A championship and a Bi-District title. Two years later, he was recognized as the District Coach of the Year and received a similar honor from the Houston Athletic Committee as the Redskins cap- tured the 2004 District 18-5A crown and the Bi-District cham- pionship. In addition to his coaching duties, Garza served as an Eng- Coach Jorge Garza with his son Jacob and daughters Kathryn (middle) and Sarah.

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 45 ASSISTANT COACH ABE ARGUELLO

the state playoffs. ABOUT ABE ARGUELLO 45 ABE ARGUELLO Arguello joined Full Name: Abraham Elias Arguello VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH the coaching ranks as OUTFIELDERS/FIRST BASE COACH Birthdate: Aug. 19, 1975 the head baseball and HOUSTON ‘07 Education FIRST SEASON AT UH head football coach at • Lamar Senior High School, Houston 1993 Pin Oak Middle Oak • Houston, B.S in education/human health & performance 2007

School in 2002 and Family

COACHING STAFF remained there through Wife: The former Charity Lykins Children: Christopher and Melanie 2004. There, he helped Former letterwinner Abe Arguello became the newest member of the build the first baseball Coaching Experience University of Houston baseball staff in August when he was named a volunteer 2007 - Vol. Asst. Coach, Univ. of Houston program at a Houston 2005-07 Assistant Coach, Lamar Senior High School assistant coach for the 2008 season. Independent School 2002-04 Head Coach, Pin Oak Middle School Arguello (whose name is pronounced Ar-Gway-Yo) will work with the Cougar 2000 Assistant Coach, Columbia Angels select team District middle school. 1998 Student Asst. Coach, Univ. of Houston outfielders and catchers and assist with the team’s hitting and on-campus recruit- As of the summer of ing. He also will serve as the team’s first-base coach. Playing Experience 2007, HISD boasts of 1997 Lettered in baseball at Houston “Abe is a very knowledgeable baseball person. He carries himself well with a seven middle-school tremendous amount of enthusiasm,” head coach Rayner Noble said. “He absolutely baseball programs. loves the University of Houston and this baseball program.” A Houston native, he graduated from Lamar High in 1993 after playing four Arguello joins the Cougar program after serving three seasons as an assis- years with the baseball team. As a senior, he served as a team captain and helped tant coach at Lamar High School under current UH assistant coach Jorge Garza. lead the team to its first playoff appearance in 25 years. A talented all-around He assisted in the design and implementation of the daily practice schedule and student-athlete, Arguello received the 1993 Houston Astros scholarship and the worked closely with the Redskin pitchers. 1993 and 1994 Bellaire Optimist scholarships to continue his education. During his first season, he helped lead the Redskins to the 2005 District Arguello sat out the 1993 season as a redshirt at Houston Baptist before 18-5A championship and guided Lamar High to three consecutive appearances in transferring to Texarkana Junior College where he played in 1994. Arguello transferred to UH and was a member of the Cougar Baseball program as a player from 1995 to 1998, receiving a varsity letter in 1997 when the Cougars captured the C-USA Tournament championship during their first year in the league. In 1998, he served as a student assistant coach with the Cougar program. In that role, he assisted player development in the classroom and on the field and helped with the maintenance of Cougar Field. Following his Cougar days, Arguello went into private business from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he served as an assistant coach for the Columbia Angels, a prestigious select team, for head coach Clay Hill. Arguello received his bachelor’s degree in education/human health and performance with a minor in physical education from Houston in 2007. He is a member of the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association, Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and the National Baseball Coaches Association. Arguello is married to the former Charity Lykins, and the couple has two children, Christopher and Melanie. The family lives in Houston.

Coach Abe Arguello with his son Christopher, wife Charity and daughter Melanie

46 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL SUPPORT STAFF

TRACI CAULEY DALE JONES DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH STAFF COACHING HOUSTON ‘95 WASHBURN ‘94 SIXTH SEASON AT UH SEVENTH SEASON AT UH FOURTH SEASON WITH BASEBALL

Traci Cauley enters her sixth year as the director of operations for the Cougar Dale Jones begins his fourth season with the Cougar Baseball program as Baseball program and works in all non-coaching aspects. the team’s strength and conditioning coach and his seventh year overall in the In her current role, she coordinates all contracts and travel, serves as the UH Athletics Department. He is responsible for the speed, strength, flexibility, team’s special events coordinator and works as a liaision to visiting teams and nutrition and conditioning of all Cougar players. Athletics Department staff. In addition to his strength and conditioning duties, Jones also serves as an In addition, Cauley assists with recruiting, handles registration and account- adjunct lecturer for the Health and Human Performance Department. He also has ing for all Cougar Baseball Camps, manages correspondence and relations with worked as a senior advisor for strength and conditioning at The Edge Extreme alumni, former players and program supporters and coordinates all new student- in Flower Mound, Texas. He also has been a speaker at several strength and athletes’ enrollment into classes. conditioning and sports-specific coaches’ clinics. Cauley also assists in budget preparation and implementation and super- Jones joined the UH Athletics Department in 2001 after teaching weightlifing vises the daily office functions of Cougar Baseball. During the last three seasons, instruction in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Houston for a year. she has added the responsibility of monitoring a portion of the team’s academic In 2003, he received his master’s degree in exercise science from UH. progress. He also served as the head trainer and director of operations at The Ex- In the fall of 2007, the Cougar Baseball program posted a cumulative 2.8 change Athletic Club in Dallas, beginning in 1998. team grade point average with more than half of the players finishing the semester Prior to that, he served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher. at North Texas during the 1997-98 season and was a volunteer strength and Before joining the UH Baseball staff in 2002, Cauley worked for seven conditioning coach at SMU in 1997. years as an elementary school teacher, educating students in the third, fourth He earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology with magna cum and fifth grades. laude honors from Washburn in 1994. In addition, he was recognized as the She is a life-long supporter of the UH Athletics Department and is a Lifetime 1994 Physical Education Major of the Year and the NASPE Physical Education member of the Houston Alumni Organization. Major of the Year. Cauley earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1995 from As a student at Washburn, Jones worked closely with the men’s basketball, the University of Houston. During her days as an undergraduate at UH, Cauley women’s basketball, baseball and softball teams and helped develop strength also worked in the football office and in the athletic director’s office. programs for students and university staff. A native Houstonian, she was a 1991 graduate of Cypress Creek High. Her Jones is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches As- parents, Ken and Judy Baxter, began her interest in UH at a young age, and the sociation. He also is a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National family’s commitment and dedication to Cougar Athletics has remained constant Strength and Conditioning Association and is a certified sports performance coach through the years. by USA Weightlifting. She is married to Pat Cauley, a former UH baseball player and current radio He is married to the former Nicole Sommer. The couple lives in Pearland. analyst for the Cougars. They live in Houston.

Director of operations Traci Cauley and her husband Pat Assistant strength and conditioning coach Dale Jones and his wife Nicole

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 47 SUPPORT STAFF

EARL WARE BRIAN EVANS ATHLETICS TRAINER Student MANAGER CINCINNATI ‘07 SECOND SEASON AT UH FIRST SEASON AT UH COACHING STAFF

Earl Ware begins his first year with the Cougar Baseball program as the Brian Evans enters his second year at UH as a student manager with the athletics trainer in 2008. In that role, he supervises the daily treatment of student- Cougar Baseball program during the 2008 season. He will be a fixture in the bullpen athletes, oversees the rehabilitation progress of injured players and maintains the at Cougar practices and home games, working closely with the UH hurlers. team’s medical records. A native of Clear Lake, he graduated from Clear Lake High School in 2005. He also works closely with the Cougar Football program during the fall while Evans played baseball until he was 18 years old in various leagues and was an studying towards his master’s degree in sports administration at UH. All-State trumpet performer as a senior. Prior to attending UH, Ware served as a student athletics trainer at Cincin- Born May 16, 1987, Evans is the son of Stuart and Kathy Evans. As a junior nati. As an undergraduate, he worked with the football, women’s track and field at UH during the 2007-08 school year, Evans is majoring in finance. He is single and baseball teams. and lives in Houston. In addition to his Cincinnati duties, he also worked with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 and the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2004 season. KEVIN FITE Ware received his bachelor’s degree in health promotion and education with ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR an emphasis in athletics training from Cincinnati in 2007. COMPLIANCE AND ELIGIBILITY A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ware graduated from Fairfield High in 1998. NORTHERN IOWA ‘86 After spending his first two years as an undergraduate at Ohio State, Ware joined SEVENTH SEASON AT UH the U.S. Army and served as an engineer. He was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in September 2005 and served there until December 2006. Ware remains active in the military. He is a member of the the National Athletics Trainers Association, Ohio Athletics Trainers Association, Great Lakes Athletics Trainers Association. The son of Earl and Gina Ware, he was born July 14, 1979. He is single Kevin Fite begins his seventh year as the Associate Athletics Director for and lives in Houston. Compliance and Eligibility at the University of Houston. In his role at UH, Fite oversees all aspects of the athletics department’s compliance efforts including NIKE SHEFFER the review of eligibility-related matters for all 16 varsity sports and approximately 420 student-athletes. MANAGER/BULLPEN CATCHER He also serves as the administrative liaison for baseball and the Athletic SEVENTH SEASON AT UH Department’s senior staff. In that capacity, Fite oversees all aspects of the baseball program, including budgeting, game management, facilities and postseason-event coordination. In 2006, Fite was selected by the NCAA to serve as the assistant tournament director at the NCAA Houston Super Regional, hosted by Rice. In 2004, he served as the tournament director for the Conference USA Baseball Tournament, the first league postseason event held at the Cougars’ home facility. Fite came to Houston after spending more than six years at the NCAA Nike Sheffer begins his seventh year at UH as a manager with the Cougar headquarters – first in Overland Park, Kansas, and then in , Ind. He Baseball program. spent the first four years as a Student-Athlete Reinstatement Representative and A native of Riverside, Calif., Sheffer is responsible for the maintenance of later became an Enforcement Representative. Cougar equipment and the upkeep of the UH clubhouse. He also serves as one A 1986 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree of the team’s bullpen catchers. in history education, Fite later earned his master’s degree in higher education Sheffer moved to the Houston area in 1992 and graduated from Lamar from Iowa State University in 1991. He began his collegiate professional career High School. There he worked with the Redskins baseball program and current at Iowa State and later worked at Oklahoma State. assistant coach Jorge Garza for four years. A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Fite and his wife Robbie have two children: son,

The son of Dr. Ede Marie Apostolakis, Sheffer was born Feb. 24, 1983, Billy, and daughter, Sarah. in Loma Linda, Calif., and is majoring in kinesiology. He is single and lives in Houston.

48 2008 HOUSTON BASEBALL SUPPORT STAFF COACHING STAFF COACHING

TYLER ADAMS WHITNEY ANDERSON DAYLON BROWN MIKE CANON JEFF CONRAD Student Manager Video Operations Field Maintenance Ticket Operations Sports Information

TOM DANE LAWRENCE DANIEL CODY DEAN KRIS GIESE JOSH HUBEL Facilities & Operations Marketing Student Athletics Trainer Ticket Operations Video Operations

KEVIN KRENEK KEITH MARSHALL JEREMY McDONALD GRANT MEHLHOFF FATIMA SALAZAR Field Maintenance Ticket Operations Facilities & Operations Sports Information Administrative Assistant

LORI SELZER EMILY STEWART ADAM TAYLOR DAVID TIDMORE SARAH YOUNGDALE Academics Counselor Administrative Intern Public Address Announcer Cougar Authentic Cougar Authentic

WWW.UHCOUGARS.COM 49 CATALYST TM The most advanced bat technology available today. Exclusive X-1 composite design provides the ultimate combination of performance and durability.

EXOGRID® The bat that’s dominating the game. Exogrid’s hybrid technology gives you unmatched power and performance through handle stiffness and strength.

OMAHA® A time-tested winner. The Omaha’s ST+20 alloy has proven itself in championship after championship.

From top to bottom, this year’s Slugger lineup is loaded with proven performers. Like the time-tested Omaha. The hard-hitting Exogrid. And the revolutionary X-1 Catalyst. Our stiff-handle technology has dominated the game for more than a decade. So make Louisville Slugger part of your team’s www.slugger.com lineup. Because whether you choose aluminum, hybrid or composite ® technology, you’re swinging the best there is when you swing Louisville Slugger. © 2007 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. Exogrid & Bi/Fusion are trademarks of VyaTek Sports.