Coaching Staff University of Tennessee
Rod Delmonico Head Coach (Liberty, 1980) 88 16th Season 588-326 (.643), College World Series 1995, 2001 he Southeastern Conference’s longest tenured baseball coach is the University of Tennessee’s The Delmonico File TRod Delmonico, who is set to begin his 16th season at the helm of the Volunteers in 2004. The longtime leader of the Big Orange ranks sixth on the league’s all-time victories list with 588 Full Name: Rodney James Delmonico and needs 47 more wins to move past former Auburn skipper Hal Baird into sixth place. Birthdate: May 14, 1958 The winningest coach in Tennessee baseball history, Delmonico led the Vols to their fifth 30-win Education: season in the last seven years and 14th overall in 2004. He also picked up his 220th Southeastern New Hanover High School, Wilmington, N.C. 1976 Conference victory in a 12-9 win over Florida on May 21. He became the ninth coach in SEC his- tory to reach the 500-win mark following a 6-4 victory over UNC Asheville March 8, 2002. Liberty University, B.A. in physical education 1980 Before Delmonico's arrival in 1990, none of the following accomplishments would have been Clemson University, M.A. in education administration 1983 mentioned in the same sentence with Tennessee baseball. Using knowledge that he gleaned from Family: two of college baseball's coaching legends -- Clemson's Bill Wilhelm and Florida State's Mike Children: Tony, Joey and Nicky Martin -- Delmonico and his Vols have posted eight 40-win seasons, including two 50-win cam- paigns. His teams have won an average of 39 games per year, while garnering two Southeastern Playing Experience: Conference titles, making two trips to the College World Series, appearing in seven NCAA region- Lettered in baseball at Liberty University 1977 als, including four regional finals, while winning four SEC Eastern Division crowns and three SEC Lettered in soccer at Liberty University 1978 Eastern Division Tournament championships. In addition, he was named Baseball America's 1995 National Coach of the Year and the SEC Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1995. Coaching Experience: Likewise, during his overall coaching career he has been part of teams that have participated in Assistant Coach at Gloucester (N.J.) County College 1981 the College World Series five times, Graduate Assistant Coach at Clemson 1982-83 Delmonico’s Milestone Victories made 13 NCAA regional appearances, Assistant Coach at Florida State 1984-89 Win Game Date won 10 conference or division titles and 1 UT 17, East Tennessee State 12 Feb. 21, 1990 posted nine conference tournament Head Coach at Tennessee 1990-Present 50 UT 13, UNC Asheville 3 March 27, 1991 championships. With a background of Head Coaching Team Accomplishments: 100 UT 4, Milligan 0 April 22, 1992 winning at the top level of collegiate 588-326 (.643) in 15 years at Tennessee 150 UT 14, Kansas 4 Feb. 11, 1994 baseball dotting his resume, it's no won- Two College World Series appearances (1995, 2001) 200 UT 6, Western Carolina 4 May 28, 1994 der that his teams are perennial con- 250 UT 5, The Citadel 2 May 25, 1995 tenders for the conference title as well as Seven NCAA Regional appearances (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004) 300 UT 8, Central Florida 6 Feb. 7, 1997 a national championship. 350 UT 8, Morehead State 2 Feb. 28, 1999 Delmonico has seen 81 Vols sign pro- Four NCAA Regional finals (1994, 1995, 1996, 2001) 400 UT 4, Georgia 3 May 1, 1999 fessional baseball contracts including Two Southeastern Conference Titles (1994, 1995) 450 UT 14, College of Charleston 6 Feb. 19, 2001 four first-round picks. In fact, over the Four SEC Eastern Division Titles (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997) 500 UT 6, UNC Asheville 4 March 8, 2002 last 23 years at the Division I level, he 550 UT 6, Tusculum 2 May 12, 2003 has coached or signed 28 players who Eight 40-win seasons; Two 50-win seasons went to play in the major leagues, Coaching Honors: including the likes of Todd Helton, Joe Randa, Jimmy Key, Luis Alicea, Deion Sanders, Paul 1993 Tennessee Baseball Coach of the Year Sorrento, and most recently, Chris Burke of the Houston Astros. He has coached 15 of Tennessee's 1994 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year 22 All-Americas, including three three-time selections and the 1995 National Player of the Year in Helton. In addition, 32 All-Conference players, including three SEC Players of the Year in Helton, 1995 Baseball America National Coach of the Year Jeff Pickler in 1998 and Chris Burke in 2001, have come under his watch. (Youngest coach to ever win the award) Not only is there solid leadership from the top on the diamond, but he is also a tremendous role 1995 ABCA South Region Coach of the Year model off the field who emphasizes the "student" in student-athlete to all his players. As a result, 1995 Tennessee Baseball Coach of the Year there have been three Academic All-America selections and 56 student-athletes named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. 1995 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year With probably one of the greatest coaching jobs of his career, Delmonico guided the 2001 Vols to Publications & Professional Accomplishments: their second College World Series in his regime. Picked to finish no better than fourth in the SEC Coached or signed 28 major league players in 23 years Eastern Division, Tennessee tied for second overall in the league and rolled through the NCAA Over 100 players coached have gone on to play pro baseball Regionals and Super Regional to finish third at the CWS. SEC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year finalist and consensus All-America Chris Burke led the unsung Vols that season. A total Nationally sought-after clinician in amateur baseball of seven players were drafted, including Burke and pitcher Wyatt Allen in the first round. Worked baseball clinics in Italy, Germany, Holland, Croatia and Each of his Volunteers teams has exhibited an explosive offense, finishing in the top four in bat- Austria ting average nine times, including a league leading .340 average in 1998. He has also built a pitch- Accomplished banquet speaker for youth, civic and business ing staff that has ranked in the top five in earned run average nine times, including a league leading associations 2.98 ERA in 1994. Authored the book Hit and Run Baseball In 1995, he guided a very gutty team, led by National Player of the Year Todd Helton, to a third- Authored the book Offensive Drills place finish at the College World Series. It was the first appearance by the Vols in Omaha in 44 years. The squad compiled a 54-16 mark, recording the most wins in school history, and garnered a Authored the book Defensive Baseball consensus top-5 final ranking. Helton was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Authored the book Defensive Drills Led by National Freshman of the Year pitcher R.A. Dickey, whose 15 wins led the nation, the Produced a videotape Aggressive Baserunning 1994 Volunteers reached the regional finals while compiling a 52-14 record and finishing the sea- son ranked in the top 10, reaching a high of No. 2 by Baseball America. It was the first-ever 50-win Produced a videotape Hitting Fundamentals with Drills season for a Tennessee team and, with a 24-5 Southeastern Conference record, it was the first league Published articles in Scholastic Coach and Collegiate Baseball
12 Seven NCAA Appearances in the Delmonico Era 2005 Volunteers Baseball Coaching Staff
crown in 43 years. The Vols set an SEC record with 17 consecutive league wins. was rated the best, and In 1993, Delmonico's dream of upgrading facilities and moving the Tennessee both the 1986 and 1987 baseball program to the forefront of college baseball came true when the Vols recruits were ranked sec- stepped into their $2.2 million state-of-the-art facility in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. ond. In 1988, he was In a 1998 Baseball America survey, the stadium, which seats 4,000, was voted the tabbed as the nation’s 14th best in the nation. Today, with the addition of a 30x50 foot electronic score- third-best recruiter by board and message center, Tennessee baseball has become a big springtime event. Collegiate Baseball. The 1993 season was a special one on the diamond as well. The Vols posted a Before moving to 45-20 record, the team’s most victories to that point, and began a string of hosting Florida State, Delmonico three straight NCAA Mideast Regionals. It was also UT's first trip to NCAA post- gained experience as a season play since the 1951 College World Series, and the Vols claimed their first graduate assistant coach postseason title by winning the first of three consecutive SEC Eastern Division at Clemson from 1982-83 Tournaments. They achieved their first national ranking in April and were ranked under legendary coach for 91 straight weeks over the next five seasons. Bill Wilhelm and as an Delmonico's first team in 1990 posted 28 wins, the most since 1982, and blew assistant at Division III the critics away in 1991 with the school’s first-ever 40-win season by posting a 41- Gloucester County 19 record. The 1992 squad got off to the best start in school history by reeling off College in Sewell, N.J., eight straight wins and finishing with a 35-20 record. Following a trip to the CWS where he served as the in 1995, his 1996 charges also reached the regional finals with a 43-20 record. The hitting and outfield coach 1997 team began the season 18-1 and capped a string of five straight regional in 1981. appearances and 40-win seasons with a 42-19 record. Delmonico graduated from Liberty University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree Testament to his focus on defense is the fact that the Vols led the nation in field- in physical education, and lettered in baseball and soccer. He holds a master’s ing in 1993 and 1994 with .975 and .977 fielding percentages respectively. The degree from Clemson University in education administration. 1994 team also turned an NCAA-leading 93 double plays. His teams have led the He has penned four books, "Hit and Run Baseball," "Offensive Drills," SEC in fielding percentage on four occasions, while ranking in the top three seven "Defensive Baseball" and "Defensive Drills," and produced two videotapes enti- times. tled, "Aggressive Baserunning" and "Hitting Fundamentals with Drills." In addi- As the top assistant at Florida State from 1984-89, the Seminoles compiled a tion, he has been a contributing writer to numerous national coaching periodicals record of 334-119-1, finishing in the top 15 nationally each year. They played in including Scholastic Coach and Collegiate Baseball. three College World In fall 2001, Delmonico and Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt were fea- SEC All-Time Coaching Victories Series and had 21 players tured in a new book titled, “6 Psychological Factors for Success: America’s Most Name, School Record drafted by major league Successful Athletic Coaches Reveal the Path to Competitive Excellence.” 1. *Ron Polk, Miss. State/Georgia 1,078-538-2 teams while producing “The Tennessee women’s basketball and baseball programs are nationally 2. Skip Bertman, LSU 870-330-3 nine All-Americas. prominent, and we are thrilled that Pat and Rod shared their secrets with us in the 3. Keith Madison, Kentucky 737-634-5 Delmonico, specifical- book,” author Steve Brennan, Ph.D. stated. 4. Roy Mewbourne, Vanderbilt 665-608-9 ly designated head Delmonico is also a sought-after lecturer and speaker at various national base- 5. Hal Baird, Auburn 634-328 recruiter by Seminole ball clinics and national companies. He has made trips with Major League 6. *Rod Delmonico, Tennessee 588-326 head coach Mike Martin, Baseball International to the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Holland and 7. Dave Fuller, Florida 557-354-6 rounded up freshman Austria to teach the game of baseball. 8. Paul Nix, Auburn 515-376 classes that were ranked A native of Wilmington, N.C., Delmonico graduated from New Hanover High 9. Steve Webber, Georgia 500-403-1 in the top 10 nationally School in 1976. He has three sons, Tony, Joey and Nicky. *Active coaches each year. His 1984 group Rod Delmonico’s Coaching Record Conf. NCAA Year Team Overall Conference Place Tour Tour CWS 1981 Gloucester CC 16-10 .615 1982 Clemson 37-22 .627 10-2 .833 1st 1-1 ACC Champs 1983 Clemson 30-20 .598 6-5 .545 3rd 4-2 Grad. Asst. Coach 83-52 .615 16-7 .696 5-3 1984 Florida State 55-29 .655 10-2 .833 1st 5-1 0-2 Metro Tournament Champs; South I Regional 1985 Florida State 59-23 .720 12-4 .750 1st 5-1 2-2 Metro Tournament Champs; South II Regional 1986 Florida State 61-13 .824 12-2 .857 1st 4-1 3-0 4-2 Metro Tournament Champs; South II Regional Champs; CWS Runner-up 1987 Florida State 55-18 .753 12-3 .800 1st 5-0 4-1 1-2 Metro Tournament Champs; Atlantic Regional Champs; CWS 5th place 1988 Florida State 50-18 .732 6-6 .500 2nd 5-0 2-2 Metro Tournament Champs; East Regional 1989 Florida State 54-18 .750 14-4 .778 1st 4-0 4-0 2-2 Metro Tournament Champs; Atlantic Regional Champs; CWS 3rd place Assistant Coach 334-119 .737 66-15 .815 28-3 15-7 7-6 1990 Tennessee 28-31 .474 9-18 .333 9th 1991 Tennessee 41-19 .683 13-13 .500 7th 1992 Tennessee 35-20 .636 10-14 .417 5th (East) 1993 Tennessee 45-20 .692 20-10 .667 1st (East) 5-1 1-2 SEC East Tournament Champs; Mideast Regional 1994 Tennessee 52-14 .788 24-5 .828 1st (East) 4-1 3-2 SEC Champs; SEC East Tournament Champs; Mideast Regional 1995 Tennessee 54-16 .771 22-8 .733 1st (East) 5-1 4-0 2-2 SEC Champs; SEC East Tourney Champs; Mideast Regional Champs; CWS 3rd place 1996 Tennessee 43-20 .683 18-12 .600 2nd (East) 0-2 3-2 Atlantic Regional 1997 Tennessee 41-19 .689 17-13 .567 T1st (East) 0-2 1-2 Midwest Regional 1998 Tennessee 36-20 .643 11-17 .393 4th (East) 1999 Tennessee 28-28 .500 10-20 .333 4th (East) 2000 Tennessee 40-23 .635 10-18 .357 5th (East) 2001 Tennessee 48-20 .706 18-12 .600 2nd (East) 0-2 5-1 2-2 Knoxville Regional Champs; Kinston Super Regional Champs; CWS 3rd place 2002 Tennessee 27-28 .491 12-18 .400 4th (East) 2003 Tennessee 31-24 .564 13-17 .433 4th (East) 2004 Tennessee 38-24 .613 14-16 .467 5th (East) 1-2 1-2 Kinston Regional Head Coach 588-326 .643 221-211 .512 15-11 18-11 4-4 In 23 years of coaching at the Division I level, Rod Delmonico has been part of more than 1,000 victories and 270 conference wins, while making five trips to the College World Series with 13 NCAA Regional appearances and winning nine conference championships.
College World Series 1951, 1995, 2001 13 Coaching Staff University of Tennessee
Delmonico Against All Opponents America East W-L Pct. Metro Atlantic Athletic W-L Pct. Northeastern 1-0 1.000 Niagara 2-0 1.000 Stony Brook 1-0 1.000 Siena 3-0 1.000 Totals 2-0 1.000 Totals 5-0 1.000 Atlantic Coast W-L Pct. Mid-American W-L Pct. Clemson 6-15 .286 Bowling Green 6-1 .857 Duke 0-1 .000 Eastern Michigan 8-4 .667 Florida State 1-0 1.000 Ohio 8-1 .889 Georgia Tech 1-0 1.000 Toledo 2-0 1.000 Miami (Fla.) 5-12 .294 Totals 24-6 .800 North Carolina 2-0 1.000 Missouri Valley W-L Pct. North Carolina State 4-0 1.000 Wichita State 1-0 1.000 Virginia Tech 4-3 .571 Wake Forest 1-1 .500 Ohio Valley W-L Pct. Totals 24-32 .462 Austin Peay 3-0 1.000 Eastern Kentucky 9-0 1.000 Atlantic Sun W-L Pct. Morehead State 16-1 .941 Belmont 1-1 .500 Tennessee-Martin 8-0 1.000 Central Florida 5-0 1.000 Tennessee Tech 25-2 .926 Florida Atlantic 1-0 1.000 Totals 61-3 .953 Georgia State 14-1 .933 Lipscomb 1-0 1.000 Pac 10 W-L Pct. Mercer 1-1 .500 Arizona State 1-6 .143 Totals 23-3 .885 California 2-1 .667 Southern California 1-0 1.000 Atlantic 10 W-L Pct. Stanford 1-0 1.000 Dayton 4-0 1.000 UCLA 0-1 .000 Richmond 3-0 1.000 Washington 1-1 .500 Totals 7-0 1.000 Washington State 0-1 .000 Big East W-L Pct. Totals 6-10 .375 Entering his 16th season at the helm of the Volunteers, Rod Delmonico has the coaching Connecticut 1-0 1.000 experience and insight into the game to help his hitters make necessary in-game adjustments. Southeastern W-L Pct. Notre Dame 1-0 1.000 Alabama 16-22 .421 West Virginia 5-2 .714 Arkansas 19-15 .559 MAJOR LEAGUERS COACHED OR SIGNED BY DELMONICO Totals 7-2 .777 Auburn 11-28 .282 When former Volunteer Chris Burke made his major league debut with the Big 10 W-L Pct. Florida 20-27 .426 Houston Astros on July 4, 2004, he became the 28th player that head coach Rod Illinois 0-1 .000 Georgia 31-17 .646 Delmonico coached or signed to reach the major leagues. Below is a complete list Minnesota 2-0 1.000 Kentucky 34-16 .680 Ohio State 4-3 .521 LSU 9-26 .257 of those players. Purdue 0-1 .000 Ole Miss 19-14 .576 Totals 6-5 .545 Mississippi State 10-16 .385 At Tennessee (10) South Carolina 21-21 .500 Name Drafted Debut Big 12 W-L Pct. Kansas 1-1 .500 Vanderbilt 33-19 .635 Joe Randa 1991 1995 Oklahoma State 3-1 .750 Totals 223-221 .502 Mike DiFelice 1991 1996 Totals 4-2 .667 Southern W-L Pct. Bronson Heflin 1994 1996 Big South W-L Pct. Appalachian State 8-1 .889 Bubba Trammell 1994 1997 Birmingham Southern 1-0 1.000 College of Charleston 3-0 1.000 Todd Helton 1995 1997 Charleston Southern 1-0 1.000 The Citadel 4-2 .667 Mike Lincoln 1996 1999 UNC Asheville 15-3 .833 ETSU 27-1 .964 Augie Ojeda 1996 2000 Radford 2-0 1.000 Georgia Southern 2-0 1.000 Western Carolina 10-1 .909 R.A. Dickey 1996 2001 Va. Military Institute 1-0 1.000 Winthrop 2-0 1.000 Wofford 2-0 1.000 Luke Hudson 1998 2002 Totals 56-5 .918 Chris Burke 2001 2004 Totals 22-3 .880 DELMONICO’S COACHING TREE Sun Belt W-L Pct. The following coaches worked under Big West W-L Pct. At Florida State (15) Cal State Fullerton 0-3 .000 Florida International 2-1 .667 Name Drafted Debut Rod Delmonico before going on to Long Beach State 7-6 .538 Middle Tennessee 18-4 .818 Jeff Gray 1984 1988 establish themselves in the coaching Totals 7-9 .438 Totals 20-5 .800 ranks around the country. Jody Reed 1984 1987 Colonial W-L Pct. West Coast W-L Pct. Paul Sorrento 1986 1989 George Mason 1-0 1.000 Gonzaga 1-0 1.000 Luis Alicia 1986 1988 Fred Corral (2003-04) James Madison 1-0 1.000 Portland 1-0 1.000 Mike Loynd 1986 1986 Assistant Coach - Oklahoma UNC Wilmington 1-2 .333 Totals 2-0 1.000 Bien Figueroa 1986 1992 Robbie Howard (1990) Old Dominion 5-0 1.000 Western Athletic W-L Pct. Richie Lewis 1987 1992 Head coach - South Doyle HS Virginia Commonwealth 1-0 1.000 Fresno State 0-1 .000 Rafael Bournigal 1987 1992 Mike Maack (1997-98) Totals 9-2 .818 Non Division I W-L Pct. Deion Sanders 1988 1989 Head coach - Prestonwood Christian HS Conference USA W-L Pct. Bristol College (NAIA) 1-0 1.000 Jerry Nielson 1988 1992 Randy Mazey (1999-2002) Alabama-Birmingham 1-0 1.000 Carson-Newman (Div. II) 10-2 .833 Gar Finnvold 1990 1994 Head coach - East Carolina Charlotte 2-1 .667 Cumberland (Tenn.) (NAIA) 7-1 .875 Matt Dunbar 1990 1995 Matt Myers (1999) Cincinnati 7-0 1.000 King College (NAIA II) 2-0 1.000 East Carolina 2-1 .667 Knoxville College (Div. III) 1-0 1.000 Eduardo Perez 1991 1993 Assistant coach - Auburn Jayson Nave (1996) Louisville 8-3 .727 Lee University (NAIA) 1-0 1.000 Chris Brock 1992 1997 Memphis 2-4 .333 Lincoln Memorial (Div. II) 5-0 1.000 Roger Bailey 1992 1995 Former asst. coach - Old Dominion South Florida 1-1 .500 Milligan (NAIA II) 5-0 1.000 Mark Russell (1990) Southern Miss 6-0 1.000 S. C.-Spartanburg (Div. II) 3-0 1.000 At Clemson (3) Cross-checker - Toronto Blue Jays Totals 29-10 .744 Tenn. Temple (NCCAA I) 1-0 1.000 Name Drafted Debut Dave Serrano (1995-96) Independent W-L Pct. Tenn. Wesleyan (NAIA) 6-1 .857 Jimmy Key 1982 1984 Head coach - UC Irvine Tusculum (Div. II) 4-0 1.000 Mark Davidson 1982 1986 Hawaii-Hilo 4-3 .571 Torry Zerilla (1997) Totals 4-3 .571 Totals 46-4 .920 John Pawlowski 1985 1987 Assistant coach - Lincoln Memorial
14 Seven NCAA Appearances in the Delmonico Era 2005 Volunteers Baseball Coaching Staff
Rod Delmonico’s Career Achievements