Boston College Pitching Coach Scott Friedholm Named UNC-Asheville Head Coach

Boston College pitching coach Scott Friedholm has been named the head coach of the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs.  Friedholm replaces Tom Smith, who retired following this season, and departs The Heights after four seasons, all under Mike Gambino.

Friedholm also served as the recruiting coordinator for the past four years, and BC posted its best numbers under him on the bump this past season.  The team ERA held at 4.27, and the staff registered over 350 strikeouts and a .261 opponents' batting average.  Four Boston College pitchers found draft homes in the MLB Entry Draft over his tenure, including Andrew Chin in the 15th round this month.

UNCA competes as part of the Big South Conference in Division I, where they won the 2006 conference championship.  They play their home games between two locations - Greenwood Baseball Field on campus and McCormick Field, home of the Asheville Tourists minor league ball club.  They went 13-40 this past season, 4-22 in BSC play.  They finished last in the South Division with the worst record in the league.  The BSC is known as a solid baseball conference; the Bulldogs play in a division with Winthrop and Coastal Carolina, while the North Division has the likes of Liberty and Campbell (both invited to the NCAA Tournament).

A 1998 graduate of Providence College, he played two seasons in the minor league system of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and was part of a Friar team that would go to the NCAA Tournament in 1995 with 44 wins.  Providence has since disbanded their program, but Friedholm's coaching career took him for stops at Division II Bryant, Maine, Navy, and Chestnut Hill.

In a statement, head coach Mike Gambino said, "We are extremely excited for Scott to be named the head coach at UNC-Asheville.  This is a big loss for the Boston College baseball program and a big gain (for UNCA).  Scott will bring a high level of character, energy, and work ethic.  He has a passion for what he does.  He loves his players, and they love him."

"The caliber of the applicants for our head coaching position was outstanding and a tribute to our university," said UNCA trustee JW Davis.  "Scott Friedholm stood out asthe best among them.  He's going to do a great job with our baseball program."

Congratulations to Coach Friedholm on his new position and go Bulldogs as he starts his new venture!