McMullan Named Associate Head Baseball Coach

Story Links

Oct. 17, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Virginia’s Kevin McMullan has been promoted to the position of associate head baseball coach, following three seasons as the Cavalier hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. McMullan’s duties will remain the same on head coach Brian O’Connor’s staff.

“Our baseball program is very fortunate to have been able to maintain consistency in our coaching staff,” O’Connor said. “Kevin (McMullan) and assistant coach Karl Kuhn have both done a great job on the field and in recruiting. As recruiting coordinator, Kevin has done an outstanding job in attracting talented players who are the right fit for UVa.”

In three years, McMullan has helped Virginia rise to one of the top teams in the nation. The Cavaliers have advanced to three straight NCAA Regionals. Virginia has had three-straight 40-win seasons including registering a school record 47 wins and 21 conference wins in earning the program’s highest ranking at No. 5. The 2006 team set school records in total hits (687) and RBIs (416) and total bases (928). The Cavaliers scored the second-most runs (464) and had the second-most stolen bases (115) and doubles (122) in program history, while ranking in the top 20 nationally in batting avg. (.322) last season.

“The success we have experienced at UVa in the past three years has a lot to do with Kevin’s efforts on the field and in our recruiting,” O’Connor said.

All three Virginia recruiting classes have been ranked among the top in the nation including a No. 8 ranking of the 2005 class last season by Baseball America.

While at Virginia, McMullan has tutored two Atlantic Coast Conference Players of the Year in Joe Koshansky (2004) and Sean Doolittle (2006), three All-Americans in Koshansky, Ryan Zimmerman and Doolittle and eight All-ACC performers. In 2006, three freshman position players were named Freshman All-Americans.

McMullan was instrumental in the development of Zimmerman, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals and now the starting third baseman for the Nationals. Koshansky has led minor league baseball in home runs the past two seasons. He has 69 homers in his last two minor league seasons and played in the 2006 MLB Futures All-Star Game. Former Cavalier All-ACC infielder Mark Reynolds is also enjoying a standout professional career in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization. He helped Team USA win the Olympic Qualifying Tournament earlier this season.

“Kevin has a development plan for our position players to be successful and the results have shown on the field,” O’Connor said.

Before coming to Virginia in the fall of 2003, McMullan came to UVa with a wealth of baseball experience at every level of baseball as a coach and player. Prior to his present position at Virginia, McMullan served as a manager in the Atlanta Braves organization. While with the Braves, he also coordinated the catchers in spring training and was the coordinator of extended spring training.

Before joining the Braves’ organization, McMullan served as acting head coach at East Carolina for the 2001-2002 season for Keith LeClair, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. During that season, McMullan coached ECU to a 43-20 record, a Conference USA Championship and an NCAA Regional Final. At ECU, he served as the recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and catching instructor.

In McMullan’s three years at East Carolina, the Pirates posted a record of 138-46 which placed ECU in the top five programs in the country in wins, averaging 46 victories a season. East Carolina won three conference championships and an NCAA Regional Championship while earning two No. 1 seeds and one No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In the three years McMullan was at ECU, the Pirates finished in the Top 25 each season. During the 2001 season, McMullan’s offense broke the school record for home runs in a season. In 2002, he recruited and coached the NCBWA National Freshman of the Year, Darryl Lawhorn.

In 10 years as a college coach before coming to Virginia, McMullan had 33 players drafted or signed by professional organizations including Arizona Diamondback Chad Tracy. He also served as an assistant coach at St. John’s (1996-1999) and coached at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1994-96).

At St. John’s, McMullan was the recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and coached the catchers. He assisted SJU to three Big East championship appearances and a Big East title as well as an NCAA Regional berth in 1997. While at IUP, McMullan was the head baseball coach as well as the strength and conditioning coordinator. He coached two conference Players of the Year selections as well as three All-Americans.

Aside from his numerous coaching experiences, McMullan also had a decorated career as an athlete. He enjoyed a pro baseball career as a member of the New York Yankees organization (1990-1992) and for the Salt Lake City Trappers (1990 & 1992). In 1990, he was a Pioneer League All-Star. McMullan was also a two-sport NCAA All-American as a catcher in baseball and as a linebacker in football at IUP. He was a member of six championship teams at IUP. In 1995, McMullan was inducted into the Dumont High School Hall of Fame at his alma mater.

McMullan is a 1990 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He is married to the former Sandra Leishman of Wayne, N.J. The couple has three children, Maggie, Emma and Jack.

“We are fortunate to have Kevin as part of Virginia Baseball and he will continue to play a vital role in the future success of the program,” O’Connor said.