Toledo adds Matt Talarico to Coaching Staff

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

TOLEDO, OH – Matt Talarico has been named volunteer assistant baseball coach at the University of Toledo, skipper Cory Mee announced today. Talarico will work with all aspects of the program, but his main responsibilites will be working with the outfielders and assisting with baserunning and bunting. He will also help coordinate Toledo’s growing offering of baseball camps.

"I’m very excited to have Matt join our program," Mee said. "He is a great addition to our staff. I know he’ll bring a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy to our team. He’s a very good teacher and he already has experience coaching in the post-season. I look forward to seeing the impact he has on our program as he begins to share his experience and knowledge with our players."

Talarico comes to Toledo after two highly successful seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division III member Heidelberg University in nearby Tiffin, OH. During his time with Heidelberg, the Student Princes posted an impressive 78-19 ledger and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season, winning both the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season and tournament titles. He coached the infielders, hitters and baserunning during his tenure wearing the Red, Orange and Black, as well as recruiting over 200 potential student-athletes, coordinating the strength and conditioning program and developing daily practice plans.

This past spring, the ‘Berg finished 37-19 and ranked as high as third nationally during the season. The squad ranked fourth nationally in fielding percentage (.970, school record), eighth in stolen bases (118), 10th in doubles (116, school record), 11th in double plays (45, tied school record) and 23rd in batting average (.349). Talarico also worked with second baseman Gar Keen, who was named to the American Baseball Coaches’ Association (ABCA) All-America team.

In 2008, he tutored Heidelberg to a school-record 41-10 mark and five single-season records (putouts, assists, fewest errors, double plays, fielding percentage). The ‘Berg climbed as high as 10th nationally in the rankings and finished runner-up in the NCAA Mideast Regional.

Prior to coaching at Heidelberg, Talarico enjoyed a four-year playing career at Manchester College in North Manchester, IN. He helped guide Manchester to a 124-54 record from 2004-07, while claiming two Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships (2004, 2006) and two tournament titles (2004, 2005). Manchester advanced to the NCAA Regional’s on three occasions (2004, 2005, 2006) and made an appearance in the Division III World Series in 2004. In his final season, Talarico was named first-team all-conference and third-team All-Mideast Region.

A native of Fort Wayne, IN, Talarico attended Bishop Dwenger High School and graduated from Manchester with a degree in History in 2007. Talarico continued his studies at Heidelberg and earned a master’s of arts in Education.