FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
SEATTLE – Former Seattle Mariners catcher Bill Haselman has been named the Washington baseball team’s volunteer assistant coach, completing the staff of new head coach Lindsay Meggs.
Haselman, who spent 13 years in the Major Leagues, joins Meggs and assistant coaches Dave Nakama and Greg Moore on the Washington staff. Haselman will coach the Huskies’ catchers, assist Nakama with the hitting and coach first base during games.
"I’m looking forward to getting back into coaching," Haselman said. "I’ve been away from baseball for a little bit and I really enjoy teaching. For me, working with Lindsay is the main thing. I think he’s a tremendous hire. I’m not sure how much I would want to do this for any other coaches."
"Bill Haselman brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the University of Washington," Meggs said. "As a player, Billy was an outstanding catcher both in the Pac-10 and at the big league level, and as a coach, he was on Terry Francona’s Red Sox staff that won a World Series ring in 2004. Billy has worked with some of the greatest players in baseball today, and now he’s one of us. Today is a great day to be a Husky."
Like Meggs, Haselman is a graduate of Saratoga (Calif.) High School and also played his college ball at UCLA, though they were never teammates. Meggs was a Bruins starter from 1981 to 1984 while Haselman redshirted in 1985, was the regular starter in right field in 1986 and at catcher in 1987.
After three seasons with the Bruins, Haselman was selected in the first round (23rd overall) by Texas in the 1987 draft. He broke into the big leagues with the Rangers in 1990 and went on to play a total of 13 seasons for Texas, Seattle, Boston and Detroit. He played for the Mariners in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and last played in 2003, for the Red Sox.
In his first stint with the Red Sox, he was the catcher in Roger Clemens’ 20-strikeout game vs. the Detroit Tigers in 1996.
While at UCLA, he was also a quarterback on the football team.
Since his playing days, Haselman has served as a bullpen coach and first base coach with the Red Sox, has worked in Seattle-area sports radio and has coached a youth baseball team. His coaching tenure with the Red Sox was highlighted by Boston’s historic run to the World Series championship in 2004.
Bill and his wife, Tracy, and children Tyler and Koko, reside in Newcastle.
