FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Former University of Tennessee pitching coach Fred Corral has been hired as the associate head coach and pitching coach for the University of Memphis baseball team, head coach Daron Schoenrock announced Monday. Corral replaces former Tiger pitching coach Michael Federico, who took the pitching coach job at Southern Miss in mid-July.
"While it is always difficult to replace an assistant coach with the loyalty, dedication, expertise and people skills that Coach Federico brought to the program, in his five years with us," said Schoenrock. "I feel we’ve really `hit a home run with the hiring of Fred Corral. Fred will have a huge impact on the pitching staff, the entire team and this program. Our pitchers will benefit from Fred’s experience, his teaching techniques and the person that he is. We are truly fortunate to have him at the University of Memphis."
As one the most respected college pitching coaches in the country, Corral brings a wealth of collegiate experience and knowledge to the Memphis staff. He has served as an assistant coach at Tennessee (two stints), Oklahoma, Sacramento City College and San Joaquin Delta College.
"I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with coaches like Coach Schoenrock and Coach Zulli," commented Corral. "I look forward to contributing to the fine start that these gentlemen have already established her at Memphis."
Corral will inherit a senior-laden pitching staff that posted a 6.30 ERA with 377 strikeouts in 2009. Memphis’ pitching staff has posted a 5.73 ERA or higher in each of the last five seasons.
Corral’s last stop at Tennessee (2007-09) saw him instruct UT freshman Bryan Morgado to Freshman All-American honors and a spot on the Roger Clemens Award watch list in 2008. Under Corral’s guidance, Morgado fanned 104 batters, marking just the second time in Volunteer baseball history that a freshman eclipsed the 100-strikeout plateau. Corral also helped several UT hurlers post dramatic improvements over his second two-year stint in Knoxville.
Corral made the move to head the pitching staff at Oklahoma following the 2004 season. During his three years with the Sooners, he helped OU to two consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including the program’s first Super Regional showing in 2006. During Corral’s tenure at Oklahoma, nine pitchers were taken in the MLB Draft (including 13th-rounder Daniel McCutchen) and six Sooner hurlers earned All-Big 12 honors.
During Corral’s first stint at Tennessee, he led the Volunteers pitching staff to the top of the pitching-rich SEC as well as the nation. His staffs posted consecutive sub-3.90 ERA’s, and UT’s 3.51 ERA in 2004 ranked 13th in the country. The 2004 Volunteer staff recorded the fifth-most strikeouts in school history and held opponents to a .243 batting average, which was UT’s lowest mark in nine seasons. Tennessee also had three pitchers in 2004 who’s ERAs ranked among the top 12 in the SEC.
Four of Corral’s pitchers at Tennessee have gone on to be selected in the MLB draft. He signed James Adkins and coached Luke Hochevar, hurlers who now rank first and third on UT’s all-time strikeouts list, respectively. Hochevar now starts for the Kansas City Royals, and Adkins is in the process of ascending toward the major leagues.
Corral began his collegiate coaching career in 1993 as a pitching coach at his alma mater San Joaquin Delta Junior College in Stockton, Calif. He spent two seasons there (1993-95), before being hired to take the reins of the Sacramento City College pitching staff.
From 1996-2002, Corral served as the pitching coach at SCC, where he was a vital part of the program’s success. Under one of the most highly respected and successful junior college coaches in the nation in Jerry Weinstein, Corral served on a coaching staff that produced one national championship, five Bay Valley East Conference championships and a pair of state runner-up titles. His staffs compiled an overall record of 281-56-1 for an .833 winning percentage during his tenure.
Of the 36 drafted pitchers under his tutelage at SCC, 13 signed professional contracts. Every pitcher Corral coached at SCC was either drafted or transferred to a four-year institution.
Corral’s credentials of developing pitching talent speak for themselves. In 16 years as a collegiate pitching coach, 59 of his pitchers have been drafted, nine of which were selected in the top-10 rounds of the MLB Draft and six (Matt Riley, Adam Bernero, Mike Neu, Joe Horgan, Luke Hochevar and Charlie Zink) have advanced to baseball’s top level. In all, Corral’s instruction has helped 65 pitchers reach the professional level.
Much like Schoenrock, Corral has also had extensive experience in the professional ranks. He has worked as a pitching instructor in the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-01) and Montreal Expos (1999) organizations, and also served a coach for Major League Baseball International (1994).
As a player, Corral was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a relief pitcher at the University of California in 1987. The Golden Bears eighth 10-game winner, Corral set a school record for single-season win-loss percentage with a perfect 10-0 record in 1987. The southpaw added five saves and a 3.75 ERA in his sophomore season (1987) en route to earning the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher honor. Corral helped lead the Golden Bears to their fourth College World Series appearance in 1988. He finished his career with a 13-5 mark, a 4.50 ERA and six saves.
Prior to his Division I career at Cal, Corral starred at San Joaquin Delta Junior College where he garnered All-Camino Notre Conference honors in 1985 and 1986.
Corral is married to the former Cynthia Drost, of Ripon, Calif., and the couple has two children, Kaitlyn Joy and Justin Jerome. The couple’s nieces, Marisa and Chelsea, and nephews, Michael and Robert, also live with them.
THE FRED CORRAL FILE
Full Name: Alfredo Primo Corral
Born: April 19, 1966
Hometown: Ripon, Calif.
Family: Married to the former Cynthia Drost, of Ripon, Calif. The couple has a daughter, Kaitlyn Joy (8), and a son, Justin Jerome (4).
Education: Associate’s Degree – (San Joaquin Delta College, 1986); Bachelor of Arts – Sociology (California State University at Sacramento [Sacramento State], 1998)
Playing Experience: San Joaquin Delta College, 1985-86; California, 1987-88 (left-handed pitcher)
Coaching Experience: Assistant coach at San Joaquin Delta College (1993-95); Assistant coach for Kenai Oilers (Alaska Baseball League; summer 1993); Assistant coach at Sacramento City College (1995-2002); Assistant coach at University of Tennessee (2003-04); Assistant coach at University of Oklahoma (2005-07); Assistant coach at University of Tennessee (2008-2009)
