FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head baseball coach Sherman Corbett announced Friday that he has promoted Brett Lawler to assistant coach and Josh Lee has joined the program as a volunteer assistant.
Lawler, who has been the Roadrunners’ volunteer coach the last two seasons, replaces Mike Clement, who accepted a position with Texas A&M last month. The College Station native will work with the team’s hitters and mentor the catchers and outfielders defensively.
“The hiring of Brett Lawler will bring a smooth transition with the departure of Mike Clement,” Corbett said. “Brett has worked with our players the past two years as the volunteer coach and he knows our system, the expectations of the program and personality of our players. He is a good young coach that has already brought new ideas and a new energy level to our program.”
A two-year starter at Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR) from 2006-07, Lawler played in 106 games and hit .262 with 59 runs, 54 RBIs and 26 doubles, including team-best 17 two-baggers as a senior. Prior to that, he helped lead San Jacinto College to a runner-up finish at the 2004 NJCAA World Series. The College Station native was an all-state selection as a senior and he helped A&M Consolidated High School attain a No. 1 national ranking by Baseball America that season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the 34th round of the 2003 MLB Draft and in the 28th round one year later. The Florida Marlins then called his name in the 42nd round in 2007 and he played for one season for the Rookie-level affiliate Gulf Coast Marlins.
He comes from a baseball family, as his father, Jim, was the head coach at UALR from 2006-08 after serving as an assistant at Texas A&M for 21 years under the legendary Mark Johnson. His brother, Travis, currently pitches in the St. Louis Cardinals organization after being selected in the 32nd round this past June.
Meanwhile, Lee joins the staff after spending three seasons as a coach at his alma mater, McMurry. He will work primarily with UTSA’s outfielders and also will assist with the infielders and pitchers.
“Josh Lee is a tremendous addition to our program,” Corbett said. “He brings a new dynamic to our coaching staff in that he has playing and coaching experience in a number of different areas. Josh can coach outfielders, infielders and pitchers in addition to working with hitters. His conscientious work ethic and range of coaching abilities will be a very valuable asset to our program.”
Lee spent a total of seven years at McMurry, first as a player from 2001-04 and again in 2006 and from ’08-09 as an assistant coach. He also spent one season, 2007, as an assistant at Southwestern University in Georgetown.
Lee helped McMurry win the fourth American Southwest Conference (ASC) title in school history in 2008 and make a fourth trip to NCAA Regional play.
As a player, he helped McMurry win conference titles in 2001 and ’04 and was one of the most successful players in program history. He launched a then-school-record 33 home runs during his career, including a then-ASC-record 17 as a senior. Lee, a 2004 second-team All-American and four-time all-conference honoree, currently ranks among the top 10 in hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage.
As a pitcher, he won 20 times in 39 starts and completed a school-record 17 contests during his career. Lee also ranks third in program annals with his 180 strikeouts and sixth with a 3.90 ERA. He became just the third player from McMurry to be drafted when the Detroit Tigers selected him in 30th round in June 2004.
