FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
MOUNT PLEASANT — Head coach Steve Jaksa announced the hiring of Brett Haring as an assistant coach with the Central Michigan baseball program.
Haring spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Northwood University, working with the Timberwolves’ pitching staff. While at Northwood, Haring also spent time as the recruiting coordinator and as the team’s hitting instructor. In 2009, he helped the Timberwolves to their first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Game in program history.
"Brett has an energy and a passion for CMU and for the game of baseball," Jaksa said. "He played at CMU when the Chippewas played for championships on an annual basis and knows what it takes to reach that level.”
Haring will serve as the hitting instructor with the Chippewas.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, he spent five seasons as a pitcher in professional baseball. He was in the Cincinnati Reds organization for four seasons and parts of one season with the Texas Rangers organization and Long Island of the independent league. He was named the Reds minor league left-handed pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News in 1999 and posted the third-best ERA in the Reds organization in 1998 and 1999.
A CMU alum, Haring earned four letters from 1994-97. He twice earned both honorable mention All-MAC honors and honorable mention Academic All-MAC honors and helped the Chippewas to a pair of MAC Tournament titles in 1994 and 1995, securing a pair of bids to the NCAA Tournament. Haring was selected to the all-regional tournament team in 1995 after hitting .370 during CMU’s postseason run.
"Central Michigan was the place to be when I came out of high school," Haring said. "You went here to win championships and go to the NCAA Tournament. My greatest moments in my career happened right here at CMU. I want to help this program get back to those opportunities. I was proud to wake up this morning and be a part of this program."
Haring graduated from nearby Coleman High School, where he helped lead the Comets to the 1993 state championship. He was selected as a Detroit Free Press Dream Team member as an outfielder his senior season. He stole what was then the second-most bases (63) in MHSAA history.
"Not only do we want teamwork on the field, but teamwork within the coaching staff," Jaksa said. "His philosophy is very close to what we have in place here already, and it will be easy to continue what we’ve been working toward the last few years. He’ll jump in with both feet and we’ll work together as a staff for a successful 2010 campaign and beyond."
As a part of the move, Jaksa also announced that assistant coach Jeff Opalewski would take over as recruiting coordinator in addition to his role as pitching coach.
"Jeff is a tireless worker. In the year that he’s been here as a coach he’s shown a great deal of intensity and passion, and he brought that into recruiting," Jaksa said. "I saw a lot of growth in his abilities last year, and he’s willing to put in the work to be great at it. He’s a great talent evaluator, and will help us elevate to the level we’re looking to get to."
The Chippewas open up the 2010 regular season on Feb. 26.
