FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Syracuse, N.Y. – Le Moyne College Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Matt Bassett announced on Monday, August 30 the hiring of Scott Cassidy ’98 as head baseball coach following a national search.
Cassidy, who becomes the program’s fourth coach in the last 43 years, spent the past year as assistant coach and pitching coach for the Dolphins, as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator. With Cassidy’s assistance, Le Moyne’s 2009 recruiting class was nationally ranked by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Prior to returning to Le Moyne, Cassidy played professionally for 10 years, including parts of three seasons at the Major League level. Following his retirement from professional baseball, Cassidy spent one season as the head baseball coach at Sullivan Community College.
"I am very excited to be able to coach at my alma mater and look forward to the continued success of the baseball program,” said Cassidy. “I would like to thank Matt Bassett and the entire Le Moyne College Athletic Department for the opportunity to be the next Head Baseball Coach."
"Scott Cassidy is the perfect fit to lead the Le Moyne College Baseball program,” said Bassett. "He clearly values the history, tradition, and excellence that has defined Le Moyne baseball over the years. His familiarity with our players, alumni and institution should help to provide continuity and a seamless transition."
Cassidy began his professional career in 1998 after playing three seasons for the Dolphins. Cassidy signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on May 21, 1998 as an amateur free agent. He worked his way through the Blue Jays minor league system – picking up league All-Star honors in 1998, 2000 and 2001 – and earned a spot on Toronto’s opening day roster for the 2002 season. He made his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox on April 1, 2002, throwing one and two-thirds scoreless innings. Cassidy appeared in 58 games as a rookie for the Blue Jays in 2002, posting a 1-4 record with 48 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. After spending the 2003 season with the Syracuse SkyChiefs (Toronto’s AAA affiliate), where he went 3-4 with a 3.24 earned run average and 75 strikeouts in 80 and two-thirds innings pitched over 57 appearances, Cassidy was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the beginning of the 2004 season. In 28 appearances, including 12 starts, for Boston’s top affiliate, Pawtucket, Cassidy posted a record of 5-3 with a 3.46 earned run average and 72 strikeouts over 80 and two-thirds innings pitched. Cassidy began the 2005 campaign with Pawtucket, going 6-3 with a 4.05 earned run average and 66 strikeouts in 60 innings over 26 appearances. On July 6th, he earned a promotion to Boston, where he made one appearance with the Red Sox.
Less than two weeks after making his Red Sox debut, Cassidy was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he split the remainder of the 2005 season between AAA Portland and San Diego. With Portland, Cassidy was inserted into the closer’s role, where he registered 11 saves, a 1.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings over 17 appearances. Following the completion of Portland’s season, Cassidy joined the Padres for their run to the West division title. In 10 appearances out of San Diego’s bullpen, Cassidy compiled a record of 1-1 and 12 strikeouts over 12 and one-third innings pitched. In 2006, Cassidy broke training camp with the Padres. He pitched in 42 games, recording a 6-4 record, a 2.53 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. He also made 17 appearances for Portland, going 3-1 with nine saves, a 2.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings. Cassidy completed his professional career in 2007, registering a 4-4 record, 10 saves and 49 strikeouts in 40 innings over 40 appearances for Portland. After signing with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2007 in an effort to bolster the team for the 2008 season, Cassidy announced his retirement on March 2, 2008.
In three seasons with the Dolphins, Cassidy made 33 appearances and went 14-12 with one save, a 3.44 ERA and 153 strikeouts over 186 innings pitched. He also posted a program-record 18 complete games and four shutouts, good for second-best in the program’s Division I history. Cassidy’s strikeout total of 153 places him ninth in career annals. In 1998, Cassidy was selected as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year after going 7-5 with a 3.06 ERA and 83 strikeouts and leading the Dolphins to a 26-15 record, including a 20-6 mark in conference play.
Cassidy, a dean’s list student in 1996 and 1997, is a 1998 graduate of Le Moyne, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing.
Cassidy replaces Steve Owens, who took the head coaching position at Bryant University in July. Ninth-year assistant Scott Landers and second-year graduate assistant Corey O’Neill ’08 round out Cassidy’s staff.
