FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
DURHAM, N.C. – Kyle Padgett, a former standout at William & Mary and a 2005 MLB draft selection, has joined the Duke baseball staff as an assistant coach, head coach Sean McNally announced on Wednesday.
With the Blue Devils, Padgett will coach the catchers and assist with the hitters. He will also coordinate all Duke Baseball Academy operations. Padgett takes over for former Duke assistant coach Tyler Hanson who is now an assistant coach at N.C. Central University in Durham.
“We are fortunate to add Kyle to our coaching staff here at Duke,” said McNally, now in his seventh year as head coach of his alma mater. “His experience in both the college and professional ranks fits in well with our coaching and player development philosophy, and his passion and enthusiasm for the game is contagious. Kyle will impact our team in many different ways, and we are excited to add him to our program.”
Padgett spent the past four years in the Division I coaching ranks, most recently as an assistant coach at William & Mary for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Padgett also spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach, serving 2009 with the Wake Forest staff and 2008 with William & Mary. He also spent the summer of 2008 as an assistant coach with the Bourne Braves in the renowned Cape Cod Baseball League.
With William & Mary in 2008, Padgett coached an offensive unit that ranked third in the NCAA with a .343 batting average. That group also stole 101 bases and hit 75 home runs while posting a 36-21 overall record.
Padgett has mentored 39 players who have gone on to play professional baseball, including 12 top-10 round draft picks. Eight of those pros came out of William & Mary, while five came from Wake Forest and 26 came from his time with the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League. Included in that group are All-Americas Mike Sheridan and Tim Park, both out of William & Mary, and Wake Forest catchers Mike Murray and Ian Tomkins.
Padgett was a four-year letterwinner at William & Mary from 2002-05. He hit .311 as a senior with nine home runs, 15 doubles and a .408 on base percentage and was drafted in the 18th round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins. Padgett reached High-A with the Marlins in 2006 before beginning his collegiate coaching career in his first stint with William & Mary in 2008.
A native of Needham, Mass., Padgett received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from William & Mary in 2005. He and his wife, Lauren, reside in Durham.
