FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
CHICAGO – Former UIC baseball players Steven Humble and Eric Wyman are rejoining the program in new roles as volunteer assistant coaches, head coach Mike Dee announced Wednesday. Humble played two seasons for the Flames in 2009 and 2010, while Wyman pitched from 2008 through 2011.
In Humble’s two seasons at UIC, the Eugene, Ore., native played in 59 games and made 41 starts primarily behind the dish for the Flames. He batted .235 with five doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI in his career. Prior to his stint at UIC, Humble played two years at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. where he was a two-time All-Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) South Honorable Mention player, first as freshman shortstop, then as a sophomore catcher.
Humble worked under head coach Dean Stiles in 2011 as an assistant coach at Lane Community College in Eugene. There, he chiefly aided the team’s catchers and also assisted with recruiting efforts for the Titans, who finished 24-18 and in second place in the NWAACC South division. He also worked with UIC’s catchers in the fall of 2010 before heading back west. In his new role, he will expand his duties to work with all of UIC’s position players and hitters alongside veteran assistant coach, Sean McDermott.
“I’m very excited to come back to my alma mater to coach,” said Humble. “It’s a huge opportunity for me.
“This is what I want to do, to coach division one baseball,” added Humble. “What better place for me to learn than under my former coach, Mike Dee, here at UIC?”
Wyman just recently completed his eligibility for the Flames this past spring. The West Chicago, Ill., native will serve as an undergraduate assistant coach this year. In his four years at UIC, Wyman, who worked primarily out of the bullpen, posted four wins and four saves in 83 appearances for UIC, which ranks third all-time in program history. In 2011, the left-hander made 30 appearances which ties for fifth all-time and collected all four saves, which ranks tied for 10th in Flames history. For his career, Wyman averaged 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings and on May 22, 2010 he fanned a career-high 10 Valparaiso Crusaders in just five innings of work.
“It’s a little bit of a different experience for me because I played with most of these guys just last season,” said Wyman. “It’s going to be a good experience and I’m excited.
“I like all the guys on the team. The younger pitchers worked with and listened to me last year, so I’m sure they’ll listen again now that they have to because I’m a coach,” said Wyman. “I’m going to try [coaching] this season and see how goes. I’m looking forward to it.”
Wyman will assist Dee in working with the team’s pitching staff.
Dee is excited to bring Humble and Wyman, both former players, back into the fold. They join assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, John Flood, as the second and third alumni on the current staff.
“I’m excited to welcome Steven and Eric back to our program,” said Dee. “It’s important to me to have alumni involved with the program. It’s a real advantage because [Humble and Wyman] understands the expectations that we have. This is a great opportunity for them to gain that valuable experience.”
Humble graduated from UIC in December 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Wyman is on track to graduate in May 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
