FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest head baseball coach Tom Walter has announced that Jim McGonigle and T.J. Baxter have joined his staff. McGonigle will serve as a volunteer assistant coach, while Baxter will be the director of baseball operations.
“Jim is a great addition to the staff. Being on three NCAA regional teams in four years makes him a winner, but what always resonated with me about Jimmy was his professionalism,” said Walter. “He took his day-to-day work very seriously, and bringing that approach to our ball club is invaluable.”
McGonigle was at New Orleans from the fall of 2006 through the spring of 2010 before playing his last year at Texas State and working on his master’s degree during the 2011 season. He played under Walter through the 2009 season.
During his time at UNO, McGonigle posted a 5-6 record and a 6.47 ERA in 115.1 innings of work. He also struck out 76 batters.
“I’m excited to be coaching in the ACC, and I’ve even more excited to be working with Coach Walter again,” said McGonigle. “He has this program going in the right direction, and now it is just a matter of time until he leads Wake Forest to the top of the conference.”
Baxter also spent his collegiate days at New Orleans under Walter, playing for the Privateers during the 2005-08 seasons.
“Adding a baseball operations position allows us to elevate the program,” said Walter. “Having T.J. brings a fierce competitor and a gamer into our clubhouse. The more we can have him around our guys, the better we will be.”
After his time at UNO, Baxter was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 24th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He spent three seasons in the organization, playing for the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2008 and 2009 and for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2010.
With the Shorebirds, Baxter hit .243 and had eight homers, five triples, 16 doubles, 34 RBIs and 34 stolen bases.
“First and foremost, I’m privileged and ecstatic to work with this coaching staff because of their dedication not only to the players, but to the program as a whole,” said Baxter. “The ACC is a great baseball conference, and above all, Wake Forest is one of the most prestigious universities in the country.”
Wake Forest has already started fall team practice, which will last through the first weekend in November. The Demon Deacons will open up the 2012 schedule when they travel to New Mexico State on February 17-19.
