FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — University of Maryland Eastern Shore Director of Athletics Keith Davidson has announced that Pedro Swann is the new head coach of the Hawks baseball program, taking over for the start of the 2012-13 season.
“I am excited with the opportunity, and I am dedicated to taking this baseball program to the next level,” says Swann.
“We welcome Pedro Swann to the Hawk family,” says Davidson, “with his experience in baseball in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and in the professional ranks, Swann is a good fit to bring the UMES program to the next level.”
Swann brings a wealth of baseball experience to Princess Anne, playing in the professional ranks for 17 years from 1991 to 2007, including three years playing in Major League Baseball. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 26th round in 1991, he made his major league debut for the team on September 9th, 2000. Swann also made major league appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and the Baltimore Orioles in 2003. His final year in the majors he hit a home run off Roger Clemens at Orioles Park at Camden Yards. He also played with the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.
He earned numerous awards in his playing time, including being named the Most Valuable Player for the Louisville Bats in 2005, AAA-affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the Ottawa Lynx in 2003, former AAA-affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and the Greenville Braves in 1997, former AA-affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
Swann returns to the MEAC after graduating from Delaware State in 1995 with a degree in Business Administration. He played for the Hornets from 1989 to 1991, earning all-conference honors all three years in Dover. He finished with a .421 batting average in three seasons, currently the career leader in that category at DSU, with 26 home runs and 131 runs batted in. In 1989 he hit .449, the fourth-highest single season mark in DSU history, with five home runs in his freshman year, helping the Hornets win their lone MEAC title that season. He was elected into the Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and his No. 1 jersey was retired in 2004. He was also a strong student, making the Dean’s List in the fall and spring semesters of 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1994.
Swann founded and has been the president of the Pro Swing Sports Academy in Middletown, Delaware since 2007. He served as a hitting instructor as well as head coach of three youth travel baseball teams. He also worked as a hitting coach at St. Andrews High School from 2009 to 2011 and at Avon Grove High School in 2008.
He also has appeared on the big screen, playing the role of Juan Vasquez in the 1998 baseball movie “For Love of the Game,” starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston.
He takes over for Will Gardner, who leaves UMES after six years as the head baseball coach. Last season, the Hawks finished in third place in the MEAC Tournament after going 11-13 in conference play.
