FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced Thursday the naming of Jim Schlossnagle as manager of the 2013 Collegiate National Team. The Texas Christian University (TCU) head coach will be making his managerial debut for Team USA. He previously wore the red, white and blue as pitching coach of the 2006 Collegiate team.
Schlossnagle joined the TCU coaching staff in 2003 and became just the program’s ninth coach since 1940. He has won more games (388) in nine years than any coach in TCU history after posting the top nine win totals each of the last nine years. He is 388-175 (.689) as the head coach at TCU and 465-222 (.677) in 11 years as a head coach.
“The 2006 Collegiate National Team, led by Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin, is arguably one of the best teams ever fielded by USA Baseball,” said Eric Campbell, USA Baseball National Teams General Manager. “Along with the hitters, the pitching staff was historic. Jim Schlossnagle led a staff anchored by current Tampa Rays star David Price, and it’s a pleasure to announce that Jim will lead the 2013 Collegiate National Team as its field manager.”
In addition to Price, the Schlossnagle-led 2006 pitching staff also included several players that have since logged Major League experience, such as Jake Arrieta, Ross Detwiler, Sean Doolittle, and Tommy Hunter. The U.S. team went 28-2 in 2006, and it was led by a pitching staff which posted a 1.24 ERA, with 341 strikeouts against only 98 walks in 275 innings pitched.
“I am truly humbled and honored to have the privilege of leading the 2013 Collegiate National Team,” said Schlossnagle. “My experience as an assistant coach in 2006 was a life experience that I will never forget, so, to get the opportunity to wear the USA uniform again is something that I am very thankful for. I am so grateful to the USA staff and to TCU for allowing me to represent our country on the international stage. Although our complete focus right now is on our respective institutions, I know our Collegiate National Team staff will be prepared to compete at the highest level next summer.”
Schlossnagle is a seven-time Mountain West Coach of the Year and was named the NCBWA National Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading TCU to its first-ever berth in the NCAA College World Series. TCU has finished ranked in the top 20 each of the last four seasons, including a high ranking of No. 3 at the end of the 2010 campaign. In 20 years of coaching at the Division I level, he has made 17 appearances in the NCAA Regionals, four NCAA Super Regionals and two in the College World Series.
The 2013 Collegiate National Team schedule and the remainder of the coaching staff are currently being finalized, but plans are in place for Team USA to continue its international friendship series with both Japan and Cuba. An announcement will be made prior to the end of the year and details will be available on USABaseball.com. In 2012, the Collegiate team finished with an 12-5 record, and its season was highlighted by a rekindling of the Cuba series — Cuba hosted and took the series three games to two — and a bronze medal at Honkbal Week in the Netherlands.
“Between the U.S. and Japan Collegiate All-Star series and the return of the Cuba series, which was restarted in 2012 with a team led by Tennessee’s Dave Serrano and an incredible staff, Jim will have a unique opportunity to help build upon two strong relationships that we share within the international baseball community,” Campbell said.
