Bruce Peddie (Courtesy of UNO Media Relations)
MONROE, La. — ULM director of athletics Brian Wickstrom announced today, that after 28 games as the program’s interim head coach, Bruce Peddie will have the interim tag removed from his title. The details of the contract are being worked through and once completed it will be subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue to lead the Warhawk baseball program into the future,” said Peddie. “I am thankful for the opportunity the administration has given me and I feel confident we can continue to have success in the years to come.”
Peddie took over as the interim head coach on March 27, 2014 with the program sitting at 8-17 overall and 1-5 in league play. Since Peddie was named the interim head coach, the Warhawks are 14-14 overall and the squad has posted an 10-11 mark in Sun Belt play. With three games remaining in the conference season, the baseball team currently sits sixth in the Sun Belt standings.
“After visiting with the players, people in the community and high school coaches, I believe Bruce Peddie is the right coach to lead our baseball program,” said Wickstrom. “ As a head coach, he has a history of winning, the student-athletes he recruits earn their degrees and the student-athletes have a great overall experience under his leadership.”
Prior to making his way to Monroe as an assistant coach last summer, Peddie served as the head coach at New Orleans from 2010-13. Peddie served as the Privateers assistant coach from 2007-09 after 11 seasons at the helm of the Shippensburg (Pa.) University baseball team (NCAA Division II).
Peddie won 337 games during his tenure at Shippensburg (1996-2006), a mark that ranks second in program history. In Peddie’s first season as a head coach, he guided the Raiders to a 34-19-1 record and the squad won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament title. The club also advanced to the NCAA College World Series and Peddie was named the PSAC’s Eastern Division Coach of the Year.
In 1999, the Raiders again made an appearance in the NCAA Regionals and they finished the season 34-22 overall. A year later, Shippensburg claimed the PSAC title en route to another NCAA Tournament appearance (33-20 record).
During Peddie’s final four seasons in Shippensburg, the Raiders reached the PSAC Tournament all four years and they claimed two division titles and reached the NCAA Regionals twice. His 2004 squad won a school-record 43 games and it is still the only team to win more than 40 games in a single-season.
Over the course of his 11 seasons at Shippensburg, Peddie coached a total of nine MLB draft picks while three others signed free agent deals. While at New Orleans, he coached a pair of MLB draft picks in Jeff Lanning and Nick Schwarner.
Peddie began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Mansfield (Pa.) University. Peddie graduated from Mansfield in 1987 and served as an assistant coach from 1987-95. During his seven seasons, the Mounties reached four NCAA Division II Tournaments and advanced to the College World Series on three occasions.
Coach Peddie and his wife, Laurie, have twin daughters – Carly and Annie.
What They Are Saying About Coach Peddie
“I think Coach Peddie is deserving of the interim tag being removed from his title. He has done a great job with this group of players and they have made tremendous improvements over the course of the season. I am happy for Bruce as he is a baseball man and his coaching efforts reflect that.”
-Lou St. Amant, former ULM head baseball coach
“We are excited about Coach Peddie continuing at ULM and Will thinks a lot of Coach Peddie. The current players really seem to like him and he appears to be a great fit for the program.”
-Derek Daniels, father of ULM signee Will Daniels (St. Fredrick HS)
“Not only is Coach Peddie a quality coach with a successful track record, he is also a coach that has strong moral values and character and that is what our student-athletes need. I have no doubt that Coach Peddie is the right person to continue to lead the Warhawk baseball program.”
-Barry Dopson, father of ULM pitcher Logan Dopson
“I have talked with several players during the season and they really seem to enjoy playing for Coach Peddie and that is a great thing. I wish Coach Peddie and the baseball program all the luck in the world.”
-Leon Miletello, ULM supporter
“Coach Peddie brings a lot of energy to the dugout and it trickles down to the players – from those playing on the field to those in the dugout. Several daily positional players have told us that when there is energy in the dugout it helps them play better. The energy that Coach Peddie brings is a great thing for the program and it will help the program in the future.”
-Chad Miller, ULM pitcher
“Coach Peddie preaches going out on the field and the batter’s box with a plan and the attitude of the team has been great since the transition. It is a huge relief for everyone as we now know that he is officially the head coach.”
-Justin Stawychny, ULM outfielder
