ATHENS—–University of Georgia’s Ike Cousins head baseball coach Scott Stricklin announced the promotion of Scott Daeley to associate head coach on Tuesday.
“Scott and I have worked together for the past 14 years, and his hard work and loyalty have helped achieve a lot of success for the Georgia and Kent State programs,” said Stricklin. “Along with his work on the field, he’s directed the recruiting efforts and has been and continues to have a very positive influence on our student-athletes.”
Daeley begins his sixth season at Georgia, serving as the hitting coach, recruiting coordinator and working with the outfielders. Also, he is the third base coach.
The 2018 season marked Georgia’s finest in a decade. The Bulldogs went 39-21 including 18-12 in the SEC, earned a No. 8 national seed for the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the NCAA Athens Regional Final and finished with a consensus top 25 ranking. Georgia’s .282 batting average was its best since 2010, and the 64 home runs, including a school record seven grand slams, was the most since a record 109 in 2009.
Two Bulldog hitters were 2018 MLB draft picks: ninth round selection Keegan McGovern (Seattle) and 16th rounder Michael Curry (San Diego). McGovern, a four-year starting outfielder, was a Third Team All-American while Curry, a three-year starter at DH/C/OF, made Second Team All-SEC. Sophomore third baseman/closer Aaron Schunk garnered Third Team All-America honors from the NCBWA as a utility player. He was one of three finalists for the John Olerud Award which goes to the nation’s top two-way player. Also, pitcher/outfielder C.J. Smith was named a Second Team Freshman All-American by the NCBWA. Meanwhile, junior first baseman Adam Sasser earned Second Team All-SEC honors and catcher Mason Meadows was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Daeley joined the Georgia coaching staff in June of 2013 after spending nine seasons as a member of Stricklin’s staff at Kent State. Daeley’s playing career began at Cypress (California) Junior College, and then he spent his final two years at Wake Forest. A native of Orange, Calif., he played four seasons of professional baseball before returning to Wake Forest where he graduated in 2002. He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant for the Demon Deacons from 2002-04 before landing the position at Kent State in 2005.
Daeley, and his wife, Alison, have two daughters: Sloan (10) and Paige (8).
