A new era in Virginia baseball begins tomorrow in Greensboro when rookie head coach Brian O’Connor leads his team into action against North Carolina A&T. After 23 years under the direction of coach Dennis Womack, the face of the program underwent a vast change during the offseason with the addition of the 32-year-old Creighton University graduate.
O’Connor spent the past nine seasons in South Bend, Ind., as a member of the Notre Dame coaching staff, the last two as the associate head coach. Along with a brand new staff, O’Connor brings a youthful enthusiasm and passion to a team looking to build on its best ACC finish since 1988.
“We’re going to play the game very excited and very enthusiastic,” O’Connor said. “And we’re going to really get after it and have a passion for what we’re doing out there. It’ll be a very aggressive style.”
The 2003 Cavaliers (29-25, 11-12 ACC) had the feel of a program on the rise. After finishing sixth in the conference despite losing their top two starting pitchers to injury — Jeff Kamrath and Mike Ballard — Virginia has several returning players to be excited about. Although both Kamrath and Ballard will miss the entire 2004 season, other Cavaliers are expected to pick up the slack.
Senior first baseman/pitcher Joe Koshansky impressed onlookers with his versatility last year, posting a 2.31 ERA and leading the staff in wins (7), while spending the rest of the time manning the corner. At the plate, Koshansky proved just as deadly, with a team-high .434 OBP and a .320 BA. He also tied shortstop Mark Reynolds for the team lead in home runs with nine.
Koshansky will get the ball for the Sunday matinee against the Aggies, following a one-two punch of staff ace Andrew Dobies and senior Chris Gale to kick off the year.
Catty corner to Koshansky’s regular position at first base will be rising star Ryan Zimmerman, who started all 54 games for the Cavaliers at third last season, his first. Offseason workouts added 20 pounds of muscle to the Virginia Beach native’s 6’2″ frame, and he now weighs in at 210. O’Connor compares Zimmerman to none other than Cal Ripken, the highest form of flattery for a kid that grew up in Oriole country.
“He’s a shortstop playing third base, and he happens to be a guy that’s in a taller, bigger frame, too,” O’Connor said. “Cal was 6’4″, 215 when he played this game, but he played it like he was 6 foot, 190. I think Ryan is going to do some great things here.”
Zimmerman said he is just as excited about his new coach as teacher is of pupil.
“We’re more upbeat, especially with the young coaching staff,” Zimmerman said. “Nothing against Coach Womack or anything, but Coach O’Connor and his staff are so much more energetic, and they’re excited to come to the ballpark every day, and that makes us excited to be there.”
O’Connor won the head job despite rumors of then-Boston Red Sox third base coach and U. Va. alum Mike Cubbage voicing interest. While Cubbage lacked experience coaching on the collegiate level, O’Connor brought something to the table that couldn’t be ignored -â a remarkable ability to recruit.
For a program trying to play catch-up in a brutal conference that promises only to get tougher with the pending arrival of No. 3 Miami into the fold, being able to recruit was a must for any candidate vying for the position. O’Connor proved his knack for the grinding business of selling a school as the recruiting coordinator at Notre Dame, where he reeled in the nation’s best class in 2001, followed by the No. 6 group last season.
He wasted no time in getting on the road to build the Virginia program for the future after his hiring on July 8. The first crop of Virginia players to be signed by O’Connor comprises enough talent to warrant Baseball America tabbing it as No. 12 in the nation.
“Mike Mitchell, our starting center fielder… will make an impact definitely defensively right away because he’s got tremendous speed,” O’Connor said. “The other one is Casey Lambert, a left-handed pitcher. He’s ready to win right now in college baseball — he’s got tremendous poise.”
After an offseason that has seen the most change in the baseball program since the days of the Carter administration, Virginia will finally be able to get it on in War Memorial Stadium for a three-game set. With O’Connor at the helm, the Cavaliers anticipate a performance this season that will no longer hold them hostage at the bottom of the ACC standings.
Photo by Cavalier Daily Staff Photographer, Cavalier Daily Photo Staff
Sophomore third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who started every game for the Cavaliers last season, recieved the highest of compliments from new coach Brian O'Connor: A comparisson to future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken.