Holbrook staying with the Gamecocks
Posted: 06.15.2011 at 2:14 PM
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina associate head coach Chad Holbrook has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching position at the University of Tennessee.
"I am flattered by the interest of the University of Tennessee but am withdrawing my name from consideration for the head coaching position in Knoxville,” said Holbrook. “Tennessee is a great institution with a great athletic program but at this point in my career I belong here at South Carolina. My family and I love the University and Columbia and we look forward to continuing to build on the championship program we've been so fortunate to be a part of. I want to thank Dr. Pastides, Eric Hyman, and Coach Tanner for their support throughout this process. They have been incredible and I can't thank them enough. We're excited about returning to the College World Series and hope to see plenty of Garnet and Black in Omaha. Go Gamecocks!"
Holbrook is in his third season as associate head coach with the Gamecocks and recruiting coordinator for the baseball program. Holbrook, serves as hitting instructor, oversees the Gamecock offense, including base running and the short game and is the third base coach. He also works with the outfielders. Holbrook's offensive prowess has made an immediate impact on the South Carolina baseball program in his first three seasons as the Gamecocks have made consecutive appearances in 2010 and 2011 in the College World Series. Holbrook came to the Gamecock program in July of 2008 after serving 15 seasons as a member of the University of North Carolina coaching staff.
His guidance was instrumental in helping the Gamecocks to the 2010 national championship and helping in the development of 2010 All-SEC selection and College World Series Most Outstanding Player, Jackie Bradley Jr., as well as Freshman All-America Christian Walker and SEC All-Freshman Evan Marzilli. Holbrook helped to oversee an offense that peaked in the postseason with a .309 batting average in 12 postseason contests. Marzilli, was the team's top postseason hitter with a .419 average (18-for-43) with Walker right behind him at .389 (21-for-54) and Bradley hitting .348 with four HR and 17 RBI. Carolina finished the season with a .300 team batting average as well as a .392 on-base percentage. The squad's 734 hits was second highest in the conference with the team also tallying 298 walks, 14th highest in the country. In 2009, Holbrook's first season, the Gamecocks finished with a team batting average of .310 on the year, the highest average in the last eight seasons, along with an improved on-base percentage of .394 and a .528 slugging percentage. Carolina was fifth in the nation with 109 home runs. Among the players he tutored that first year was Freshman All-America Jackie Bradley Jr. and 2009 All-SEC selections, Justin Dalles, Nick Ebert, Bobby Haney and DeAngelo Mack.