The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association named Tennessee Tech baseball coach Matt Bragga the Coach of the Year at their annual awards luncheon last month.”I am absolutely honored by this award,” Bragga said. “It can’t happen without the guys on the field. You have to have the right pieces in place and a great team effort in order to win an individual award.”
The Golden Eagles won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and eliminated #14 Alabama in the Clemson Regional last season, before finishing 31-24-1. It was the fifth time in history a Golden Eagles’ baseball team finished with more than 30 wins and the second consecutive season, a Tech first. Tech had two players named to the all-OVC team, and six on the all-tournament team including tourney MVP A.J. Kirby-Jones.
“You have to have team success to have individual achievements,” Bragga said. “I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by a great coaching staff that deserves a lot of credit also.”
Known for their solid fundamental play, the Golden Eagles increased their win total each season from 2005 to 2008 before capturing the OVC title in 2009. Their success on the field has also carried over to the classroom as 19 players were named to last year’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and five to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
The college baseball season starts later this month and Tech will embrace a new role, the hunted.
“It’s one of those things that shows our program is continuing to make huge strides,” Bragga said.
The first home stand is Feb. 26-28 against Cleveland State and admission is free to every home game throughout the season.
