July 19, 2007
Bobby Moranda Named Head Baseball Coach at Western Carolina
FORMAL INTRODUCTION PHOTO GALLERY
Cullowhee, N.C. - Bobby Moranda was formally introduced as the head baseball coach at Western Carolina this morning in a conference held in the Hospitality Room of the Ramsey Center. Nearly 100 supporters of Western Carolina and its baseball program were on hand for his first public appearance since accepting the job earlier this week.
WCU Athletics Director Chip Smith opened with a brief introduction where he outlined the search for a new head coach before introducing Moranda.
"The search for a head baseball coach has been very difficult and very fulfilling," opened Smith. "There was a large and qualified pool of candidates, which is attributable to the respect in which Western Carolina's program is held throughout college baseball. Today is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by a lot of people that goes far beyond the process of finding a head baseball coach. The tradition of Catamount baseball is the product of countless baseball alum, as well as the current team, who have built a program that is committed to winning with integrity."
He went on to add, "As would be expected of someone who thrives on competition, Bobby Moranda clearly stood out as the right person to lead Catamount baseball. He is enthusiastic, motivated and well-prepared to take this team into the future and we are very pleased to have him and his family become Catamounts."
Met with appalause from all of those in attendance -- including current rising seniors Barrett Shaft and Tyler Sexton and rising junior Andy John -- Moranda spoke about becoming Western's next head coach and where he hopes to take the program.
"I am humbled and honored to be the new head baseball coach at Western Carolina," Moranda stated. "The reason I came here is because of the tradition. Cullowhee is a special place. I have known Jack Leggett for 18 years and he taught me that this is a special place. I look forward to the opportunity and the challenge of continuing the outstanding tradition that coaches like Jack Leggett, Keith LeClair, Rodney Hennon and Todd Raleigh have started."
He added, "I want to go to the College World Series. I would not have come here if I did not think that we could go to Omaha. I have no interest in just being a head coach - I could have done that 10, 12 - 15 years ago. I want to raise the bar for this program."
Moranda also commented that his first-ever NCAA Division I base hit -- a home run -- came at Childress Field in 1985 when he was a player at Eastern Kentucky.
Moranda, who becomes the 10th different head coach of the Catamounts since 1951, brings nearly 21 years of coaching experience - 18 of which comes from schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference - to WCU. He comes to Cullowhee after having spent the past six seasons as the associate head and pitching coach at Georgia Tech where he also served a vital role in recruiting. Prior to his stint with the Yellow Jackets, he spent six years in a similar role at Wake Forest (1996-2001) and was an assistant coach at both Virginia (1990-95) and his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky (1987-89). Overall, Moranda has been a part of eight conference championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances as either a player or a coach.
Under the tutelage of Moranda, a combined 12 pitchers have been selected in the top five rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft, including Matt Wieters, the fifth pick of the 2007 MLB Draft. In all, Moranda has coached 26 players who have been selected in the baseball draft, 20 of which were undrafted out of high school.
