McDonnell Named to USA Baseball's 2009 Coaching Staff
December 16, 2008 | Baseball
Dec. 16, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. - University of Louisville baseball head coach Dan McDonnell has been selected by USA Baseball as an assistant coach for the 2009 National Team. McDonnell joins USA Baseball head coach Rick Jones (Tulane head coach) and assistant coaches Rob Cooper (Wright State head coach) and Mike Kennedy (Elon head coach).
"Dan has always been a great asset to us in terms of a wealth of information," said Eric Campbell, General Manager of the USA Baseball National Team. "Certainly being at Louisville and taking his team to Omaha is exciting for him and his program, but it is also exciting for us. We're very happy to have Dan on our staff."
McDonnell is entering his third season in Louisville after leading the Cards to the 2008 BIG EAST Tournament title, the program's second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a 41-21 record overall. In his first season in Louisville in 2007, McDonnell took the Cards to the College World Series for the first time in school history, while also winning a school record 47 games en route to being named Rivals.com National Coach of the Year.
Coming off of an unbeaten summer (24-0), and a gold medal at the FISU World University Baseball Championships, the National Team will participate in the annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship Series in Japan and then compete in the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia (Canada).
USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The organization selects and trains the United States Olympic Baseball Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball National Team (collegiate); the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women's National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. More information can be found online at USABaseball.com.
The Cardinals, which return All-Americans Chris Dominguez (third baseman) and Justin Marks (left-handed pitcher), will open the 2009 season with a three-game series at SEC foe Florida on Feb. 20-22, while the home-opener is set for Feb. 25 against Eastern Kentucky.
