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Still Nameless, New Team
Now Has A Head Coach
East Texas baseball fans may not know the name of the team they’ll be cheering for this summer, but now they know who will be leading
them on the field. East Texas Sports & Entertainment today tabbed Stan Phelps as the first head coach for the new summer collegiate baseball franchise it introduced last month. Phelps just began his fourth season as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Texas at Tyler baseball team. “It’s an honor to be named the first head coach for East Texas’ new team,” said Phelps on Monday. “This is a challenge I have been preparing for ever since I became a coach at UT-Tyler. “Our fans are going to enjoy a team that will hustle and be entertaining. We’re going to proudly represent East Texas and our sponsors, host families, and fans.” “We’re so excited to have Stan on board as our first head coach,” said Mike Lieberman, the team’s general manager. “He has had tremendous success in a respected program and he’s ready to lead a team of his own. Through his recruiting experience, he knows the talent in the region and has the contacts to attract quality ballplayers.” As the organization’s first head coach, Phelps will guide the team this summer, with the help of an assistant or two that he will name in the coming weeks. He is also tasked with building the inaugural roster from scratch. “Who better to be this team’s first head coach than someone who has been coaching successfully in East Texas for some time now?” Lieberman added. In his three years as
pitching coach at UT-Tyler, the Patriots have captured two American Southwest Conference East Division titles and finished second once. Last year, UT-Tyler had a season to remember, posting a 37-1 record and the best winning percentage (.974) at any level of college baseball. Their 40-game winning streak dating back to the end of the 2006 season tied an NCAA record. The only barrier to the Patriots capturing a Division III national championship was a rule that locked new programs out of the postseason for their first four years. Under Phelps’ direction, the UT-Tyler pitching staff has not only excelled, they’ve dominated. In three seasons, Patriots pitchers have gone 95-19 (.833) and posted a combined ERA of 3.48. Last season, the staff ERA of 2.68 was best in the ASC and ranked fourth in the country in Division III. The 2007 Patriots staff surrendered the fewest hits in the
conference, allowed the fewest runs, walked the fewest batters, and collected the most strikeouts. Phelps’ pitchers have not gone unrecognized, either. UT-Tyler pitchers have captured nine all-conference spots and three all-region honors in three seasons. He has coached an ASC Pitcher of the Year and a conference Freshman of the Year as well. Following the 2007 season, Patriots pitcher Nate Jennings became the first UT-Tyler player drafted by a Major League organization when he was selected in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Phelps is a native of New Boston, Texas, where he was an all-area and all-district pitcher at New Boston High School. He went on to pitch at Richland College, where he captured all-conference and all-region
honors in 2001, when he was named the team’s pitcher of the year and team captain. Phelps threw for Eastern New Mexico University for his junior season. He transferred to UT-Tyler as a senior to pitch for the Patriots in their inaugural season. Phelps, 28, received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from UT-Tyler. His wife, Kristee, is coach of the Patriots volleyball team. Fans will soon be able to purchase season tickets to see Phelps’ squad play this summer. The team expects to announce both season ticket pricing and the inaugural season schedule in the next week and a half. Fans can follow all the news and developments by logging on the team’s web site, www.newbaseballteam.com. |
Marvin Hillhouse
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