ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com – Two months removed from taking the UCF baseball team to its first postseason appearance since 2012, head coach Greg Lovelady announced the addition of Ted Tom to the Knights' staff as an assistant coach. Tom brings with him an extensive career in coaching spanning 14 years.
"I am really excited to add Ted and his family to our program," Lovelady said. "Ted's background as a former head coach and his expertise as a hitting and outfield coach will bring a ton of knowledge and energy that will help enhance the development of our players. To have someone as experienced as he is really helps change the dynamic of our program. I am really excited for our guys to get to have another coach who is going to genuinely care about them as people and be invested in making them better players.
"Ted and I have been friends a long time and I am excited that we are finally getting the opportunity to be in the same dugout. I am extremely grateful that he and his wife Lisa are putting their trust in me and our program and heading down to Orlando with their two kids Henry and Addie to be a big part of the UCF community."
Tom will assist with hitters, outfielders and baserunners, as well as coordinate the UCF Baseball Camps.
"I want to thank Coach Lovelady for the opportunity to be a part of his staff," Tom said. "My family and I are excited about being a part of the UCF Baseball, the university, and the Orlando community. It is exciting to be a part of a program with such great tradition. I have watched and competed against Coach Lovelady's teams from the other dugout and can't wait to compete with him."
Prior to arriving in Orlando, Tom spent three seasons at fellow American Athletic Conference member Cincinnati. He joined the Bearcats as the director of baseball operations in 2015, covering the day to day operations, video and scouting for one season.
In 2016, Tom was promoted to assistant coach and remained in that role for his final two years at Cincinnati. He played an integral part in raising the UC team batting average by 16 points and taking the team scoring average up to five runs per game.
Tom joined UC after seven seasons as the head coach at his alma mater Shawnee State University, where he compiled a record of 203-193. The alumnus took the Bears to the America Mideast Conference Championship and the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship in 2010 and 2011, respectively. After being named the Mideast Conference Coach of the year in 2010, Tom guided Shawnee State to the NAIA Division I Regionals a year later.
He coached four All-Americans during his tenure, including the only two first team All-Americans in program history - Phillip Butler (2011) and Derek Moore (2014).
Tom's resume also boasts stops as an outfield instructor at the prestigious IMG Baseball Academy in Bradenton, head coaching stints in Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League and the Coastal Plains League, as well as two seasons as a volunteer assistant with Indiana.
In his career, Tom has coached 16 MLB Draft Picks, including a pair from his time at IMG Academy selected in the top 10 rounds.
The Lancaster, Ohio, native earned his bachelor's degree in in sports management in 2004, before receiving his master's diploma from Indiana in 2005.
JOHN EULIANO PARK EXPANSION
The UCF Baseball Complex is getting a facelift. The new John Euliano Park is on the way and club seats are available now. Fans can call (407) 823-1000 or Click Here for information, to purchase tickets, or make a donation.
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