Brandon Romans Season 2008

Contact Brandon:
Email - bromans@athletics.ucf.edu
Phone - 407-823-3260
Twitter: @BRomans08 Former UCF standout Brandon Romans begins his first season of his second stint as an assistant coach with the Knights, responsible for the catchers, outfielders and hitting. He spent the 2010-12 campaigns as the volunteer assistant following his playing career (2007-09), where he batted .314 for his career with 17 home runs and 77 RBI. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Romans worked the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State. He was responsible for the catchers, outfielders and hitting, while serving as the recruiting coordinator. The Cocoa, Fla., native was a part of the Gamecocks' run in the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, where the team won six-straight elimination games to claim the title and a berth to the NCAA Oxford Regional. Romans aided JSU to a 98-80 overall and 55-34 OVC record during his tenure. Romans aided relief pitcher Travis Stout and Michael Bishop to Louisville Slugger All-America Team accolades following the 2013 campaign. In his final season as a volunteer assistant, the Knights totaled 45 wins for the first time since 2004, were ranked in the national polls all season, notched a program-record 16 wins in Conference USA, recorded the nation's best winning percentage on the road during the regular season (16-3) and had six players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. UCF also finished runner-up at the NCAA Coral Gables Regional. His efforts with the offense helped the 2011 Knights rank first in C-USA in runs, hits, homers, slugging, RBI and doubles. They went on to post their most successful season since 2005 by finishing with a 39-23 record. UCF returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 as it earned a No. 2 seed in the Tallahassee Regional. Romans coached the outfield and the catchers and assisted the Knights' offense that ranked as one of the best in the country in 2010. Outfielders Chris Duffy (.447) and Shane Brown (.428) would become the first duo in C-USA history to hit .400 in the same season as they went on to earn spots on the All-C-USA First Team. He coached Ronnie Richardson, Alex Friedrich, Jonathan Griffin and D.J. Hicks, who were all four were named to the C-USA All-Conference first or second teams. Richardson led the league in stolen bases, while Friendrich paced the conference with 21 doubles and was second on the team with a .319 average. Griffin led the team with 19 home runs, while Hicks paced C-USA with 66 RBI and was named a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top college player. Friedrich's phenomenal senior season came on the heels of three campaigns as a defensive replacement for the Knights. Getting a chance to play full time, he finished second on the team with a .319 batting average, while smashing 21 doubles to lead C-USA and also notching four homers, three triples, 39 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Both Richardson, who was drafted in the 16th round by the San Diego Padres, and Friedrich had outstanding seasons in the field under Romans' guidance. The duo each recorded eight outfield assists which led to countless runners being tagged out at home to keep runs off the board.