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News Nuggets, 07.10.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU alum Godwin to wear LSU's purple & gold

Former East Carolina slugger Cliff Godwin has been named hitting coach at LSU by new Tigers head baseball coach Paul Mainieri, according to a release posted on ecupirates.com.

Mainieri also welcomed pitching coach Terry Rooney to his staff.

A former standout catcher at ECU, Godwin joined the Notre Dame staff as an assistant coach in the fall of 2005. Godwin served as Notre Dame's hitting coach, worked directly with the team's catchers and assisted Rooney in the baseball program's recruiting effort.

Under Godwin's direction, the 2006 Notre Dame hitters compiled the program's best plate discipline ratio (BB + HBP - Ks) since 1990, finishing at +66 with 247 walks, 100 times hit-by-pitch and just 281 strikeouts (4.5 per game).

The `06 Irish squad recorded the second-most sacrifice bunts in school history (65, one shy of the team record) while finishing with the program's third-best totals in two other categories: 10.81 hits per game and 100 times hit-by-pitch.

Prior to serving as director of baseball operations at Vanderbilt during the 2004-05 academic year, Godwin spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at UNC-Wilmington ('03-'04). His duties at Vanderbilt included helping organize daily activities associated with the baseball program and serving as liaison to the Bullpen Club support group.

Godwin was part of the historic UNCW season in 2004, as the Seahawks claimed their first Colonial Athletic Association conference title and advanced to the final game of the NCAA regional in Kinston.

An all-region catcher and two-time Academic All-American at East Carolina ('97-'01), Godwin was a three-year team captain who started 126 games in his final three seasons. He earned all-East Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2001 after batting .322 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI. The lefthanded-swinging Godwin was also named first team all-Colonial Athletic Association in `01, when his other season stats included 14 doubles and 23 walks in 57 games played.

Godwin, who spent 2003 as an assistant coach at Kinston High School, played two seasons of professional baseball (2001-02) for the Frontier League's Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget, IL.

The Snow Hill native was a three-sport standout at Greene Central High School, earning all-conference honors in football, basketball and baseball. He also was an all-state performer in baseball, starred on the hardwood as a shooting guard for his father's team and quarterbacked the Greene Central football team to the best season in the school's history, receiving 1995 conference player of the year honors.

Godwin graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina in December of 2000, with a science degree in management information systems. He received the Pat Draughon Postgraduate Scholarship and, after completing his final season, received his MBA from ECU in 2002.

Tulane resumes baseball stadium renovation

In another sign of New Orleans' recovery from Hurricane Katrina, Tulane has announced the resumption of a major expansion and renovation of Turchin Stadium, home of the Green Wave baseball team.

According to an announcement on Tulane's athletic website, the $7.5 million project will feature a grandstand design of structural steel, a new playing surface and an increase in seating from 3,000 to a maximum 5,000 seats. The project will also increase the number of chair-back seats in the stadium from 900 to 2,600 and add private suites, a covered club seating area and a new press box.

Updated netting and sound systems, a new outfield wall, new concession stands, new restrooms and an expanded merchandise sales area are also in the construction plan.

Club seating behind home plate will be covered and will include access to an open-air breezeway at the top of those sections. Four private suites will flank the breezeway on the first base line and will include air conditioning and restrooms. Suites will be sold on multi-year leases and will be accessible via elevator, which will also provide access to the press box.

For the first time, the press box will include individual broadcast booths, Ethernet capability and expanded space for the print media.

Tulane spent $1.5 million on the project prior to Katrina. Preliminary construction on the restarted phase has already begun and the expansion will be completed by the opening of the 2007 baseball season.

Originally constructed in 1991 thanks to a sizable donation by Robert and Lilian Turchin, the stadium has been home to the Green Wave baseball program for the majority of the last 16 years. The on-campus facility has hosted a pair of conference tournaments and two NCAA Regionals.

Turchin Stadium was the site of the 2005 NCAA Super Regional where Tulane defeated Rice two games to one to advance to its second College World Series in the last five seasons.

Kelly rejoins O'Leary at Central Florida

David Kelly, the associate head coach at Duke the last two seasons, has been named the director of high school relations at Central Florida, according to an announcement on the school's athletic website.

Kelly, who has 12 years of Division I coaching experience, previously served under Golden Knights coach George O'Leary at Georgia Tech from 2000-01.

Kelly got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant coach at Furman in 1979-80, with the Paladins posting a 9-1-1 overall mark in 1980 as they won the Southern Conference title. He then served as an assistant coach at Dunwoody (GA) High School for three seasons (1981-83) before taking over the head coaching slot for 10 years (1984-93).

The Union, SC, native moved back into the college ranks in 1994, joining the staff at Georgia for two seasons as the running backs coach. While with the Bulldogs, Kelly coached the likes of Robert Edwards, Hines Ward, Terrell Davis and Larry Bowie while helping Georgia to the 1995 Peach Bowl.

Kelly then served four years on the staff at LSU, aiding the Tigers' run to a pair of bowl games (Peach in 1996 and Independence in 1997).

During his tenure under O'Leary at Georgia Tech, Kelly served as the wide receivers coach. In 2000, Kelly coached all-ACC performer Kelly Campbell as the Yellow Jackets offense finished in the top 20 nationally in scoring, passing and total offense.

Kelly graduated from Furman in 1979 with a bachelor of arts degree in education. He earned four letters as a member of the Paladin football squad, playing wide receiver, running back and cornerback during his tenure. During his senior season, Furman went 8-3 and captured the Southern Conference championship. He went on to earn a master's degree in education from Furman in 1981.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:49 PM