Associate head baseball coach moving on after 11 seasons with Beavers

Gazette-Times

LUBBOCK, Texas — Dan Spencer was introduced as the new associate head coach of the Texas Tech baseball program on Monday.

Spencer, who spent the past 11 seasons with the Oregon State program, returns to Texas Tech after playing three years there for coach Larry Hays.

“It’s funny how things happen and how life works,” Spencer said. “I feel like I’ve come full circle here. I’ve only worn two Division I baseball uniforms in my life, one was here at Texas Tech and the other was at Oregon State.

“Today is a very special day for me and my wife. Without her and her support, there would have been no shot that we would have come to Lubbock. I asked her if she would have any interest in coming to Lubbock and she said, ‘Yes I would.’ ”

The Red Raiders also hired Trent Petrie as an assistant coach on Monday. Petrie will serve as the infield coach and assist in recruiting efforts.

“In the coaching world, changes happen but the friendships last a lifetime,” OSU coach Pat Casey said. “Dan and I have had a lot of good times together and traveled a lot of miles together, and those are things I’ll miss.

“While we will definitely miss his contributions to our program, we realize that this is a great professional opportunity for Dan. He has the chance to perhaps become the head coach at the Division I program where he played his college baseball, and that’s something not many people find themselves able to do.

“We wish Dan the very best of luck at Texas Tech, and myself, our players and alumni, and the rest of Beaver Nation will always be appreciative of the work he put in and what he helped us accomplish here.”

Spencer, one of the most highly touted assistant coaches in the country, makes a return to the South Plains after earning three varsity letters as a Red Raider infielder from 1985-87.

Spencer, 41, spent the last 11 seasons at OSU, the last three years as associate head coach where he has served as pitching/catching coach and recruiting coordinator. His pitching staffs over the last two seasons were instrumental in helping the Beavers become the first back-to-back College World Series champions since LSU in the late 1990’s.

“I’m real appreciative of coach Hays for having me,” Spencer said. “I’m real fortunate to be here with Daren (Hays), Petrie, and coach (Lance) Brown. You don’t coach unless you have players; you’ve got no shot without ponies.

“The goal is, the guys they have here, I’m anxious to work with them and the guys they don’t have yet, I’m anxious to find them and get them here.”

Spencer will be in charge of pitching/catching and serve as the recruiting coordinator.

“His background has pointed out the fact that he is qualified in all three areas,” Hays said. “His ability to recruit outstanding pitchers and catchers is well documented as can easily be seen this year by having two first round picks in both positions.”

Over the last two seasons, the Beavers staffs have compiled 3.41 and 3.48 ERA’s while leading the team to 50-16 and 49-18 respective records. They led the Pacific-10 Conference in ERA in 2005 and 2006, while the bullpen helped pave the way to back-to-back national titles by contributing 20-plus saves in both 2006 and 2007.

Under Spencer’s leadership, the Beavers have had three pitchers and one catcher named to All-America teams and seven drafted in the top 10 rounds of the MLB Draft. Eddie Kunz, the closer of the 2007 staff, and catcher Mitch Canham, the Beavers’ leading hitter, were both first round draft selections in this year’s draft.