Maloney Selected to Lead Michigan Baseball Program

Press Conference Quotes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior associate athletics director Megan McCallister, who headed the search committee, officially announced the hiring of Rich Maloney as head baseball coach Friday (May 31) at a gathering in the press room at Crisler Arena. Maloney replaces interim coach Chris Harrison, who guided the Wolverines (21-32, 14-17 Big Ten) during the 2002 season.

Maloney was 256-144-1 in seven seasons as Ball State's head coach.

"This is an opportunity for the Michigan Athletic Department to get one of the bright young coaches in America," said director of athletics Bill Martin. "He has proven his knowledge of the game with his success at the collegiate level and we believe he understands what it takes to build a successful program on the field and in the classroom."

A native of Roseville, Mich., and 1982 Roseville High School graduate, Maloney was for seven years the head coach at Ball State, where he won two Mid-American Conference championships (1999, 2001) and was twice named MAC baseball Coach of the Year (1998, 2001). The Cardinals finished first in the MAC West four straight seasons (1998-2001).

Ball State was 34-23 in 2002, finished second in the MAC West and placed second in the MAC Championship Tournament, losing to Kent State in the final.

Maloney's record as a head coach is 256-144-1 and his teams won at least 30 games in each of his seven seasons at Ball State, reaching 40 in 1997 and a school-record 42 wins in 1999. Maloney was recognized as one of the "Top Five Rising Coaches" of NCAA Division I baseball by Baseball America in 2001.

Maloney earned two degrees at Western Michigan, in communications and journalism in '86 and in English in '93.

A three-year letterwinner at WMU (1984-86) and a two-time captain, Maloney was a two-time All-MAC first team selection and was twice named to the all-district squad. A third team All-American as a senior shortstop, Maloney was a 13th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1986 following his career at Western Michigan.

Maloney was WMU's team MVP while hitting .362 as a junior in 1985 and he was twice named the top defensive player on the team (1984 and 1986). He set WMU's career record for runs scored (124) in 1986.

Following his professional baseball career, Maloney served as an assistant coach for Fred Decker at Western Michigan from 1992-95 before accepting the head coaching position at Ball State in May of 1995.

Maloney is married to the former Kelle Lynn Seitz and they have two sons and a daughter.

Contacts: Jim Schneider, Bruce Madej (734) 763-4423

University of Michigan Athletics

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