Lovelady Accepts Head Coaching Position at Central Florida
7/11/2016 4:00:00 AM | Baseball
Greg Lovelady, Wright State head baseball coach the past three seasons, has accepted a similar position at Central Florida.
During his tenure at WSU, the Raiders won 124 games, including a school-record 46 in 2016, and advanced to the final game of the NCAA Regionals in both 2015 and 2016. The ABCA/Diamond Mideast Regional Coach of the Year in 2016, Lovelady was selected as the Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016.
Eight Raiders were honored with Horizon League postseason awards in 2016, including the Freshman of the Year in Caleb Sampen, who was later named to the Louisville Slugger All-American Freshman Team. Senior Jesse Scholtens, who made history by pitching the first perfect game in Wright State history at Dayton on March 11, was chosen First Team All-Horizon League and First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region while senior outfielder Ryan Fucci was also named First Team All-Horizon League and Third Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region.
In June, five Raiders were selected by the Major League Baseball Draft over a three-day period. Catcher Sean Murphy went to the Oakland A's in the third round followed by Scholtens to the San Diego Padres in the ninth round, shortstop Mitch Roman to the Chicago White Sox in the 12th round, pitcher Robby Sexton to the Boston Red Sox in the 14th round and Fucci to the Seattle Mariners in the 25th round.
In 2015, Lovelady guided the Raiders to new heights as Wright State won a then-record 43 games and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals against host Illinois after beating Ohio and Notre Dame. 11 Raiders were honored by the Horizon League, including Andrew Elliott being named Relief Pitcher of the Year and Gabe Snyder selected as the Freshman of the Year. Elliott was later drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
Lovelady's first season at the helm in 2014 paid dividends as he guided the Raiders to a 35-22 overall record and the Horizon League regular-season title with a mark of 25-4. 10 Raiders received postseason honors, including Lovelady, who was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year as his squad set a new record for wins in league play. In all, the Horizon League honored WSU with 10 Players of the Week throughout the season.
More honors came in after the season as Andrew Elliott was named Third Team All-American by ABCA as well as First Team All Mideast. Sean Murphy was chosen as a Freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger. Michael Timm received accolades as well, being named to the All-Mideast Second Team, CoSIDA District Academic All American and to the Horizon League Spring Academic Team. In June, Travis Hissong signed a contract with the New York Yankees.
Along with his success with the Raiders, Lovelady has also been involved with USA Baseball, including a lead role in the tryout phase for the 14U team that won a gold medal in Mexico in 2015 and for the 15U team in 2016.
Before being named head coach, Lovelady was on Rob Cooper's staff for nine seasons, the final seven as associate head coach. Lovelady served as the pitching coach and worked with the catchers while off the field, he was the recruiting coordinator for the program, helping WSU to NCAA Tournaments in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
Lovelady came to WSU after a successful playing career and three-year stint with one of the nation's elite teams in Miami (FL). The Hurricanes won two national championships, in 1999 and 2001, with Lovelady as the catcher. A four-year letterman for the 'Canes, Lovelady captained the 2001 squad that won its second national championship in three years.
Lovelady hit a career best .314 with a 14-game hitting streak during his 1999 campaign. Lovelady was also a fan favorite in Coral Gables, receiving the Arnold Novins Award in 2001, an honor bestowed on the "Most Popular Player" as voted by the fans of Miami. The 'Canes made a postseason appearance during each of Lovelady's years as a player and coach in Coral Gables. UM Reached the College World Series five times and advanced to the NCAA super regional seven times while Lovelady was on campus.
Lovelady graduated from Miami in 2001 with a degree in Finance and a minor in Sports Management as a member of the university's deans list. Professionally, Lovelady played with the Utica Blue Sox, an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, and helped develop two UM catchers and numerous pitchers into major league draft choices.
Head Coach: Wright State
Led Raiders to NCAA Regional Finals in 2015 and 2016
Horizon League Tournament Champions 2015 and 2016
Horizon League Regular-Season Champions 2014 and 2016
| Year | Overall | Pct. | Horizon | Pct. | Horizon Tourney | Pct. |
| 2013-14 | 35-22 | .614 | 25-4 | .862 | 2-2 | .500 |
| 2014-15 | 43-17 | .717 | 21-8 | .724 | 3-1 | .750 |
| 2015-16 | 46-17 | .730 | 23-6 | .793 | 3-0 | 1.000 |
| 3 Years | 124-56 | .689 | 69-18 | .793 | 8-3 | .727 |
