Former Catcher Brian Snitker Named Atlanta Braves Interim Manager

NEW ORLEANS – Former University of New Orleans catcher Brian Snitker became the latest Privateer to be called up to the Major Leagues as the 60-year old native of Decatur, Illinois, was named interim manager of the Atlanta Braves on May 17.

A letterman on the Lakefront from 1976-77, Snitker is no stranger to MLB or the Braves as he served as the team's bullpen coach in 1985 and again from 1988-90, and as the third base coach from 2006-13. Snitker replaces Fredi Gonzalez, who was relieved of his duties following the Braves' 9-28 start to the 2016 campaign, and is the second former Privateer to become a Major League manager as Mike Quade managed the Chicago Cubs from 2010-11.

A 1973 graduate of Macon High, where he was a member of the school's 1971 state championship team, Snitker played two seasons at Lincoln Junior College in Illinois and was named second-team all-state after hitting .320 and helping lead the Lynx to a 20-18 overall record as a sophomore in 1975. That summer, he played in the Central Illinois Collegiate League and hit .323 before seeing his first season at UNO cut short because of a thumb injury. Despite playing in just five games, Snitker was selected in the 25th round of the 1976 Major League Draft by the Chicago Cubs.

He returned for his senior campaign with the Privateers and went on to hit .268 with a .406 slugging percentage courtesy of six doubles, one triple and three home runs while driving in 21 runs, scoring 10 times, posting six stolen bases and drawing 25 walks. In his lone full season on the diamond, Snitker helped UNO post a 35-9 overall record and advance to the 1977 South Central Regional in Arlington, Texas – the first postseason bid by the Privateers as a Division I program.

In two seasons at UNO, Snitker was part of a squad that posted a combined 61-13-1 record while hitting .261 (35-for-134) to go with 19 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 12 runs scored. Following his senior season, he signed a free agent contract with the Braves and played from 1977-80 in the organization – advancing as far as Triple-A Richmond in 1978. For his career, he hit .254 with a .390 slugging percentage on the strength of 31 doubles, three triples and 23 home runs while posting 112 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 96 runs scored in 236 career games.

Snitker began his professional managing career with the Anderson Braves of the South Atlantic League in 1982. He also managed Braves' minor league affiliates Durham from 1983-84 and 1987, Sumter in 1986, Danville in 1996, Macon from 1997-98, Myrtle Beach from 1999-2001, Greenville from 2002-06 and Gwinnett from 2014 until his recent call to "The Show."

Along the way, he posted a combined record of 1,302-1,309 with seven winning campaigns, including a career-best 88-52 mark in 2000 with the Myrtle Beach where the Advanced-A squad posted the best record in the Carolina League and won the postseason league title. He Myrtle Beach team also won the Carolina League in 1999 with a 79-60 record, and Snitker was named the league's Manager of the Year both seasons.

In his first game at the helm of the MLB Braves, Snitker's team fell behind 7-0 early on before rallying but ultimately fell short to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 12-9, on Tuesday at PNC Park.

While the former UNO standout will look to turn things around in Atlanta as the year progresses, the current Privateers squad will take aim at clinching a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament over the weekend as New Orleans will close out the 2016 season with a three-game tilt against Nicholls.

The two schools will play on Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark on Thursday and Saturday with first pitches set for 6:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. The middle game of the series will be held in Thibodaux on Saturday with a 6 p.m. start. UNO will honor its eight-member senior class prior to Saturday's regular-season finale with a special ceremony prior to first pitch.

Tickets to this weekend's games, as well as future Privateer Athletics events, can be purchased by clicking HERE or by calling the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263).