NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans and head baseball coach
Blake Dean have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep Dean on the Lakefront through the 2022 season. Dean has guided the Privateers to a 90-86-1 mark in three seasons and back-to-back-to-back Southland Conference tournament appearances. In 2018, New Orleans advanced to the championship game as the No. 8 seed, defeating No. 1 Sam Houston State University and No. 4 Houston Baptist University twice to get to the title game.
The 2018 pitching staff finished 21
st in the nation with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings and offensively, UNO collected 21 triples, good for 11
th in NCAA Division I. Junior southpaw
Bryan Warzek was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers after earning Southland Conference First Team honors. A week after the draft, "
Warzie" picked up ABCA and All-LSWA recognition.
"I want to thank Mr. Morel and President Nicklow for the opportunity to continue to lead this baseball program and represent New Orleans," said Dean. "I love where I'm at and the commitment shown is humbling. Derek took a chance on a 27-year old years ago and it means the world to me to make coach
Ron Maestri and coach
Paul Mainieri proud."
ON 2018's SUCCESS
"We made big strides in our third consecutive season in the conference tournament and we look to continue to improve."
ON 2019 SCHEDULE/RECRUITS
Our schedule will be tough and we have some holes to fill with key seniors having graduated and Warzek going to the LA Dodgers. This season, we have a larger high school recruiting class and with that comes development, but we are excited about the opportunity. We also brought in some JUCOs that will challenge for starting spots."
ON SEEING SHAWN SEMPLE AND BRYAN WARZEK DRAFTED
"Those guys came here and believed in what we were doing, continued to improve and went on to be drafted by the Yankees and Dodgers, respectively."
ON LEADING THE PRIVATEERS
"We will continue to build our program the best we can and show that New Orleans is a great opportunity for student-athletes, both academically and athletically. We want to continue to progress and challenge for championships."
"Prior to the season, Blake and I spoke about the direction of the program and his expectations for the season and beyond," said director of athletics
Derek Morel. "At that time, I told him we were pleased with our progress and our shared vision and, consequently, intended to extend his contract."
"We expect to contend for Southland Conference championships each season and remain highly confident in Blake as the leader of our Privateers baseball program. Blake and his staff (
Rudy Darrow,
Brett Stewart,
Dylan Belanger) are positive ambassadors for our university and exceptional mentors for the men in our program."
Dean was named interim head coach following
Ron Maestri's retirement at the end of 2015 before officially taking over prior to the 2016 season. Prior to leading the program, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach.
The former LSU standout and 2009 College World Series champion helped bring the Privateers double-figure win totals in each of his two years as the squad's hitting coach.
During his playing career, Dean quickly rose as one of LSU's premier hitters and was named MVP of the 2008 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament as well as garnering All-American honors multiple years.
Following his tenure in Baton Rouge, La., Dean was drafted in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in the summer of 2010 by the Los Angeles Dodgers where he spent two years in the minor league system.
After his two years of pro ball, the Crestview, Fla. native spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater where he earned his degree in sports administration before joining the Privateer coaching staff in 2014.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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