League News
Former Copperheads Head Coach Added to Sooners Coaching Staff![]()
NORMAN, Okla. — Jack Giese (pronounced GEESE-ee), who spent the last two years as a pitching coach in the Tampa Bay Rays’ organization, was named to the Sooners’ baseball staff by head coach Sunny Golloway on Sunday. Giese worked the past two seasons with the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Rays’ Class A affiliate, and also previously held scouting positions with the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.Giese will work with the pitching staff at Oklahoma, a position he also held with Howard College (Big Spring, Texas) from 2007-2010. In his two seasons at Howard, Giese was also the associate head coach and the program compiled a 111-10 record and won the 2009 NJCAA National Championship. The 2009 team finished with a 63-1 mark, set a collegiate record with 57 straight wins, and held the No. 1 ranking throughout the entire season. In 2008, the team was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation and finished 48-9. “We are very excited about the hiring of Jack Giese as our pitching coach,” said Golloway. “He is an outstanding coach that possesses a wealth of knowledge of the game and an exceptional ability to relate to collegiate pitchers.” The hiring fills the void left by Tim Tadlock, who returned to his alma mater to serve as Texas Tech’s associate head coach last week. The addition is the second full-time hire prior to the 2012 season as Aric Thomas returned to OU in June to lead the Sooners’ hitters after helping lead OU to the 1994 National Championship as a player. “We knew when the job became open that he was our initial choice,” added Golloway. “We heard from several of our current and former pitchers that all spoke very highly of Coach Giese during their time at Howard.” In addition to working with Zach Neal, Burch Smith and Damien Magnifico, all of which have been drafted highly in the last three years, Giese has worked with nearly 100 players that have gone on to be drafted or signed at the professional level. Giese also has experience with Team USA after working with the U-18 squad in Joplin, Mo., in 2007. “First of all, it’s a great honor for Coach Golloway and the University of Oklahoma to even include me on their list of candidates, so that was flattering enough,” said Giese, a native of Fort Worth, Texas. “But to make it through the whole process and be selected as the pitching coach is an amazing opportunity. I am thrilled that Coach Golloway has the confidence in me to keep the program moving forward and to helping build upon its great tradition. It doesn’t get much bigger than Oklahoma.” Last year, Giese and Hudson Valley’s staff recorded the 14-team leagues’ fourth-best earned run average at 3.25 while leading the way with the fewest hits allowed. The staff also ranked second in shutouts (8), third in WHIP (1.27) and homers allowed (30), and fourth with 231 earned runs. In 2010, the Renegades’ hurlers posted a 3.44 ERA (fourth best in the league) while leading the teams with fewest walks allowed (204). Hudson Valley was also second in the league in WHIP (1.24), and third in earned runs (254) and runs allowed (231). At Howard College, Giese’s 2009 staff led the conference and region in every major pitching category, including a 3.06 ERA, 542 strikeouts and 159 walks. In addition, opponents managed to hit just .230 off Howard pitchers. Two future Sooners, Neal and Anthony Collazo, contributed to Howard’s success in 2009 with 13 wins and 10 wins, respectively. In 2008, the staff tossed six no-hitters, 15 shutouts, 418 strikeouts and produced two 10-game winners, including Collazo. Most recently, Giese has recruited six Sooners that played at Howard Collage including Neal, Collazo, Smith, Magnifico and Clint Cooper. “There is definitely an advantage with already being familiar with some of the arms, whether it be from coaching, recruiting or scouting perspective,” said Giese. “There is a lot of talent on the mound at OU every year, especially this season, and I am looking forward to getting the opportunity to sit down with them in a group setting. I am also looking forward to sitting down with them individually and getting to know them on a personal level, I feel that’s important.” Before joining the collegiate and professional ranks, Giese was the manager and pitching coach for the Coppell Copperheads of the Texas Collegiate League and led the team to three straight playoff appearances. Coppell owned the league’s best record (31-15) in 2005 and posted a 3.15 team ERA. The pitching staff finished first in the league in both strikeouts (398) and walks allowed (187). He was honored for the second straight season by coaching in the TCL All-Star Game. In 2004, the Copperheads won the TCL Championship while leading the league in ERA (3.04), strikeouts (421) and walks (158). Prior to his stint in the TCL, Giese spent five years coaching the Dallas Mustangs, one of the most successful amateur baseball programs in the nation. During his tenure, the Mustangs made three appearances in the AABC World Series. “This is an exciting moment for myself and my family. It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Giese. “I am excited to get started and to work with Coach Golloway, Coach Thomas and the rest of the staff. Giese and his wife, September, of 17 years have two daughters, Shea (14) and Ellis (4). “Professionally, his impressive resume speaks volumes about the type of coach that we are adding to our staff,” said Golloway. “On a personal note, I really believe we are gaining an outstanding friend that will be a great addition to our staff’s chemistry.”
|
![]()
Browse by Year »
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Browse by Month »
August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 July 2019 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 December 2016 November 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 August 2015 July 2015 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 May 2014 April 2014 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 March 2013 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 March 2011 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 February 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 |