CLEVELAND, Tenn-.Lee baseball coach Mark Brew has announced the hiring of pitching coach Kaleb Schmidt to replace Andrew Elliott who has accepted a similar position with Northern Kentucky University. At the same time Brew noted that Jorge Saez has been promoted to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator while Thomas Zazzaro will join the staff as a graduate assistant.
"I am really excited about this staff. Coach Saez and Zazzaro, both know me well as former players and of course with Coach Saez being an integral part of the coaching staff the past few years," pointed out coach Brew. "Their experience and comfort will allow me to work alongside coach Schmidt to get him caught up to the processes and routines we have at Lee.
"I am fortunate to have some quality baseball minds on my staff and some excellent people. I am ready to see how each one impacts the team this season." Schmidt comes to Lee after solid college baseball careers at Central Arkansas and Drury University. As a pitcher he played three seasons of professional baseball in the Independent Leagues, including a season in Ottawa, Ontario.
"Coach Schmidt is one of the brightest young minds on pitching I have met. His knowledge is very sound and his ability to relate and communicate with our pitching staff will be a strength," remarked Coach Brew.
"His experiences in baseball both as a collegiate and professional pitcher will be valuable for him to pull from. He fits philosophically into what we believe in Lee, both on and off the field, and that will help since we were already practicing when he arrived on campus. "He is a very talented young coach with tremendous energy, and I can't wait to watch him grow as a pitching coach in our program."
Coach Brew continued, "I am honored to be able to promote coach Saez to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. He has done a tremendous job with our offense and our offensive numbers have trended in a very positive direction under his supervision. "He has also shown an excellent ability to evaluate talent and help us continue to get the best players that fit our culture at Lee. Some in the profession desire titles, but coach Saez has gone out and earned this promotion through his work ethic and commitment to what we are doing."
"Thomas (Zazzaro) will be a huge asset for our infielders. He was always a tremendous player with great energy, but he has an ability to connect with players that is beyond his years. In addition to serving as infield coach, he will also assist coach Saez with the offense and coach first base. We are fortunate to have Thomas back as our graduate assistant coach."
The Flames are entering week two of fall practice and have scrimmages planned with Chattanooga State for the Carp (Larry Carpenter Stadium) at noon Oct. 7 and will go on the road to play an exhibition game against D1 Eastern Kentucky on Oct 21. The annual Scout Day is at Tennessee Wesleyan on Oct 10.
