SPORTS

Dean responds to baseball team, Mooney still active

Team will have two assistants to aid with practice

by Dave Bechhoefer

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes has sent a response to the baseball team about the team's dissatisfaction with Coach Todd Mooney.

Koppes's letter stated that, "I have concluded that the best arrangement for the 1998 season would be for Todd Mooney to continue as head coach, augmented by two assistant coaches."

"I think this is the best course to take," Koppes said.

Athletic Director Don Hunsinger said, "I think this will help a great deal. One of their concerns was drills. One person always needs to be with pitchers, one with outfielders and one with hitters, in my opinion. Now one coach won't have to run back and forth. It would also allow for better game management with one coach in the field while others could be in the dug-out."

Koppes's letter said, "With the addition of another assistant coach it should be possible to schedule more drills and provide more intensive coaching."

Postings have already gone up for the job openings looking for people to fill the part-time positions. "We're asking the College for interns," Hunsinger said.

"Although dissatisfaction has been expressed about Mr. Mooney's coaching, I believe it would be a mistake to make a change at this time, while his contract is still in effect," the letter said. "He has potential as a head coach and is entitled to more time to prove himself."

"I hope the team responds favorably," Hunsinger said. "We did the best we could do in coming up with a way to resolve the situation positively. I hope the team will give this a try. I wish I would have thought of this sooner."

The team has not yet met to discuss the letter and whether or not they will play this Spring. "We have not decided what we want to do yet so we don't want to say anything," senior Brendan Cody said.

"We're all going to get together and talk through some things," sophomore Matt Burns said. "We haven't decided what we want to do, if anything. We are disappointed."

"I still don't think that there is a situation," Mooney said. "It's great to have another assistant coach. It gives us better teaching ability and better organization. That's what it would do to any program."

"I would be glad to see the team as soon as possible," Hunsinger said.

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Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 10, November 21, 1997

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