Mooney and baseball team are a bad mix

Baseball Head Coach Todd Mooney resigned from his coaching position on April 5th. Mooney was named Strength and Conditioning Coach for all Oberlin athletes. Assistant coach Eric Lahetta was then poised to step up to the plate and assume control of the team.

"It was Coach Mooney's idea, he'd like to try this," Athletic Director Don Hunsinger said. "We really appreciate his willingness to serve in this capacity."

The baseball team had signed a petition expressing their dissatisfaction with Head Coach Todd Mooney and stated that they would not play for him this Spring. Athletic Director Don Hunsinger stated that Mooney would continue as baseball coach and the program would proceed as planned.

The team complained that Mooney was an ineffective and insensitive coach. The team approached Mooney, Hunsinger, Head of the Athletic Committee Heather Hogan and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes with their concerns.

Although Mooney, Hunsinger and Koppes declined to speak in depth, issues raised surrounding the incident have sparked much debate about the state of Oberlin College athletics.

Mooney joined the team in 1996, the fourth coach in three years. Under Mooney's leadership, the team had ammassed a dismal 5 - 51 record. Upon arriving the coach claimed in an April 1996 interview with the Review that he, "set out to eliminate negative attitudes." He also said, "I'm really happy with the way the team has adapted to my expectations." His contract was due to expire in June 1998, and it appears he has little chance of fulfilling these goals.

Later in the year Mooney made his decision to give up his position to Lahetta.

Once the announcement was made, seven veteran ball players returned to practice with the team according to co-captain junior Carson Keeble.

The Yeomen agreed as a team not to comment on their past problems with Mooney. Sophomore Matt Burns said, "I think the whole team struggled a lot. It was a frustrating situation over all."

While they remained tightlipped about anything related to the past, the Yeomen spoke candidly about the upcoming season. Junior Carson Keeble said, "Its gonna be a positive season. I hope we do a lot better and have some fun."