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News Nuggets, 06.02.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Bucs' new pitching coach has LeClair pedigree

Bill Jarman has been named pitching coach at East Carolina, according to a press release from the school's athletics media relations office.

Prior to his appointment, Jarman served as head coach at Lander University in Greenwood, SC, for one year where he led the Bearcats to a 31-22 overall record and a No. 25 national ranking in Division II. Among his highlights at Lander were a victory over No. 1 Georgia College & State University, a pair of wins over No. 7 Armstrong Atlantic and a doubleheader sweep of No. 12 USC-Aiken.

"Our baseball program is excited about Coach Jarman joining the Pirate family," Godwin said in a statement. "With his recruiting experience, knowledge of the game and ability to develop players, we believe this addition is going to give us the best opportunity to compete at the highest level in college baseball and help us reach our goal of playing in the College World Series in Omaha."

Jarman served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Coastal Carolina from 1995-2005. Under his direction, the Chanticleer pitching staff was among the best in the nation, finishing near the top in earned run average, including seventh in 1999 and eighth in 2002. From 1995 to 2005, his staffs averaged over 40 wins a season, including a Big South-record 50 victories in 2005.

During the 2005 season, three of Coastal's pitchers — Ricky Shefka, Byron Binda and Jake Hurry — were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," stated Jarman. "East Carolina has been known traditionally for being very good and competitive in baseball and other sports. I am originally from North Carolina, so I'm excited about getting back to the state and being a part of the Billy Godwin era at ECU."

Prior to his arrival at Coastal, Jarman spent six years as an assistant at Western Carolina University where he and former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair were assistant coaches from 1989 to 1991. When LeClair took over the reigns as the Catamounts head coach in 1991, Jarman stayed on as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. In six seasons he helped Western Carolina compile a 226-137 (.659) overall record.

Jarman began his coaching career as the pitching coach at Pembroke State (now UNC-Pembroke) in 1988, where he received his physical education certificate.

He earned his undergraduate degree in parks and recreation from Wingate University in 1986, and his master's from Western Carolina in 1991.

The 42 year-old Richmond County native has a six-year-old son, Dock.

Three gridders depart West Virginia program

The Charleston (WV) Gazette has reported that two contributors to West Virginia’s Sugar Bowl champion football team — junior backs Pernell Williams and Tyler Benoit — are no longer with the program.

Williams saw action as a true freshman at running back. In seven games as a sophomore, he rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He was tried at cornerback during spring drills.

Benoit, a converted defensive back, was tried at running back in the spring and had 47 yards rushing on 13 carries in the Gold-Blue scrimmage.

Also gone is sophomore Chad Mayse, recruited from Mentor, OH, as a linebacker before being moved to the defensive line.

All three of the players were said to have failed program standards.

The Mountaineers play at East Carolina on Sept. 23 (ESPN) at a time to be announced.

ECU announces blue chip tennis signees

A two-time state champion and a four-year all-conference performer have signed national letters-of-intent to play men's tennis at East Carolina University, head coach Shawn Heinchon announced Thursday via ecupirates.com.

Whit Whitwell from Little Rock, AR, and Greg Simon, a hometown Greenville product, have joined the Pirate program and will enroll at ECU this fall.

Whitwell, who has earned a No. 1 United States Tennis Association state ranking in the 18's Division after compiling a No. 2 rating in the 16's, captured a singles title for Little Rock's Lutheran High School as a sophomore while competing in Arkansas' 2-A prep classification. As a freshman, he played a key role in leading Lutheran to a state doubles championship. He also reached the Sweet Sixteen at the National Copper Bowl, one of the nation's most prestigious Junior Tennis tourneys.

Currently rated as the second-highest prospect in Arkansas by TennisRecruiting.net, Whitwell has posted a 25-6 national record against opponents designated in a similar classification or lower. He also holds a top 30 regional rank and is listed among the top 175 players nationally after attending Newk's Tennis Academy in Texas over the past two years.

Simon, who earned four tennis letters as an all-conference standout at J.H. Rose High School, is listed among the state's top 15 players in the USTA's 18's and currently holds a North Carolina rank of 29th by TennisRecruiting.net.

He helped Rose reach the finals of the Class 4-A state doubles championship with an improbable run as the tourney underdog before falling in three competitive sets. While serving as team captain, Simon also was selected as the program's most valuable player and received Rose's coaches and leadership awards. In addition to his four-year all-conference accolades, he was chosen as the league's player-of-the-year.

Simon and Whitwell will join early signees Sam McSpadden (Little Rock, AR), Bryan Oakley (Statesville) and Matt Peeler (Lexington) on the Pirates' roster next fall.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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