Las Cruces, N.M. ?“ New Mexico State head baseball coach Rocky Ward announced Thursday afternoon that former Aggie great Gary Ward has returned to the Aggie baseball program and will serve as pitching coach through the remainder of the season on a volunteer basis.
Gary Ward, who was recently nominated to the College Baseball Hall of Fame?™s inaugural class, served as the Aggies?™ head coach during the 2001 and 2002 baseball seasons. Under his guidance, NMSU posted a combined record of 69-48 and advanced to the program?™s first ever NCAA Tournament in 2002. During his two years, Ward helped guide five Aggies to all-conference honors while winning the program?™s first ever conference tournament title.
"I?™m always honored to represent the University properly and the key thing right now is to try to catch up without being intrusive," Gary Ward said. "This is Rocky?™s program and I can?™t walk in here and impose anything. I?™m going to try to be low profile, observe, teach and work my way in and try to provide a source of information and motivation."
NMSU assistant coach Chad Wolff will remain with the Aggie baseball program as the Director of Baseball Operations after serving as the pitching coach for the last five seasons.
"Coach Wolff has been with us for five years and we appreciate what he has done for this program and the way he?™s helped things grow for New Mexico State baseball," head coach Rocky Ward said. Now we?™re fortunate enough to have Gary Ward with his knowledge and experience volunteer his services to this program," Ward said.
The Aggie baseball team will be back in action this weekend as they host a non-conference series with the North Florida Ospreys at Presley Askew Field. Friday and Saturday?™s games will start at 6:05 p.m. while first pitch on Sunday will be at 1:05 p.m.