University of North Carolina Athletics
Former Tar Heel Jason Howell Joins Baseball Staff
August 24, 2005 | Baseball
Aug. 24, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After spending four seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization, former Tar Heel letterwinner Jason Howell has joined the University of North Carolina staff as an assistant coach, head coach Mike Fox announced Wednesday.
A two-way standout at Carolina, Howell will work with both the Tar Heels' pitchers and hitters and will serve as the team's first base coach. He also will be involved in on-campus recruiting and administrative duties and will direct the program's summer camps.
"I am thrilled with the opportunity to be back here at the University of North Carolina," said Howell, who earned all-conference honors as a Tar Heel in 2001. "I enjoyed my career in professional baseball but am eager to continue learning from one of the best coaching staffs in the nation. This should be an exciting season for the Heels, and I am excited to be a part of it. There is no place I would rather be."
"I am very excited to have Jason back at Carolina as an assistant coach," said Fox. "He is a tremendous young man, and after a four year professional career, he is anxious to begin coaching. He is a great addition to our staff and will bring knowledge of both pitching and hitting, as he was a two-way player for us at Carolina.
"In just a short time Jason has already made a big impact in our program. Our players are going to benefit from Jason's experience and knowledge of the game."
After retiring from professional baseball last April, Howell broke into coaching this summer as an assistant with the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes League, a collegiate wooden bat summer league. With the Copperheads, he served as the team's pitching coach and assisted the head coach and general manager in day-to-day activities. Howell has also worked several camps at Carolina, Appalachian State and Ohio University.
After being signed out of Carolina by the Red Sox, Howell pitched four years in the organization and compiled a 28-14 career record with 23 saves and a 3.86 earned runs average. In 2002, he went 7-3 with a 2.05 ERA for Augusta and led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 17 saves. His 48 appearances for Sarasota in 2003 were also tops in the organization.
A transfer from Appalachian State, Howell played one season for the Tar Heels and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2001. On the mound, he was 6-2 with a 4.33 ERA and led the team with four saves. Howell also played first base, right field and designated hitter and was second on the team with a .350 average. He drove in 29 runs and tallied one homer, two triples and 13 doubles. Howell earned the S.H. Basnight Award as the Tar Heels' most valuable pitcher.
A graduate of West Wilkes High School and a native of Millers Creek, N.C., Howell played at ASU from 1998-2000 and earned Academic All-Southern Conference honors in 1999. He graduated from UNC with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication studies in August 2002.
