University of North Carolina Athletics
Forbes Completes 2021 Carolina Baseball Staff
September 28, 2020 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL – Head Coach Scott Forbes announced changes to the Carolina Baseball staff on Monday (Sept. 28) with the addition of Jason Howell and the elevations of Bryant Gaines and Jesse Wierzbicki.
Forbes named Wierzbicki, who is in his fifth consecutive season and sixth overall as a member of the Tar Heel coaching staff, assistant coach, where he will lead the Tar Heel hitters in addition to playing an integral part of UNC's recruiting efforts.
Wierzbicki will continue to lead Carolina's analytical team.
"I'm honored and excited to continue working for Carolina Baseball, a program I'm proud to have been a part of as a player and coach for a number of years. My family and I are blessed to have been given this opportunity by Coach Forbes, and we're excited about what the future holds for not only us, but all of our players, alumni, staff and fans. Go Heels," Wierzbicki said.
Over the last four seasons (2017-20), the Tar Heels are 151-60 overall and 62-31 in ACC regular-season play. UNC won the Coastal Division in 2017, advanced to the College World Series in 2018 and won the ACC Tournament title and came within a victory of returning to Omaha in 2019.
He's coached a number of Tar Heel standouts, including All-Americas Brian Miller and Logan Warmoth in 2017, Kyle Datres in 2018, first-round draft pick Aaron Sabato in 2019 and 2020 and 2019 ACC Tournament MVP and first-round draft pick Michael Busch.
Wierzbicki led UNC to the 2011 College World Series prior to being a part of the Houston Astro's organization for four seasons.
"I recruited Jesse from Walters State Junior College and am now fortunate to be working alongside him every day. He was a tremendous player for us, leading his team to Omaha as a senior in 2011," Forbes said. "I knew then he had the capability to be a great coach. He was one of the toughest competitors I had ever coached and he loved and studied the game."
Forbes named Gaines assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator after serving as an assistant coach during the 2020 season.
"My family and I are extremely grateful for the opportunity and responsibilities coach Forbes has trusted me with. I'll continue to work tirelessly to ensure UNC Baseball remains one of the greatest programs in the country, and I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for our players, recruits, alumni and fans," Gaines said.
He will continue to lead the Tar Heel pitching staff moving forward.
"I recruited Bryant in 2006 and he was part of a special recruiting class that helped our program get where it is today. Bryant is tireless and driven, both as a recruiter and pitching coach, and I am fortunate to have him as my assistant head coach," Forbes said.
"He is a great person and one of the most committed players I have ever coached. I watched him rehab after two Tommy John surgeries and become one of our program's best leaders. You will not find one teammate who did not love and respect Bryant. He did an excellent job at Liberty leading the Flames' pitching staff as well as spearheading their recruiting efforts," Forbes continued.
In his first season as the pitching coach for the Tar Heels in 2020, the UNC staff combined for a 3.60 ERA with 172 strikeouts. Replacing the 2019 staff was not small a task- Gaines put together an impressive staff that replaced 324 innings from the previous season.
The 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tar Heels completed just 19 games. UNC went 12-7 before having the season ended before the second conference weekend of the year. Batters hit just .207 against the Tar Heels in the shortened season, and drew just 83 walks. Joey Lancellotti led the squad with 21 strikeouts, while Nik Pry paced the 2020 Tar Heels with three wins.
Gaines was pitching coach at Liberty from 2017-19, as the Flames' pitching staff became one of the best in the league. In 2019, Liberty tied the school record with 43 wins, won the ASUN championship in its first year in the conference and made Liberty's first NCAA regional appearance since 2014. The Flames' staff finished the 2019 season with a 3.63 ERA, which ranked 21st in the country and went 11-5 against ACC and SEC opponents. In 2017, Liberty allowed the fewest runs and finished second in ERA in the Big South Conference. Liberty led the ASUN and was 20th nationally with a 3.63 ERA. The Flames set single-season school records and led the conference with 557 strikeouts and 19 saves, and led the league in wins, innings and opponent batting average.
Joining the Carolina Baseball staff is Jason Howell, who played for the Diamond Heels in 2001 and served on UNC's staff from 2005-07.
Howell will be involved in all aspects of the program and will be responsible for on-campus recruiting efforts as well as assist Wierzbicki with Carolina's analytics team.
"I have known Jason since coaching him in the summer of 1999 in the Coastal Plain League where he pitched and played first base for me with the Wilmington Sharks," Forbes said. "Jason brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience as well as experience in professional baseball.
"Jason has recruited and coached at the highest level and we are lucky to have him return to UNC. He was well respected as a player at UNC and was known for his work ethic and team first attitude. Jason is a great friend and I am thankful to be able to work alongside him."
The Tar Heels reached the championship series of the NCAA College World Series in 2006 and 2007 – both of Howell's years in Chapel Hill. In 2006, the club finished 54-15 overall and captured four CWS wins over Cal State Fullerton, twice, Clemson and Oregon State and saw two first round draft picks.
The 2007 staff fashioned a 3.52 earned run average, ranking 12th nationally, and featured three MLB draft picks. The team made a College World Series run after beating South Carolina in the Chapel Hill NCAA Super Regional. The team captured CWS wins over Mississippi State, Louisville and Rice, twice, and finished with a 57-16 overall record.
"I am very excited to be back at UNC and on the field working both side of the baseball with Coach Forbes, Coach Gaines and Coach Wierzbicki," Howell said. "The University of North Carolina along with all of its support staff is a very special place and holds a lot of memories for me and my family. The opportunity to return and be a part of this program and community is a return home."
Howell joins Carolina from the Chicago White Sox organization, where he served as the Area Scouting Supervisor of the Mid Atlantic Region (N.C., Va., D.C., Md. and Del.). Prior to his time with the White Sox, Howell spent seven seasons at Georgia Tech, where he led the pitching staff and served as the recruiting coordinator during the 2018-19 seasons.
While at Georgia Tech, Howell was a part of six Top-25 recruiting classes, which included Top-10 rankings in three of the six seasons and the fifth ranked class in 2019. Additionally, in 2019, the Yellow Jackets won the ACC Coastal Division and began the NCAA Tournament as the third overall seed.
Howell's pitchers routinely ranked among the best in the ACC. His staffs in 2018 and 2019 led the ACC in walks per nine innings while his 2018 squad paced the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Howell coached 11 All-Americans, 34 All-Conference selections and nearly two dozen MLB during his time in Atlanta.
Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, Howell spent the 2008-12 seasons at UNCW, where the Seahawks won three CAA Conference Championships, two CAA Tournament Championships, and participated in two NCAA Regionals. As pitching coach, Howell led was part of a staff that coached the Seahawks to the CAA record for wins and conference wins while he also mentored seven All-Americans, 35 All-Conference selections and 15 MLB draft picks.
Forbes was named Head Coach on Aug. 7 after taking the reins from Mike Fox, who served as the skipper for 22 seasons.
Forbes named Wierzbicki, who is in his fifth consecutive season and sixth overall as a member of the Tar Heel coaching staff, assistant coach, where he will lead the Tar Heel hitters in addition to playing an integral part of UNC's recruiting efforts.
Wierzbicki will continue to lead Carolina's analytical team.
"I'm honored and excited to continue working for Carolina Baseball, a program I'm proud to have been a part of as a player and coach for a number of years. My family and I are blessed to have been given this opportunity by Coach Forbes, and we're excited about what the future holds for not only us, but all of our players, alumni, staff and fans. Go Heels," Wierzbicki said.
Over the last four seasons (2017-20), the Tar Heels are 151-60 overall and 62-31 in ACC regular-season play. UNC won the Coastal Division in 2017, advanced to the College World Series in 2018 and won the ACC Tournament title and came within a victory of returning to Omaha in 2019.
He's coached a number of Tar Heel standouts, including All-Americas Brian Miller and Logan Warmoth in 2017, Kyle Datres in 2018, first-round draft pick Aaron Sabato in 2019 and 2020 and 2019 ACC Tournament MVP and first-round draft pick Michael Busch.
Wierzbicki led UNC to the 2011 College World Series prior to being a part of the Houston Astro's organization for four seasons.
"I recruited Jesse from Walters State Junior College and am now fortunate to be working alongside him every day. He was a tremendous player for us, leading his team to Omaha as a senior in 2011," Forbes said. "I knew then he had the capability to be a great coach. He was one of the toughest competitors I had ever coached and he loved and studied the game."
Forbes named Gaines assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator after serving as an assistant coach during the 2020 season.
"My family and I are extremely grateful for the opportunity and responsibilities coach Forbes has trusted me with. I'll continue to work tirelessly to ensure UNC Baseball remains one of the greatest programs in the country, and I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for our players, recruits, alumni and fans," Gaines said.
He will continue to lead the Tar Heel pitching staff moving forward.
"I recruited Bryant in 2006 and he was part of a special recruiting class that helped our program get where it is today. Bryant is tireless and driven, both as a recruiter and pitching coach, and I am fortunate to have him as my assistant head coach," Forbes said.
"He is a great person and one of the most committed players I have ever coached. I watched him rehab after two Tommy John surgeries and become one of our program's best leaders. You will not find one teammate who did not love and respect Bryant. He did an excellent job at Liberty leading the Flames' pitching staff as well as spearheading their recruiting efforts," Forbes continued.
In his first season as the pitching coach for the Tar Heels in 2020, the UNC staff combined for a 3.60 ERA with 172 strikeouts. Replacing the 2019 staff was not small a task- Gaines put together an impressive staff that replaced 324 innings from the previous season.
The 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tar Heels completed just 19 games. UNC went 12-7 before having the season ended before the second conference weekend of the year. Batters hit just .207 against the Tar Heels in the shortened season, and drew just 83 walks. Joey Lancellotti led the squad with 21 strikeouts, while Nik Pry paced the 2020 Tar Heels with three wins.
Gaines was pitching coach at Liberty from 2017-19, as the Flames' pitching staff became one of the best in the league. In 2019, Liberty tied the school record with 43 wins, won the ASUN championship in its first year in the conference and made Liberty's first NCAA regional appearance since 2014. The Flames' staff finished the 2019 season with a 3.63 ERA, which ranked 21st in the country and went 11-5 against ACC and SEC opponents. In 2017, Liberty allowed the fewest runs and finished second in ERA in the Big South Conference. Liberty led the ASUN and was 20th nationally with a 3.63 ERA. The Flames set single-season school records and led the conference with 557 strikeouts and 19 saves, and led the league in wins, innings and opponent batting average.
Joining the Carolina Baseball staff is Jason Howell, who played for the Diamond Heels in 2001 and served on UNC's staff from 2005-07.
Howell will be involved in all aspects of the program and will be responsible for on-campus recruiting efforts as well as assist Wierzbicki with Carolina's analytics team.
"I have known Jason since coaching him in the summer of 1999 in the Coastal Plain League where he pitched and played first base for me with the Wilmington Sharks," Forbes said. "Jason brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience as well as experience in professional baseball.
"Jason has recruited and coached at the highest level and we are lucky to have him return to UNC. He was well respected as a player at UNC and was known for his work ethic and team first attitude. Jason is a great friend and I am thankful to be able to work alongside him."
The Tar Heels reached the championship series of the NCAA College World Series in 2006 and 2007 – both of Howell's years in Chapel Hill. In 2006, the club finished 54-15 overall and captured four CWS wins over Cal State Fullerton, twice, Clemson and Oregon State and saw two first round draft picks.
The 2007 staff fashioned a 3.52 earned run average, ranking 12th nationally, and featured three MLB draft picks. The team made a College World Series run after beating South Carolina in the Chapel Hill NCAA Super Regional. The team captured CWS wins over Mississippi State, Louisville and Rice, twice, and finished with a 57-16 overall record.
"I am very excited to be back at UNC and on the field working both side of the baseball with Coach Forbes, Coach Gaines and Coach Wierzbicki," Howell said. "The University of North Carolina along with all of its support staff is a very special place and holds a lot of memories for me and my family. The opportunity to return and be a part of this program and community is a return home."
Howell joins Carolina from the Chicago White Sox organization, where he served as the Area Scouting Supervisor of the Mid Atlantic Region (N.C., Va., D.C., Md. and Del.). Prior to his time with the White Sox, Howell spent seven seasons at Georgia Tech, where he led the pitching staff and served as the recruiting coordinator during the 2018-19 seasons.
While at Georgia Tech, Howell was a part of six Top-25 recruiting classes, which included Top-10 rankings in three of the six seasons and the fifth ranked class in 2019. Additionally, in 2019, the Yellow Jackets won the ACC Coastal Division and began the NCAA Tournament as the third overall seed.
Howell's pitchers routinely ranked among the best in the ACC. His staffs in 2018 and 2019 led the ACC in walks per nine innings while his 2018 squad paced the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Howell coached 11 All-Americans, 34 All-Conference selections and nearly two dozen MLB during his time in Atlanta.
Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, Howell spent the 2008-12 seasons at UNCW, where the Seahawks won three CAA Conference Championships, two CAA Tournament Championships, and participated in two NCAA Regionals. As pitching coach, Howell led was part of a staff that coached the Seahawks to the CAA record for wins and conference wins while he also mentored seven All-Americans, 35 All-Conference selections and 15 MLB draft picks.
Forbes was named Head Coach on Aug. 7 after taking the reins from Mike Fox, who served as the skipper for 22 seasons.
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