University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Howell Named Director Of Pitching Performance And Development
February 22, 2024 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – UNC assistant baseball coach Jason Howell has been named the program's first Director of Pitching Performance and Development. Howell spent the previous three seasons working with all aspects of the program, including the pitchers and outfielders, while serving as first base coach.
Howell will work alongside Assistant Head Coach/Pitching Coach Bryant Gaines to implement an overall pitching program, prescribe and monitor a development plan for each individual pitcher, analyze performances using advanced technology, and collaborate with other departments to align specific goals.
"Jason has been an instrumental part of our coaching staff over the last three seasons, and I'm extremely excited to have him in this new role," head coach Scott Forbes said. "His growth as an innovative and knowledgeable baseball mind has always been impressive.
"I had the pleasure of coaching him, and now I'm excited to watch him work with Coach Gaines to help our pitchers maximize their potential and become the best pitchers they can be while at Carolina."
Howell joined the UNC coaching staff in the fall of 2020 after serving as Mid-Atlantic Supervisor for the Chicago White Sox following a seven-year stint as the pitching coach at Georgia Tech.
Before his tenure in Atlanta, Howell spent five seasons as the pitching coach at UNCW. He played five seasons of professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox organization before transitioning into coaching.
"It puts me back on the pitching side, which from a background standpoint is where I've had a lot of experience," Howell said. "I've always felt that pitching is very much individualized. The beautiful thing about baseball is there are a lot of different ways to get outs, and players can be utilized a lot of different ways.
"Every player wants to get better, and the technology is here to allow them to do that."
Howell, a 2002 UNC graduate, was an All-ACC pitcher for UNC in 2001 and earned the S.H. Basnight Award as the Tar Heels' Most Valuable Pitcher. He was part of the coaching staff that led Carolina to the College World Series finals in 2006 and 2007. He holds a master's degree in exercise and sport science from UNC.
Howell will work alongside Assistant Head Coach/Pitching Coach Bryant Gaines to implement an overall pitching program, prescribe and monitor a development plan for each individual pitcher, analyze performances using advanced technology, and collaborate with other departments to align specific goals.
"Jason has been an instrumental part of our coaching staff over the last three seasons, and I'm extremely excited to have him in this new role," head coach Scott Forbes said. "His growth as an innovative and knowledgeable baseball mind has always been impressive.
"I had the pleasure of coaching him, and now I'm excited to watch him work with Coach Gaines to help our pitchers maximize their potential and become the best pitchers they can be while at Carolina."
Howell joined the UNC coaching staff in the fall of 2020 after serving as Mid-Atlantic Supervisor for the Chicago White Sox following a seven-year stint as the pitching coach at Georgia Tech.
Before his tenure in Atlanta, Howell spent five seasons as the pitching coach at UNCW. He played five seasons of professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox organization before transitioning into coaching.
"It puts me back on the pitching side, which from a background standpoint is where I've had a lot of experience," Howell said. "I've always felt that pitching is very much individualized. The beautiful thing about baseball is there are a lot of different ways to get outs, and players can be utilized a lot of different ways.
"Every player wants to get better, and the technology is here to allow them to do that."
Howell, a 2002 UNC graduate, was an All-ACC pitcher for UNC in 2001 and earned the S.H. Basnight Award as the Tar Heels' Most Valuable Pitcher. He was part of the coaching staff that led Carolina to the College World Series finals in 2006 and 2007. He holds a master's degree in exercise and sport science from UNC.
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