University of Mary issued the following announcement on June 20.
Mark Moriarty, architect of the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship pitching staff and a former summer collegiate league coach of the year, has been selected as the University of Mary head baseball coach. Moriarty, the associate head coach and pitching coach at Augustana University the last two seasons, joins the Marauders following impressive successes at the collegiate level and in summer collegiate leagues.
Moriarty, named the 2014 Northwood League Coach of the Year while the pitching coach for the Lakeshore Chinooks, has coached at the NCAA Division II and III level, served as the field manager of the Utica Blue Sox of the summer collegiate Perfect Game League and played professionally after a successful career as a student-athlete at the College of St. Scholastica. In 14 seasons on the collegiate level as a coach and a player, Moriarty’s teams have posted a winning record every time.
“Mark Moriarty has experienced nothing but success in college baseball and will bring a winning culture to the University of Mary,” said Marauders Athletic Director Dale Lennon. “As a coach on a national championship team that also plays in the Northern Sun, Mark is extremely familiar with the conference and knows what it takes to be successful in our league. We are excited to begin a new era of Marauders baseball with Mark at the helm.”
“A graduate of the College of St. Scholastica, Mark understands and embodies our Benedictine values,” said University of Mary President Monsignor James Shea. “As a student he learned the impact a Catholic education can have in the classroom and on the diamond. We believe Mark will provide the same experiences he received and shepherd our student-athletes in a way that allows them to grow academically and athletically. Our baseball team consistently displays a willingness to step forward and serve the needs of the University of Mary community while also performing notably in the classroom. Mark is a baseball coach who can build on those program strengths while bringing an impressive history of success over the course of his career.”
“I would like to thank Monsignor Shea, Dale Lennon, and the entire search committee for giving me the opportunity to represent the University of Mary baseball team,” said Moriarty. “It is an honor to be selected as the next head baseball coach of the Marauders. I look forward to strengthening the culture and forming new relationships with the current players, alumni and the Bismarck community. “
Under his direction the last two seasons at Augustana, Vikings pitchers have produced impressive numbers. On their way to a record of 52-9 and the 2018 NCAA championship, Augie finished third in the nation with a school record 2.85 earned run average (ERA) and fourth in strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 3.32. Four members of the pitching staff signed professional contracts, including Minnesota Twins 22nd round draft choice Jacob Blank. In 2017, Moriarty coached Blank to NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year honors as the Vikings posted a team ERA of 3.56 to rank 19th in the country.
“Mark Moriarty has been a very valuable piece to our program and we will certainly miss him,” said Augustana Head Baseball Coach Tim Huber. “His ability to teach and develop pitchers is outstanding. He very much has earned and deserves this opportunity to be a head coach and run his own program. We wish him and Rachel well.”
Moriarty spent three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Concordia University Wisconsin. In his first season with the Falcons in 2014, CUW dropped its ERA from 5.36 to 3.86 and won seven more games to post a winning record for the first time in three seasons. The Falcons posted winning records in all three of his seasons at CUW.
In one season at Concordia University-St. Paul as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, the Golden Bears dropped their team ERA in 2013 by 1.46 on a staff that featured a second team All-Northern Sun pitcher and two NSIC Pitcher of the Week citations.
Moriarty opened his collegiate coaching career at Augustana in August 2008 and was a member of the Vikings staff for four years through the 2012 season. In the final season of his first stint with the Vikings, Augie posted a then-team record with a 3.37 ERA that ranked 22nd in the nation.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experiences, Moriarty has spent four summers coaching in collegiate leagues. In 2016, as field manager, he led the Utica Blue Sox to a West Division championship. Prior to that he served as the Lakeshore Chinooks pitching coach for three seasons (2013-15). The Chinooks led the Northwoods League in ERA in 2013 and 2014. Also, in 2014, they won a league championship and one of amateur baseballs leading resources, Perfect Game, rated them the number one summer team.
A pitcher for the College of St. Scholastica, Moriarty twice earned All-Region honors and was a three-time All-Conference pitcher for the Saints. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Pitcher of the Year as a senior in 2006, Moriarty owns the school record of 16 strikeouts in a single game and received national pitcher of the week recognition. He is among the Saints career leaders in several categories. Moriarty pitched two seasons in the Northwoods League for the Madison Mallards, including their 2004 championship team. In 2009 Moriarty pitched professionally for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association.
Moriarty graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in management. He earned his master’s degree in Sports Management from Augustana University in 2010.
A native of Mankato, MN, Moriarty is the son of Jean and Tom Moriarty and has a sister, Melanie. He and his wife, Rachel, were married in October 2017.
Moriarty is the Marauders seventh baseball head coach since the program began in 1994-95.
Original source can be found here.
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