University of Evansville baseball coach Wes Carroll has announced the hiring of Ben Bachmann as an assistant coach for the UE baseball program.
Bachmann comes to the Aces after spending the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach at Miami (Ohio) University where he served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.
“Coach Bachmann is a dynamic addition to our coaching staff. I’m very excited to bring in such an experienced and accomplished pitching coach,” head baseball coach Wes Carroll said. “He has a tremendous track record of recruiting, developing and producing great student-athletes everywhere he has been.”
Prior to Miami, he spent five seasons as the pitching coach at the University of Maryland where he helped the pitching staff set numerous school records. During his time as an assistant coach, Bachmann has worked with 19 pitchers and 41 players overall that have been drafted or signed free agent contracts with major league organizations. That list includes 2007 first-team All-MAC selection and second-round draft pick John Ely and 2007 fifth-round selection Connor Graham.
While at Miami he also worked with Graham Taylor, a 2006 second-team All-MAC honoree who made his major league debut on the mound for the Florida Marlins in 2009. Bachmann has helped produce four first-team All-MAC pitchers in his time with the RedHawks, as well (Ely twice, Matt Erwood in 2009, Mac Thoreson in 2011). In 2011, his pitching staff was 6th nationally in fewest walks with 138 while ranking 34th in the nation in ERA (3.30). That was also second in the MAC. His pitching staff led the MAC in fewest walks allowed in 2011 and 2012.
As recruiting coordinator with the RedHawks, Bachmann recruited classes that were nationally recognized by Collegiate Baseball Magazine in four out of the last five years. He was also responsible for recruiting Matt Honchel at MU. Honchel was the 2011 MAC Freshman of the Year while being named a 1st team All-MAC outfielder as well as a freshman All-America choice. In his seven seasons at Miami, he coached and recruited 16 All-MAC honorees and 37 pitchers or players of the week.
At Maryland in 2003, Bachmann mentored Steve Schmoll, who pitched in the Big Leagues for four years, as the right-hander became the school's all-time and single-season strikeout leader. In 2002, Maryland hurlers established school records for strikeouts (451) and saves (10).
During his collegiate career, Bachmann has coached and recruited seven Major League players, including five pitchers. Left-handed pitcher Brett Cevil is currently playing at the MLB level for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Prior to his time at Maryland, Bachmann was part of the coaching staff at Lynn University for two seasons where he helped the pitching staff to a school-record 379 strikeouts in 1999. He graduated from Lewis University in 1997 with a degree in business administration after being an All-American at Kankakee Community College in Illinois.
He earned his master's degree in business/athletic administration from Lynn University in 2001. Bachmann and his wife, Jane, reside in Newburgh, Indiana, with their daughter, Abigail, and son, Braden.
