Shepherd University director of athletics B.J. Pumroy announced today that Matt McCarty ’10 has been elevated from interim head baseball coach to head baseball coach and that Anthony “A.J.” Jackson ’11 has been elevated from interim full-time assistant baseball coach to full-time assistant baseball coach. The effective date of the move will be July 1, 2013.

McCarty led the Rams to a 28-20 overall mark with a 21-10 conference record in 2013. In his first season at the helm, McCarty had two players (Ryan Messina, Michael Lott) gain first team All-American honors, while one (Chad Murphy) garnered second team Academic All-American accolades and another (Josh McCauley) was selected in the MLB draft. He served as full-time assistant coach in for the 2012 season and was a part-time assistant coach in 2011. During his two years as a player for Shepherd he was a standout pitcher and outfielder earning All-American honors his junior year.

Jackson spent the 2012 season as a part-time assistant coach. During his playing career he was a two-time All-WVIAC selection and played catcher on the 2009 championship team.

Both McCarty and Jackson were players in the 2009 season when the Rams won the WVIAC title and served as assistant coaches in 2012 when the team won the title.

“Coaches McCarty and Jackson met or exceeded expectations from the 2013 season in which they served in the interim roles,” said B.J. Pumroy, director of athletics. “To have All-American recognitions, an Academic All-American and a MLB draft pick speak to their abilities. The fact that the team recorded the highest conference winning percentage since 2009 and was active on campus and in the community made this selection one that I am proud to make. This coaching staff has won championships as players and assistant coaches and I fully expect them to have Shepherd competing for Mountain East Conference titles.”