Maryland baseball hired Ryan Fecteau as its assistant coach/recruiting coordinator on Friday, according to a news release. Rob Vaughn, who previously held that position, has been promoted to associate head coach.
The changes come about two weeks after former associate head coach Jim Belanger took the pitching coach position at Kentucky.
Fecteau served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bryant for the past six seasons with a focus on developing pitchers. The Gilmanton, New Hampshire, native has produced seven MLB draft picks, including fourth-round selection right-hander Kevin McAvoy in 2014.
“Ryan has done a fantastic job working with [head coach] Steve Owens at Bryant,” Maryland coach John Szefc said in the news release. “He has clearly has a lot of success developing and managing the pitching staff. He and Steve have built Bryant into a national level program. Ryan is a very good fit with our coaching staff, our players and our incoming recruits.”
Fecteau has guided his pitching staff to the best ERA in the Northeast Conference four of the past five seasons, marks which ranked in the top-25 in the nation.
Over the past two seasons, Fecteau has developed Bulldogs right-hander James Karinchak, who was a freshman All-American in 2015 before setting single-season program records for wins (12) and strikeouts (112) last season. Bryant has produced the NEC Pitcher of the Year in four of the past five seasons.
Bryant reached three NCAA Tournaments during Fecteau’s tenure. Last season, the Bulldogs won the most regular season games in the country (47), while earning a No. 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Before working at Bryant, Fecteau coached at St. Lawrence, South Carolina Upstate and Southern Utah. Fecteau starred at Saint Anselm from 2002 to 2005 as the program leader in wins (20), innings pitched (312.0) and strikeouts (254).
“I have always dreamt of coaching at this level and I’m thankful for the opportunity that Coach Szefc has provided,” Fincher said in the release.
Fecteau will take over the pitching staff after Belanger produced 10 MLB draft picks in four years with the Terps. Fecteau inherits rising junior right-handers Taylor Bloom and Brian Shaffer, who held respective ERAs of 2.46 and 2.60 last season.
“This is a really good hire for Maryland,” South Carolina Upstate coach Matt Fincher said in the release. “He’s an outstanding pitching coach and is a guy that’s constantly trying to learn and evolve. He’s very easy to work with. I think the players will absolutely love him and enjoy working with him.”
