Brevard Named Matt McCay As Head Baseball Coach

BREVARD, N.C. - Brevard College Athletic Director Kim Pate is pleased to announce Matt McCay, a former University of North Carolina letter-winner and a six-year standout in professional baseball, has accepted the position of Head Coach of the Brevard College Tornados Baseball Program.

"I am delighted to announce the hiring of Matt McCay as our next head baseball coach. Coach McCay brings an incredible depth of experience having played and coached at all levels. Coming out of the top level collegiate baseball program of UNC Chapel Hill, he understands what it takes to establish a successful winning program," said Athletic Director Pate.

An assistant coach for the Tarheels for three years, McCay assisted in all areas of the UNC program, but worked specifically with the hitters and catchers.

"I am very excited to be the Head Coach at Brevard College. This is such a great opportunity to be a part of a truly great baseball tradition," Coach McCay had to say. "Brevard College is in one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina and my family and I are extremely happy to be joining the Brevard family. My wife and I love the community and the college, and we are very thankful that Brevard College has given me this opportunity to lead the Tornado Baseball Program. I know, that through hard work, this program will be a place that alumni, the town of Brevard, and Brevard College will be very proud of."

In addition to his on-field work, McCay worked closely with the Tar Heels' strength and conditioning program and with the team's nutritionist regarding all team meals. He also assisted with on-campus recruiting and other administrative duties.

McCay was an instrumental part of Carolina's run to the 2008 and 2009 College World Series and he has worked with a pair of catchers that were selected in the first seven rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft - Tim Federowicz and Mark Fleury - over the past two seasons.

"Matt has been an extremely valuable member of our coaching staff these past three seasons. I cannot thank him enough for his hard work and dedication to our program. I have known Matt since high school and as a player for me both at N.C. Wesleyan and North Carolina," said UNC Head Baseball Coach Mike Fox. "No one cares more about UNC, the game and its people than Matt. He was beloved by all our players here not only for his knowledge of the game but his willingness to help them in any way and his great sense of humor. Matt is most deserving of this opportunity at Brevard and I am extremely confident he will do well. I personally will miss him and Julie [his wife] dearly."

In the summer of 2008, McCay skippered the Thomasville Hi-Toms to the Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup Tournament title.

Prior to joining the UNC staff, McCay worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Hillsborough's Orange High School, for seven seasons and spent the summer of 2007 working as a coach and instructor at the Impact Baseball showcase camps and with Dirtbag Baseball, an elite North Carolina-based travel team. McCay graduated from Carolina in December 2006 with a degree in exercise and sport science after playing six years of independent league professional baseball.

McCay played the 2000-03 seasons with the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints of the Frontier League. He was a three-time all-star selection, earned a spot on the organization's all-time team and was named the team's MVP in 2003. He ranks as the Paints' record holder in both career and single-season hits (2002). Before returning to Chapel Hill to finish his degree, McCay played the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Northern League's Joliet (Illinois) Jackhammers.

McCay played for Fox for two seasons at North Carolina Wesleyan (1997-98) before joining him in Chapel Hill for the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. In two seasons at Carolina, McCay hit .297 with seven home runs and 78 RBI in 119 games as an outfielder.

While at Wesleyan, he was a second-team NCAA Division III All-America and also earned all-region and all-conference honors in 1998 when he hit .441 with 10 homers and 60 RBI. McCay also led the team in hitting as a freshman with a .391 average.

Coach McCay's final comment was, "I want to lead the Brevard College Baseball program in a way that is one of the best experiences for the student athlete. I want our players to work hard to earn a degree, work hard on the athletic field, and leave the school and program as a better person because they chose to come to Brevard College."

The Brevard College Tornados baseball program went 9-35, 2-22 in the South Atlantic Conference in their second full season as members of the NCAA Division II.