COACH MCGAHA WINS BIG Associate professor and head baseball coach Dr. Patrick l\lcGaha became the winningest coach in the baseball program's history after b ating St. Edward's University 5-1 onJan. 30, 20 16. With his 290th win as head coach, McGaha surpassed former coach Dickjohnson on game wins. '·It was a meaningful way to start off the cason,'' l\ 1cGaha aid. "] played for Coach Johnson and I would not be here if he had not recruited me. I owe a lot to him and to ha\'I' been able to share that [record] with him was preuy special.'. Assistant head coach \ ndy Schatzlcy said he ,.va. al·o excited for ~IcG aha and for the team. '"It'· a tremendous accomplishment," Schatzley said. ''[l\IcGaha] has had a great run here raising money and building this program, and his track record show· it. lt was all ,-cry well-dcsen-cd.'. According to Schatzlcy, l\IcGaha was truly humbled when finding out the great news. ''It was a bigger deal to him than he led on. because of the respect he has for Coach J ohnson and thi program," Schatzlcy said. "lt was yery special that it was him who passcdjohnson." 8.J' Brook(rn Billner McGaha played forJohnson all four years while attending Harding and found his desire to coach during that time. He coached for seven more year at the high sehool lcYcl, before taking a four-year break to get his Ph.D. McGaha returned to Harding and became the head coach in '.2005. "I really missed coaching,'' l\1cGaha said. "l grew up here, but I ncYer thought I would coach here. Howeve1~when Coach Shane Fullerton decided to switch to women's basketball, I ,,·as given this opportunity." This past season, the team was made up of 13 seniors who had made it to the po tscason for three years in a row, ::iccording to ~lcGaha. "The majority of them had been here since their freshman year," l\lcGaha said. "They ha,·e had a lot of' success at Harding and we really expected rthem J to do some major things this past season.'' According to senior pitcher ·Matt Bra ·hear, l\IcGaha had been a great leader and memor ro the team. l\1cGaha said he was proud or the all accomplishments that came from the program and said he owed it to his players and coaching sta!T. ·'H e said it was a big honor, but then he thanked us," Brashear said. '' [He aid] if it wasn't for us then it wouldn't have e,·en been possible." .1.,siJtant head coach .ln~y Schatz.Le)' Jtands with head coach Patrick .\lcC:aha at the Biso11 /3aJeball Alum11i game al the Jm:r .\loore Field 011 Oct. 29. ,\/cGaha became Hardi11g·J winningeJt bauba/1 coach on ]1111. 30, 2016, with a 5-1 11i11 over St. t,·dward's L'niver.1i{J'. I Photo courtesy of ]{ff J\/011/gomery Alumnus pitcher Andrew Fidder Looks lo .1trike out his of;ponent in the game agai11J/ St. t,·dward0J L'11il'eni(v on Jan. 30.2016. Fidder was ranked third in Harding's all-time rankings with on(v a .225 opponent balti11g average. I Photo courtesy of Jeff ,\Jontgome,y Alumnus infielder .Voah Chandler motions lo the dugout in the game against t. fd1 ard"s Cniversity on Jan. 30, 2016. Chandler was one of 61 Harding athletes placed on lite Winter/Spring Academic All-GAC List. I Photo courtesy of Jej/ ,\fontgomery ),).) > .\T l 11.F.T IC~
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