Randy Mazey, a native of Johnstown, Pa., is in his fourth season as the head baseball coach at East Carolina. He took over a program that had established itself among the nation's elite, having appeared in four consecutive NCAA regionals and coming off one of its finest moments when the Pirates won the 2002 Conference USA Tournament. In Mazey's first season at the helm in 2003, ECU returned back to the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time in the program's history and fifth straight since 1998. In his second year, East Carolina had their most successful season in school history, finishing 51-13. ECU won the Conference USA regular season championship in 2004, finishing 25-5 in league play. Mazey led the Pirates to the school's second NCAA Super Regional appearance in the last four years. The Pirates set school records in wins (51), hits (725), doubles (153), home runs (100) and RBI (481). East Carolina finished the 2004 season ranked as high as No. 8 in the Baseball America poll. Through the first two years under Mazey, the Pirates have compiled a record of 85-40-1. In all, Mazey's career coaching record stands at 151-134-2 in five seasons as a skipper at Charleston Southern and East Carolina. Last season, Mazey was named the 2004 C-USA Keith LeClair Coach of the Year as well as the 2004 East Region Coach-of-the-Year named by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Mazey, 38, learned about the ECU baseball tradition during his first stint in Greenville. He spent the 1998 season at East Carolina as an assistant on former head coach Keith LeClair's first staff. Under Mazey's tutelage, the Pirates posted the third-highest strikeout total in school history. He also served as the program's recruiting coordinator and helped snare standouts such as Eric Bakich, Lee Delfino, Jason Mandryk, James Molinari, Nick Schnabel, and Chad Tracy. Mazey spent four seasons as the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at the University of Tennessee prior to returning to East Carolina. His pitching staffs posted two of the top four strikeout totals in school history and he produced six Volunteer pitchers who signed professionally, including one first-round draft pick. Tennessee had the second-best ERA in the Southeastern Conference in 2000. In 2001, the Vols advanced to the College World Series where they tied for third. It is there, in Omaha, that Mazey aspires to return, but this time wearing the purple and gold of ECU. "These guys really believe that we can go to Omaha," said Mazey. "Half the battle of getting there is believing that you can get there. Everyday I wake up, I wonder what we can do today to help us get there. Our coaches, players, fans and administration all believe that the Pirates can make it to the College World Series. The positive attitude surrounding the program led me to establish the team's slogan of 'We're Goin'!'." The appointment at ECU is Mazey's second head coaching post of his career. At the age of 27, he was named to his first head coaching positionat Charleston Southern University in 1994. In 1996, he led the Buccaneers to their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance and was named Big South Coach -of-the-Year. His success in 1996 came with a team that was picked to finish last in the preseason coaches poll but rolled through the league competition with a 17-4 conference record. At 30-24-1, CSU posted its first winning season since 1988 and its second 30-win season in school history. He departed Charleston Southern to become recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at the University of Georgia in 1997. His staff produced its lowest ERA in four years and set a season strikeout record in his only season with the Bulldogs. Mazey began his coaching career at Clemson University, his alma mater. During his four-year stint (1990-93) with the Tigers, Clemson recorded a 198-67 mark, won two Atlantic Coast Conference titles, made four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and advanced to the College World Series in 1991. He coached or recruited 40 players while at Clemson who went on to play professionally, including 19 who were drafted in the top 10 rounds. Among those were first-rounders Kris Benson (currently pitching for the New York Mets) and Billy Koch (currently with Toronto Blue Jays) in 1996. Mazey was a three-time All-ACC selection as an outfielder/pitcher during his playing career at Clemson. The Tigers won two ACC titles and advanced to two NCAA Regionals during his four-year stay from 1985-88. He still ranks among the school's top 10 for most stolen bases in a season (34) and career (65). He finished with a career batting average of .331 and was 8-1 on the mound. He was drafted in the 28th round of the 1998 draft by the Cleveland Indians and played two seasons in that organizations minor league system before returning to Clemson as an assistant coach. He spent the 1988 season as an outfielder with the Burlington Indians and played for the Miami Miracle during the 1989 season. Mazey earned his bachelor of science degree in administrative management from Clemson in 1988 and MBA from Clemson in 1993. He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He has even produced a videotape titled Pitching: Problems, Solutions and Drills for Young Pitchers. Mazey was an 11th round pick in the amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles following an outstanding prep career at United High School in Johnstown, Pa. Randy was married to Amanda Ross on January 4, 2005 in the Valley of Fire State Park outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. They are the proud parents of two Golden Retrievers named Briley and Gunnison. They are both very active in the Golden Retriever Rescue Program and along with Briley and Gunnison, are usually parenting a foster Golden Retriever.
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