Seattle University head baseball coach Donny Harrel, about to officially start his tenure with the university, met former SU baseball players and other supporters of the athletic program in an informal gathering Thursday evening, June 26, at F.X. McRory's in Seattle's Pioneer Square district.
Harrel and Athletic Director Bill Hogan addressed the crowd, talking about how excited they are to be bringing baseball back to the university and how hard they are ready to work to build the program from the ground up. Both Harrel and Hogan mentioned that they wanted to quickly expand the list of potential supporters and that help was needed not only financially, but in other ways such as tracking down other former SU baseball players.
The accompanying photo gallery shows candid shots from the event, with the photos taken by Ticket Manager/Publications Coordinator Troy Kirby. Athletic Development Officer John Dougherty and Senior Athletic Administrative Assistant Kelly Lynch played major roles in the planning of the gathering, and Mick McHugh, the owner of F.X. McRory's and a Seattle University alum, was gracious in hosting the event at his establishment.
Harrel begins working from the Seattle University athletic offices next Tuesday, July 1. He is planning to have a team ready to play a Division I schedule beginning in the 2009-10 academic year.