Wainhouse, a former major league pitcher who pitched in the major leagues with Seattle, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Colorado, and St. Louis, helped guide a pitching staff affected by inexperience and injuries to standout performances as the 2010 season went along. Thanks to Wainhouse's efforts, the staff ERA dropped over a full run during the second half of the 2010 campaign, Seattle U's first season playing intercollegiate baseball in 24 years.
"We are grateful Dave can join us full-time," Harrel says. "This will allow for him to get out and recruit on the road and help us find quality pitchers and players for our future development."
Fergus, who will work with the outfielders and catchers as well as help with the offense, comes to Seattle University from Tacoma Community College, where he was the head baseball coach for the past five seasons. He compiled an overall record of 123-100, reaching the NWAACC playoffs in each of his seasons, including a third-place finish at the 2006 NWAACC Tournament. He saw 42 of his players at Tacoma CC advance to four-year schools, including seven who went on to NCAA Division I institutions.
Before becoming the head coach in Tacoma, Fergus was an assistant coach at Lower Columbia College for five seasons, helping them to four division titles, three NWAACC runner-up finishes, and one NWAACC championship. He played baseball at Linfield College for legendary coach Scott Carnahan and was a teammate of Seattle U assistant coach Casey Powell during his freshman year. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Linfield in 2000 and his master's degree in homeland security from American Military University in 2007.
"We are fortunate to have a coach with such a tremendous background as Donegal Fergus. Any time you can add another head coach to a coaching staff, it allows for the entire organization to improve. Donegal has tremendous energy and will be a grinder for us on and off the field," says Harrel.
Seattle University finished the 2010 season with victories over Saint Mary's, BYU, Dallas Baptist, and Utah Valley at home and road wins at Portland, at Pacific, at Oregon, and against Creighton in historic Rosenblatt Stadium. With only one player lost to graduation, Harrel will have an experienced group of Redhawks back for the 2011 campaign.