FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern baseball team and head coach Greg Brown have announced the hiring of Pete Woodworth as the program's new pitching coach for the 2014 season.
Woodworth comes to NSU with experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. After playing four seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, he signed a free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He pitched for the Rays' Gulf Coast League squad in 2010, appearing in 17 games out of the bullpen, going 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA and notching 26 strikeouts to just nine walks in 26 innings pitched.
Following his stint in the minors, Woodworth went back to FGCU as a volunteer assistant coach, specifically working with the team's pitching staff and strength and conditioning program, before returning to the Rays organization as a part-time area scout. His responsibilities with Tampa Bay included assisting the Florida Area Supervisor by evaluating, writing reports, and taking video on draft-eligible players, and he was also assistant coach of both the West team at the Florida Diamond Club and the Rays' scout team.
"I'm very excited to join the Nova Southeastern athletic family," said Woodworth. "I've always admired the coaching staff and program as our paths crossed in the baseball world. I look forward to leading our pitching staff and helping our baseball program and athletic department progress."
"Pete brings great knowledge, work ethic, and ability to identify talent to our staff," said Brown. "His diverse baseball background through playing at a high level and scouting for the Tampa Bay Rays will allow him to excel in leading our pitching staff and acquiring talent. We are all looking forward to working with Woody and him leading our pitching staff."
Woodworth received his history degree from FGCU and is originally from St. Petersburg, Fla., and St. Petersburg Catholic High School.
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