Ball State University Athletics
Mike Stafford Promoted to Assistant Baseball Coach
July 27, 2005 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State University pitching coach Mike Stafford has been promoted to the top assistant baseball coaching position and will continue to coach the pitchers according to head coach Greg Beals. The promotion is effective immediately.
"Mike Stafford is very deserving of this promotion," said Beals. "He and his pitching staff have worked hard and been an integral part of our success. Our pitching has thrived under his direction and last year's post-season honors back that up. With Stafford's assistance, I am looking forward to further development of championship baseball at Ball State."
During the 2005 campaign, BSU senior reliever Erik Morrison (Hanover, Ind./Southwestern H.S.) was named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year and was an All-MAC First Team selection after tying the league's single-season saves record with 15. Morrison, who finished the season with a 7-0 record and a 1.32 ERA, tied for fourth in the nation in saves and was one of five finalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. He also picked up American Baseball Coaches Association & Rawlings All-America and Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team honors.
In addition to Morrison's success, redshirt freshman starting pitcher Ben Snyder (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue H.S.) was named the 2005 MAC Freshman of the Year after finishing the season with an 8-5 overall record. His eight victories tied for fifth in the league, while his 7-0 MAC mark was tops among all starters in the conference. A member of the 2005 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team, Snyder's 2.82 ERA in league-only contests ranked 13th in the MAC.
A three-year member of the Ball State baseball coaching staff, Stafford joined the Cardinals after spending two seasons as the bullpen coach for the Columbus Clippers, the AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees. At Columbus, his duties included warming up relievers during games, throwing batting practice and catching bullpens.
A 1998 graduate of Ohio State University, Stafford served as the Columbus All-Americans pitching coach for the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League from 2002-03.
Stafford continued his work with the Great Lakes League the past two summers, guiding the Grand Lake Mariners to a 23-17 overall record and a league-best 2.07 ERA last season, which earned him the league's Coach of the Year honor.
Prior to his coaching stints, Stafford spent four seasons as a pitcher in minor league baseball. A 41st round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft, Stafford split time playing at Medicine Hat, St. Catherine's and Hagerstown from 1998-99.
In 1999, Stafford moved to the New York Yankees organization, where he pitched for the Tampa Bay Yankees and led the team in appearances in 1999-2000. After his stay with the Yankees, he went to the Milwaukee Brewers, spending 2000-01 throwing for the California League's High Desert Mavericks.
A physical education major, Stafford was an All-Big Ten selection for Ohio State in 1998. The OSU single season ERA and appearance leader in 1997 and 1998, Stafford was a member of the Buckeyes' Big Ten Championship teams in 1994 and 1995.
Stafford comes from baseball bloodlines. His father, Bill, pitched eight seasons for the New York Yankees, participated in five World Series and was on both the 1961 and 1962 World Championship teams.
"Greg Beals has given me a great opportunity and I am excited about the future of Ball State Baseball," said Stafford. "I look forward to taking on new responsibilities and am dedicated to the goals of our program."
Stafford is currently engaged to former Ball State softball player Mandy Snyder.
