Jan. 8, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky baseball volunteer assistant coach Keith Vorhoff – in his sixth year on the UK staff – was honored as a featured presenter at the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, held over the weekend in Chicago.

Vorhoff was honored as a presenter at the ABCA Convention, giving a presentation entitled “The Catching Foundation: Receiving and Blocking”. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Vorhoff has been UK’s catching coordinator since arriving in Lexington before the 2008 season.

“I’ve been to many conventions in my 11 years of coaching and it was such an honor to be able to represent the Big Blue Nation on the national stage,” Vorhoff said. “It’s a testament to the reputation that Kentucky baseball has earned under Coach (Gary) Henderson’s leadership that created such an opportunity. I am very grateful to Kentucky baseball family and the American Baseball Coaches Association.”

Vorhoff is the third member of the UK staff to present at the ABCA Convention in the last five years, as Henderson presented in 2008 and UK offensive coordinator/infield defense coach Brian Green presented in 2011.

Vorhoff used an in-depth PowerPoint presentation, including several videos of game and practice action with the UK catching staff, in addition to pictures highlighting proper techniques, skills and drills.

During his time coaching UK’s backstops, individuals Luke Maile, Marcus Nidiffer and Michael Williams have excelled under Vorhoff’s tutelage, with Maile earning All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2012. Nidiffer had a breakout season in 2010 while working with Vorhoff, while Maile and Williams formed a shut-down UK catching tandem a year ago, as UK set every school fielding school record and led the league in pickoffs.

While working with the catchers, Vorhoff is directly involved in the pitching game plan with UK head coach Gary Henderson. During his five seasons at UK, Vorhoff has assisted Henderson with some of the most electric pitching staffs in school history, as UK set records in 2012 for saves, innings pitched, strikeouts and opponent batting average, ranking second in fewest homers allowed. UK’s 2012 ERA marked the second-best in program history, paced by a UK bullpen that went 40-0 when handed a lead after seven innings.

Also the first base coach for the Wildcats in his five seasons, Vorhoff has helped direct a dynamic UK offensive approach. In 2012, the Wildcats ranked among the SEC’s top three in every key offensive category.

Before joining the UK staff, Vorhoff spent the 2007 season as the pitching coach for Southeastern Louisiana University, helping mentor Arizona Diamondbacks rookie and All-Star hurler Wade Miley. Vorhoff completed his playing career as a closer for Missouri Valley College, with stops at Arkansas State and Pratt Community College.

“We are extremely proud of Keith,” Henderson said. “His presentation was absolutely outstanding. Keith did a tremendous job representing Kentucky and our baseball program.”