May 6, 2015
Camp Brochure | Online Registration | Medical/Parental Consent Form
Dear Parents and Campers,
Our Summer Camps are specifically designed to help players improve their individual skills. The drill work and one-on-one instruction have made Wildcat Baseball Camps an incredible success and we are dedicated to continuing this instructional excellence again this year.
We have assembled an “All-Star” staff to work closely with each camper and teach him the proper techniques to succeed in baseball. our instructors will consist of UK Baseball Coaches, current and former UK players, as well as outstanding local high school and college coaches. This staff will provide a terrific learning environment for each camper to show us his baseball talents.
All of our summer camps will be held in Cliff Hagan Stadium. We look forward to seeing you there!
WILDCAT BASEBALL SCHOOL
Youth – Ages 6-14
Offers the young player the opportunity to improve his baseball skills in a fun and positive learning atmosphere. Includes baseball fundamentals, drill work specifically designed to improve skills, and simulated game situations. Every camper is videotaped to ensure the highest quality hitting and throwing analysis by our staff.
Session 1: June 8-11
Session 2: June 15-18
Session 3: June 22-25
Session 4: July 13-16
Half-day camp: 9 am to 12 pm – $165
Full-day camp: 9 am to 3 pm – $275
Camp Staff
HEAD COACH Gary Henderson
Gary Henderson, the 2012 SEC Coach of the Year, is in his seventh year as the head coach and his 12th year overall with the Kentucky baseball program. A graduate of San Diego State, Henderson has directed the Wildcats into an unprecedented era of success as UK has set the school wins record three times during his tenure and have annually re-written the century old UK record book.
Henderson, who has carved out a reputation as one of the top pitching coaches in the NCAA, has led UK to the best 11-year stretch in program history, highlighted by a historic 2012 season and the first SEC Championship in school annals in 2006. UK shattered nearly every school record in 2012 while soaring to No. 1 in the nation for three weeks, a first in program history, and has equaled the best finish in the NCAA and SEC Tournaments in UK history twice in the last three years.
The fastest coach to 200 wins in Kentucky history, Henderson has ushered in a staggering amount of talent at UK, as a school-record nine players were picked in the 2012 MLB Draft — second most in the NCAA and a total of 63 UK players have been picked in the MLB Draft or signed as a free agent under his guidance.
While directing UK to its eighth all-time NCAA Tournament berth in 2014, the Wildcats had one of the best seasons in program history — boosted by the nation’s top offense. Highlighting the campaign was the performance of two-way star AJ Reed, who blossomed into one of the top individual performers in the history of college baseball. UK’s Friday-night ace for two seasons and its primary run producer at the plate, Reed was the unanimous national player of the year. Reed became the first player in league history to lead the SEC — and the nation — in homers and also pace the circuit in pitching wins, going 12-2 with a 2.09 ERA. Reed belted 23 homers, hit .336 and had a SEC-best 73 RBI and a .476 on-base percentage. His 23 homers were more than 185 teams combined to hit during the 2014 season.
Henderson will serve as the pitching coach on the USA Collegiate National Team during the 2015 summer, joining the coaching staff of St. John’s Ed Blankmeyer, along with fellow assistant coaches Paul Mainieri (LSU) and Rich Hill (San Diego).
Rick Eckstein – Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Rick Eckstein, the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals for five seasons and most recently the player information coach for the Los Angeles Angels, is in his first season as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. Eckstein joins the UK staff after serving as the player information coach for the Angels during the 2014 season. Eckstein previously spent 2009-13 as the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals. Eckstein has spent the last six seasons in Major League Baseball and has been in professional baseball since 2004 after a three-year stint as an assistant at Georgia. UK head coach Gary Henderson and Eckstein reunite after spending three seasons together at the University of Florida, where Henderson coached and recruited Eckstein for the 1996 season before Rick joined the staff as the volunteer assistant for the 1997-98 teams. Florida posted a historic season in 1996 — Rick’s final season as an athlete — with Henderson serving as the pitching coach as the Gators advanced to the College World Series. Eckstein joined the Angels coaching staff for the 2014 season, with an official title of player information coach, also functioning as assistant hitting coach and an advanced scout. During his time with the Angels in 2014, Los Angeles has been positioned squarely in the American League Western Division title hunt. Eckstein has worked with Angels hitters that include former UK All-America outfielder Collin Cowgill, and stars Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton. Before joining the Angels coaching staff, Eckstein served as the hitting coach for the Nationals for five seasons, from 2009-13. During his time with the Nationals, Eckstein helped direct the club to a first-place finish in the National League Eastern Division under manager Davey Johnson in 2012. During that 2012 season, Eckstein’s offense ranked among the NL’s top five in homers (194, second), slugging percentage (.428, third), doubles (301, third), OPS (.750, fourth), average (.261, fourth), hits (1468, fourth) and runs (731, fifth). Washington set a new franchise record with its 194 homers. Individually, Eckstein’s impact on the Nationals could be seen in Silver Slugger Award winners Adam LaRoche (2012), Ian Desmond (2012, 2013), Stephen Strasburg (2012) and Ryan Zimmerman (2009-10). In addition, Bryce Harper (2012-13) and Desmond were named to the NL All-Star teams, with Harper winning the NL Rookie of the Year. From 2009-12, Washington’s offense belted 497 homers, ranking fifth in the NL during that stretch. Eckstein’s brother David had a 10-year MLB career after playing for Henderson and Florida, seeing time with the Angels, Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. David won the 2006 World Series MVP after leading the Cardinals to the title.
Brad Bohannon – Assistant Coach /Recruiting Coordinator
Brad Bohannon, a dynamic recruiter. Infectious personality. Staggering knowledge of the game. Keen eye for talent. All of those phrases describe Kentucky assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brad Bohannon, who is in his 12th season as an assistant coach for the Wildcats. In his 10 previous seasons, Bohannon has helped dramatically change the landscape of the UK baseball program, annually infusing unprecedented talent into the UK roster. Widely known in the college ranks as a tireless and aggressive recruiter and considered one of the top assistant coaches in the nation, Bohannon is responsible for evaluating talent and bringing mature and competitive players to campus. In his last 10 years, Bohannon has been directly responsible for recruiting the kind of players who represent the University of Kentucky with class; both on and off the field. In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Bohannon works with UK’s talented crop of outfielders and serves as third-base coach.
Keith Vorhoff – Volunteer Assistant Coach
Keith Vorhoff serves a myriad of roles, including assisting with the pitching staff and development of the catchers, camps coordinator and video production, organization of practice and class schedules, and assisting in the day-to-day management of the UK baseball program. Vorhoff also assists as the UK first base coach, helping direct a high-octane UK offensive attack on the base paths. As the catching coordinator, Vorhoff’s tutelage can be seen directly in the backstops produced by the Wildcats during his tenure. In 2010, senior Marcus Nidiffer had a breakout year and continued that success into his professional debut. In 2011 and 2012, Vorhoff managed a pair of dynamic catchers who shared the position, Luke Maile and Michael Williams. The duo formed one of the best catching tandems in the NCAA, complete with lockdown defense behind the dish.
