LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky baseball volunteer assistant coach Nick Mingione, a two-year veteran of the UK coaching staff, has accepted the assistant coach position at Western Carolina.
?Nick Mingione has meant a tremendous amount to our baseball program during the past two years,? Kentucky head coach John Cohen said. ?His energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the game of baseball are infectious among the team and coaching staff. Not only is Nick an excellent coach, but he is a class act and an individual with an incredible amount of character. Nick is one of the best hitting instructors in the country and I know he will be an excellent addition to Bobby Moranda?s coaching staff at Western Carolina.?
Mingione has worked with the Kentucky baseball program since arriving in Lexington from his alma matter, Embry-Riddle University (Fla.). Mingione, a former standout coach and player for the Eagles, has played an integral role in the unprecedented success of the Wildcat baseball program. Mingione?s main responsibilities at Kentucky included serving as the UK first base coach, assisting in outfield and hitting instruction, and coordinating bunting and baserunning. The Tarrytown, N.Y., native also assisted with on-campus recruiting and coordinating of the highly successful Kentucky baseball camps each summer. During his five years as an assistant coach, Mingione has helped direct four conference championships and his clubs have averaged 46 wins per season, while compiling an impressive 232-72 record.
?My time here has been a blessing,? Mingione said. ?I have enjoyed the opportunity to foster relationships with the entire athletic department, including Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. I will be forever grateful to coach Cohen for giving me the opportunity to be apart of this amazing program. The coaching staff gave me a lot of responsibility and freedom to help the program and the experiences and relationships I have gained are invaluable. The UK baseball program and the entire UK Athletics department are going to continue to be one of the very best in the nation because of the special people involved.?
Mingione will be replaced by former Southeastern Louisiana University volunteer assistant coach Keith Vorhoff. Vorhoff spent the past season working for the Lions baseball program, working mainly with the pitching staff. Vorhoff helped improve the staff ERA from 5.34 in 2006 to 4.07 in 2007. Vorhoff managed the scouting reports for future opponents, handled all the video needs for the program, and assisted with organization and planning of camps.
?Keith Vorhoff brings a knowledge of pitching, baserunning, and defensive play that is well beyond his years,? Cohen said. ?Keith?s experiences both as a head coach and an assistant is very impressive, he has achieved a great deal in a short time. We are very excited about all of the skills he brings to our program, especially in the area of video technology which has been and will continue to be a cornerstone of our baseball program.?
Vorhoff has served as a summer league coach for two excellent clubs, including a current head coach position for the Chillicothe Mudcats. Vorhoff also served as the assistant coach for the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska Summer Collegiate Baseball League, coaching 19 players selected in the MLB Draft. Aside from being very active in summer collegiate leagues, Vorhoff spent two seasons on the staff at Northeast Texas CC. Vorhoff handled Northeast?s base-running philosophies, resulting in a school record for stolen bases. Vorhoff worked with the pitchers, outfielders, and hitters while at Northeast.
?I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with the Kentucky baseball program,? Vorhoff said. ?The biggest reason that I am excited is because of the opportunity to work with a great coaching staff. The UK coaching staff has a reputation of operating in a first-class manner and doing things the right way and I am just glad to have the opportunity to be a part of one of the best baseball programs in the best college baseball conference in the nation.?
Vorhoff is a 2004 graduate of Missouri Valley College with a degree in exercise science with a concentration on health, fitness and sports management. Vorhoff graduated from Missouri Valley with honors and was named as a NAIA Academic All-American his senior season. Upon graduation, Vorhoff worked two seasons with his Alma matter as a student assistant coach, handling pitcher, outfielders, and assisting in player development.
