Wake Forest Hires Curtis Brown as Pitching Coach
10/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 3, 2003
Winston-Salem, N.C. - Wake Forest University has hired Curtis Brown to become its new baseball pitching coach. Brown comes to Winston-Salem from the University of Richmond where he served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the past three years. He replaces Michael Holmes, who left to take a scouting position with the Oakland Athletics organization.
Brown was a member of a Richmond coaching staff that led the Spiders to an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2002, a 2003 Atlantic 10 championship and a 2003 NCAA Sub Regional berth.
Brown guided the Spider pitching staff to new heights during his tenure in Richmond. In 2003, his staff posted a 3.32 ERA, the ninth-best in the country, helping Richmond to a 48-15 record. His pitchers tallied 21 complete games and recorded 530 strikeouts against only 189 walks.
Richmond's ace Tim Stauffer was drafted fourth overall in the June 2003 draft by the San Diego Padres, just one spot behind Wake Forest All-American Kyle Sleeth.
Brown had three pitchers with an ERA of 2.40 or better. Those three ranked in the top 35 pitchers nationally for that category.
The Richmond pitching staff re-wrote the Spider record book under Brown's direction. New team records were set in ERA (3.32), complete games (21), strikeouts (530), opponent batting average (.246), innings pitched (555), saves (18) and fewest walks per game (2.85).
"I am excited that we were able to hire such a highly qualified and gifted young coach," 17th year head coach George Greer said. "His experience of playing for and coaching with one of the country's best coaches in Ron Atkins at Richmond will be a certain asset to our program, our university, and of course our pitching staff. We are very fortunate to have Curtis Brown and his family join us."
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to come to Wake Forest," Brown said. "It's a program with a great tradition of success. I look forward to being a part of the program's continued success in the future."
Brown was an assistant coach at Radford University during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He worked with the Highlander pitchers and assisted in all phases of on and off the field preparation, including recruiting.
A 1998 graduate of Richmond, Brown was a three-year letterwinner for the Spiders and a captain during his senior season. He compiled an 8-6 career record at Richmond, including a 3-0 mark as a senior. Brown helped the Spiders win back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association titles and earn three trips to the NCAA Tournament. He received a bachelor's degree in sport science in 1998.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Brown graduated from Paint Branch High School in 1994. He lettered three years in baseball and set a state record for hits in a game, going 6-for-6 at the plate. Brown also threw a no-hitter, with one walk and 16 strikeouts. He was an all-district, all-region and all-state selection.
Brown married his wife, Suzanne, during the summer of 2001. Their daughter, Anna, is six months old.