Wake Forest, Coach Walter Announces Additions to Staff
8/25/2022 4:49:00 PM | Baseball
Matt Wessinger joins the Deacs as a volunteer assistant coach with a wealth of experience as a player and coach, most recently serving as an assistant coach at Hofstra for the last five seasons. Will Craig returns to Winston-Salem after a storied Wake Forest and professional career.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest baseball head coach Tom Walter announced the additions of Matt Wessinger and 2016 NCAA Player of the Year, 2015 ACC Player of the Year and first-round draft pick Will Craig to the coaching staff.
"The addition of Matt and Will to our program rounds out what I consider to be one of the absolute best coaching staffs in college baseball," said Walter.
"Matt's playing experience both at St. John's and professionally along with his coaching experience at Hofstra make him the perfect fit on our staff. Matt has won everywhere he has been and is regarded as one of the best infield coaches in the Northeast. I am excited to see what he can do with our talented group.
"Will has been where all our players want to go...a big-league dugout. One of the best hitters to ever wear a Wake Forest uniform, Will knows what it takes to hit at the highest level and has a unique understanding of both hitting mechanics and using analytics to maximize potential."
Wessinger joins the Deacs with a wealth of experience as a coach and player, most recently serving as an assistant coach at Hofstra for the last five seasons. Wessinger will focus on the Demon Deacon baserunning and defense.
"I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing and accomplished staff," said Wessinger. "The Wake Forest community has been very welcoming and helpful with the transition to the new position. I am really looking forward to getting to know and help develop team 109!"
Craig, one of the greatest players in Wake Forest baseball history, returns home to Winston-Salem and will assist the Deacs as a student assistant coach during the 2023 season.
"I'm super excited to get back to Wake Forest and help out anyway I can," said Craig. "Wake Forest has done so much for me and my career and I want to help every one of these kids be the best version of themselves!"
Matt Wessinger - Volunteer Assistant Coach
Wessinger was instrumental in Hofstra's magical 2022 season as the Pride earned the program's first ever berth in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, compiling 30 wins and winning the team's first ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
Hofstra finished the 2022 campaign third in the CAA in batting average while finishing in the top half of the league in hits, doubles, triples and fielding percentage.
Overall, Wessinger has seen seven student-athletes drafted or signed during his time at Hofstra.
Wessinger was a three-year letterwinner and two-time captain at St. John's from 2009-12 and put together one of the best careers in Red Storm program history. St. John's made three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2010-12, highlighted by a Super Regional appearance in 2012, and won two Big East Championships (2010 and 2012).
Wessinger, who was a Third Team All-America as a senior, holds several St. John's records as he is the all-time leader in games played (229), at bats (874), and hits (278). He also ranks second in runs scored (194), third in RBIs (173), third in doubles (60) and second in total bases (406),
He was an All-Big East Second Team selection as a senior as well as a three-time All-East Region pick. He also earned All-Big East Tournament accolades in 2012.
Following Wessinger's illustrious collegiate career, he played five seasons in the professional ranks. After being selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round (1,116th overall) in 2011, Wessinger was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round the following year.
The Liverpool, N.Y. native hit the diamond in 63 games with the Grand Junction Rockies during his rookie season, batting .274 with four home runs, eight doubles, three triples and 27 RBIs.
After splitting time between Class A and Class A-Advanced in 2013, Wessinger was promoted to the Asheville Tourists before playing for the Modesto Nuts for the entire 2014 season.
Wessinger had a brief stint in 2015 with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League before spending a majority of his 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Bridgeport Bluefish and the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.
Wessinger graduated from St. John's in 2013 with a degree in sports management.
Will Craig - Student Assistant Coach
Craig became the sixth-ever first-round pick out of Wake Forest, including the first since 2008 and highest since 2006, when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Over his collegiate career, Craig posted an average of .347 with 42 doubles, 37 homers, 160 RBIs and 108 walks through three seasons. The Johnson City, Tenn. native also excelled on the mound, holding a 6-4 career record.
As a junior in 2016, Craig tallied a .379 average, 16 home runs and 66 RBIs and went 2-0 with a team-high nine saves and a 3.54 ERA, earning him unanimous All-American and D1Baseball's National Player of the Year honors as well as being named a Dick Howser Trophy Finalist and a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist.
During his sophomore season, Craig was named the 2015 ACC Player of the Year, the sixth Deacon to earn Player of the Year honors, and became just the fourth Demon Deacon to be named an All-American by five different outlets.
Craig went on to play professionally from 2016-21, making his major league debut with the Pirates on Aug. 27, 2020 in St. Louis.
In 2021, Craig appeared in 18 games for Pittsburgh, highlighted by hitting his first MLB longfly in his season debut on May 13 at PNC Park.
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