Billy Godwin was officially named head baseball coach at on Oct. 28, 2005 making him the 10th head baseball coach in school history. He had led the program in an interim capacity since Oct. 10. Godwin arrived at ECU as an assistant coach June 9, 2005 after six seasons as head coach of Louisburg (N.C.) College. At Louisburg, he posted an impressive 262-85 (.755) overall record. During the 2005 season, Godwin guided the Hurricanes to Region X regular season and tournament titles on his way to earning Region X Coach-of-the-Year honors. The 2005 Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 49-13 record and stood sixth nationally in the NJCAA Division I final regular season poll. In 2004, the Hurricanes went 40-18 and claimed the top seed at the Region X Tournament before finishing the campaign as a regional finalist. After taking the helm at Louisburg College in the fall of 1999, Godwin kept the Hurricanes in the national spotlight by averaging 43 wins per season. The Hurricanes finished with a schoolrecord 51-11 mark in 2002 and made their tenth trip to the College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. During his tenure at Louisburg, Godwin has earned Region X and Eastern District Coach-of-the-Year honors while also receiving North Carolina College Coach-of-the-Year accolades in December 2002. Godwin replaced Randy Mazey, who had served as the Pirates head coach since the 2003 season. After starring in baseball at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, N.C., Godwin signed an athletic scholarship to pitch at Atlantic Christian College in 1982. He captured 19 wins during his career with the Bulldogs, helping to lead them to two District 26 regular season crowns. He was named team captain in his senior year and won the Kiwanis Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete in 1986. While at Atlantic Christian, he played for Dave Jauss, who has served as a coach at the Major League level and is now the bench coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Godwin spent two seasons as an assistant 56 2006 East Carolina Baseball Head Coach Billy Godwin Rocky Mount, N.C. Atlantic Christian 86 First Season coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1989 and 1990, working under the direction of current UNC-Chapel Hill Head Coach Mike Fox. His efforts helped guide the Bishops to the 1989 Division III National Championship and a third-place finish a year later.
THE GODWIN FILE William Matthew Godwin November 19, 1964 Northern Nash High School, Rocky Mount, N.C., 1982 B.A. in business administration, 1986 Atlantic Christian M. Ed. in education administration, 1995 Lettered in baseball at Atlantic Christian, 1982-86 Assistant Coach at Northern Nash, 1987-88 Assistant Coach at N.C. Wesleyan, 1988-90 Head Coach/ Athletics Director at Enfield Academy, 1991-97 Head Coach/ Athletics Director at Cary Academy, 1997-99 Head Coach at Louisburg College, 1999-2005 Assistant Coach at, June 2005 October 2005 Head Coach at, October 2005 to present In 1991, Godwin was named athletic director and head baseball coach at Enfield (N.C.) Academy. In seven seasons as head coach of the Patriots, he amassed a 131-57 (.697) overall record, which included five consecutive conference championships, four straight Final Four appearances and a state title in 1994 (24-1 record). Godwin also headed the Rocky Mount Post 58 American Legion squad during the summer months from 1990 to 1997. Prior to joining the Louisburg College athletic staff, Godwin served as athletic director and head baseball coach at Cary (N.C.) Academy. When Cary Academy opened its doors in 1997, he was responsible for setting up all athletic programs (over 36 teams and 17 varsity sports, including a first-year baseball team). Godwin earned his bachelor s degree in business administration from Atlantic Christian in 1986 before following with a master s degree in education from in 1995. He is married to the former Sharon Smith of Rocky Mount, N.C., and the couple has one daughter (Mallory). GODWIN ACOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS Year School Position Notes 1989 N.C. Wesleyan Assistant Coach NCAA Division III National Champions 1990 N.C. Wesleyan Assistant Coach NCAA Division III World Series (3rd Place) 1994 Enfield Academy Head Coach N.C. Independent School State Champs (24-1); Named N.C. High School Coach-of-the-Year 1995 Enfield Academy Head Coach Named High School Coach-of-the-Year (Rocky Mount Telegram) 1996 Enfield Academy Head Coach N.C. Independent School State Runner-up 1997 Enfield Academy Head Coach N.C. Independent School State Runner-up 1999 Louisburg College Head Coach Named Head Coach at Louisburg College 2001 Louisburg College Head Coach Ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation (47-10); Region X Regular Season Champions 2002 Louisburg College Head Coach Finished 6th at College World Series (51-11); Eastern District Champions; Region X Regular Season and Tournament Champions; Set a school-record for wins (51); Named NJCAA Regional Coach-of-the-Year; Named N.C. Baseball Coaches Association Coach-of-the-Year 2003 Louisburg College Head Coach Ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (42-15); Region X Regular Season Champions 2004 Louisburg College Head Coach Region X Regular Season Champions (40-18) 2005 Louisburg College Head Coach Ranked No. 6 in Div. I NJCAA Final Regular season poll (49-13); Region X Regular Season and Tournament Champions 2005 East Carolina Head Coach Named 10th East Carolina Head Baseball Coach (October 28, 2005) Godwin Family (L to R): Billy, Mallory and Sharon. 2006 East Carolina Baseball 57
Link Jarrett, a former Mercer University assistant coach, was named the new hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator at on July 27, 2005. Jarrett comes to ECU after spending two seasons with the Bears as the recruiting coordinator, infield and hitting coach. As the recruiting coordinator, Jarrett brought in the largest recruiting class in Mercer s history during the 2005 season with almost 30 players Lincoln Roscoe Jarrett, III January 26, 1972 Assistant Coach Link Jarrett THE JARRETT FILE B.S. in communication, 1994 Florida State University Florida State University, 1991-94 Colorado Rockies organization, 1994-98 Collegiate Baseball Honors and Notes Three-time College World Series participant (1991, 92 and 94) Two-time NCBWA All-American (1993 and 1994) Two-time All-ACC selection (1993 and 1994) Holds NCAA Career Assists Record (802) Holds four Florida State records: Assists, Consecutive Games Played, At-bats and Doubles Assistant Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator at Flagler College, 1999-2002 Infield Instructor/ First Base Coach at Florida State, 2002-03 Assistant Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator at Mercer University, 2003-05 Assistant Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator at, 2005-present 58 2006 East Carolina Baseball Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State 94 First Season between scholarships and walk-ons. Under Jarrett s direction in 2005, Mercer increased their winning percentage 16 percent and raised their team batting average 17 points from the 2004 campaign, led the Atlantic Sun Conference in fielding percentage, while ranking third in home runs with 53 (26 in 2004). During his stint as the infield coach he led the 2004 Bears to the top of the Atlantic Sun Conference in double plays, while increasing the teams on base percentage by 33 points and batting average by 17 points from 2003 to 2004. Prior to Mercer, Jarrett spent time as the infield instructor and first base coach at his alma mater Florida State. The Seminoles captured the regular season Atlantic Coast Conference championship after posting a 47-8-1 record. He worked closely with Arizona Diamondbacks 2004 first round draft pick, shortstop Stephen Drew. He also helped the Seminoles post a.963 fielding percentage. Before returning to Florida State, Jarrett served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Flagler College from 1999-2002. While at Flagler, his teams set seven new school records in just three seasons (team batting average, total hits, doubles, fielding percentage, team ERA, strikeouts and national ranking). In 2001, Flagler (40-17) earned a No. 5 national ranking, the highest in school history after posting their second 40-win season. Jarrett was the starting shortstop for the Seminoles from 1991-94 before being drafted and signed by the Colorado Rockies in 1994. During his five-year stint in the Rockies organization, Jarrett spent three seasons in New Haven, Conn. where he posted a.303 average and set a personal best 18-game hitting streak in 1997. In 1994, while in the Northwest League, he took home the Most Spectacular Defensive Player award for his outstanding play. He finished his Florida State career with a.279 batting average and holds the FSU career records for consecutive games played (235), at bats (989) and assists (802). Jarrett was a two-time NCBWA All-American as well as an All-ACC selection in 1993 and 1994. While he was at Florida State, Jarrett helped lead the Seminoles to three College World Series appearances (1991, 92 and 94) and became the all-time assist leader in the NCAA with 802 assists in 276 games played. From 1997-2002, Jarrett spent time as a College Baseball Analyst for the Sunshine Network and Fox Sports Net. His primary duties were to perform color commentary for 40-plus college baseball telecasts that aired on the Sunshine and Fox networks. Jarrett is married to the former Jennifer Skelton. They have two children, seven-year-old Justin (J.T.) and three-year-old daughter Dawson. Jarrett Family (L to R): Link, Justin (J.T.), Jennifer and Dawson (front).
George Whitfield returns to the Pirate program as an assistant coach, a role that he occupied from 1997-2002 under former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair. A well-respected member of the coaching community for over 42 years, Whitfield brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Pirate program. Before joining the ECU staff, Whitfield, who has directed the Wayne County Baseball Clinic for the past 33 years, established a tremendous list of accomplishments as a head baseball coach on the legion, high school, and collegiate level. Under his guidance, Whitfield s teams won four high school state championships and four legion state titles while pushing his record as a head coach to 954-286. George Franklin Whitfield August 21, 1936 Assistant Coach George Whitfield THE WHITFIELD FILE Grainger High School, Kinston, N.C., 1954 B.S. in physical education, 1959 M.A. in physical education, 1977 Mississippi State University Head Coach at Goldsboro High School, 1959-1967 Head Coach at Hamlet High School, 1967-1972 Head Coach at Richmond County High School, 1972-1975; 1978-80 Assistant Baseball Coach at Mississippi State, 1976-77 Athletic Director at Richmond Senior High School, 1980-89 Athletic Director at Mount Olive College, 1991-93 Athletic Director/ Head Coach at Pitt Community College, 1994-96 Assistant Coach at East Carolina, 1997-2002 Assistant Coach at East Carolina, 2005- present Goldsboro, N.C. East Carolina 59 Seventh Season Another aspect of Whitfield s career has been in an administrative role, as he has been the athletics director at Richmond Senior High School (1980-90) and Mount Olive College (1990-93). Whitfield was also the athletics director and first baseball coach at Pitt Community College from 1994 to 1996. Under his guidance, Pitt started off with a 34-16 mark in its first season of existence. For the outstanding programs that he has built, Whitfield has won conference coach-of-the-year awards seven times, as well as being named National Coachof-the-Year in 1969 and 74. The success his teams have seen has also led to Whitfield s induction into the Goldsboro High School, North Carolina High School Athletic Association, American Baseball Coaches Association and United States Achievement Academy Halls of Fame. In 1999, Whitfield was also inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Hall of Fame and in 2005 was inducted in the the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Whitfield has also served as head coach for the South in the 1983 National Sport Festival as well as the 1986 North Carolina State Games, in which his team won the gold medal. Along with his experience, Whitfield brings a great enthusiasm and love of baseball to the ECU program, along with a knowledge unsurpassed in the community or state. Whitfield, 69, earned his undergraduate degree in physical education from East Carolina in 1959 and his master s degree in the same from Mississippi State in 1977. He has one son, Gef, and one daughter, Tyler. Whitfield Family (L to R): Nicholas, Lucas, Tyler, Geoff and George. 2006 East Carolina Baseball 59
Greenville, N.C. East Carolina, 06 Volunteer Assistant Coach First Season Clayton McCullough enters his first season as a volunteer assistant coach for East Carolina. McCullough will work primarily with the Pirate catchers as well as coaching first base. McCullough, a former Pirate, returns to his alma mater after spending three seasons as a catcher in the Cleveland Indians organization. During his three-year career, he spent time with the Burlington Indians, Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros and Buffalo Bisons. McCullough s best season came during his rookie campaign with Burlington when he batted.278 with three doubles and a career-high eight RBI. McCullough, who will complete is undergraduate degree in communications this spring, started 140 of 186 collegiate games played at ECU and Vanderbilt. During his three-year career at ECU, he helped the Pirates to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, which included No. 1 regional seeds in 2000 (Lafayette Regional), 2001 THE McCULLOUGH FILE Clayton Anthony McCullough December 27, 1979 B.S. in communications, 2006 Vanderbilt University, 1998-99, 1999-2002 Cleveland Indians organization, 2002-05 Clayton McCullough Collegiate Baseball Honors and Notes Three-time NCAA Regional Participant, 2000-02 Member of 2001 Team that earned No. 7 National Seed All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, 2001 Two-time NCAA All-Region Team selection, 2001-02 Vol. Assist. Coach, East Carolina 2005-present 60 2006 East Carolina Baesball (Wilson Regional) as well as the schools first ever National Seed (No. 7) in 2001. During his senior campaign, McCullough guided the Pirates to their first Conference USA Tournament championship and a No. 2 seed in the Clemson Regional, where he was named to the NCAA All-Regional team. Throughout his collegiate career, McCullough batted.272 (139-for-512) with 11 home runs and 82 RBI, while earning secondteam All-Colonial Athletic Association honors (junior) and being named to a pair of NCAA All-Region teams. McCullough, a native of Greenville, N.C., is the son of Howard and Eva McCullough. His father, Howard, lettered in baseball at ECU in 1975-76 and is the head scout for MLB s Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ryan Riley Seattle, Wash. Clemson 02 Director of Baseball Operations Second Season Ryan Riley enters his second season with the Pirate program and first as the Director of Baseball Operations. Last season Riley served as a volunteer coach working with the Pirate infielders as well as assisting with hitting and baserunning duties. He also plays a part in the planning of East Carolina's baseball camps in the summer and winter. Riley comes to ECU after playing four years as a shortstop and second baseman in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization. He played for the Princeton Devil Rays, Hudson Valley Renegades, Charleston River Dogs and the Bakersfield Blaze. He ranked third in the league in hitting during his stint with Hudson Valley. Riley received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Clemson University. He started 110 of 117 games at second base for the Tigers during the 2000 and 2001 seasons and helped lead the 2000 Clemson team, which ranked as high as No. 1 in the country, to the College World Series. Riley was THE RILEY FILE Ryan Robert Riley November 10, 1978 B.A. in communications, 2002 Clemson University Clemson University, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization, 2001-04 Collegiate Baseball Honors and Notes 2000 College World Series Participant Two-time NCAA Regional Participant, (2000-01) All-ACC Selection, (2001) named the co-captain for the 2001 squad and received All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2001. The 2001 Tiger team advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals in Riley's final season at Clemson. Riley was born in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 10, 1978. He is a native of Seattle, Wash. Ryan married the former Jaime Lynn DeVito on October 8, 2005 in Westchester, N.Y. Assistant Coach,, 2004-05 Director of Baseball Operations,, 2005-present Riley Family (L to R): Jaime and Ryan. 2006 East Carolina Baseball 61
Pirate Support Staff Nita Boyce Assistant Director of Student Development Mike Cherry Assistant Director of Operations Michael Money Assistant Director of Marketing Joey Perry Assistant Director of Operations (Athletic Grounds) John Greico Assistant Strength Coach Jake Moore Athletic Trainer Jason Keeter Student Equipment Manager Adriawa Evans Administrative Assistant Erik Lewis Head Athletics Equipment Manager Chuck Young Sportswork Ministry Sophomore Harrison Eldridge eyes a pitch against the University of Georgia during the Second Annual Keith LeClair Classic. 62 2006 East Carolina Baseball