Birkbeck Rewarded With Contract Extension
7/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State associate head baseball coach Mike Birkbeck has earned a four-year contract extension after another banner year for the program, Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy recently announced.
Birkbeck, who just completed his 13th season with the Golden Flashes, will continue to be a fixture in the KSU dugout in his role as associate head coach and pitching coach through the 2013 campaign. He joined former KSU head coach Rick Rembielak's staff in 1997 and remained with the Flashes when current KSU head coach Scott Stricklin took over the reigns in 2005.
“I'm very pleased we are able to keep a coach of the quality of Mike Birkbeck at Kent State,” said Kennedy. “When you consider the success of Kent State baseball and the outstanding success of our pitching staff, we truly have one of the finest coaching staffs in the country.”
“Mike's been a huge part of the program for the last 13 years,” Stricklin said. “One of the greatest luxuries for me here at Kent State is to have a pitching coach like Mike Birkbeck.
“The respect that Mike has within the region and nationwide among professional scouts, high school coaches and players is tremendous. It's an unbelievable asset to have a person with his qualifications and experience lead our pitching staff.”
Birkbeck helped mentor the Flashes to their seventh Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship – the fifth such title during his tenure – and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009. Under his watch, two Kent State hurlers have received MAC Pitcher of the Year Honors (Dirk Hayhurst, 2003 and Chris Carpenter, '08) and a KSU pitcher has been named to the All-MAC squad 19 times. In addition, Dan Adams was named a third team All-American in 1999 while John VanBenschoten was first team All-American in 2001. In 2009, closer Andrew Chafin was the MAC Freshman of the Year, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and a second team ABCA All-Mideast Region selection.
A native of Orrville, Ohio, Birkbeck pitched 14 seasons professionally, posting a career record of 12-19 with a 4.86 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 54 games with the Milwaukee Brewers (1986-89) and the New York Mets (1992, '95). He was a 1985 graduate of Akron and was named Ohio Valley Conference MVP and an All-American in 1982. He still holds the Zips' record for wins in a single season (9) and a career (24).
Birkbeck is a member of the Richmond Braves' 10th anniversary All-Diamond Team and Richmond's All-Century Team. He is also a member of the Greater Akron and Summit County Sports, Orrville Sports, Akron Sports and the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fames.
Birkbeck and his wife, Suzanne, live in Canton with their son, John.
Birkbeck, who just completed his 13th season with the Golden Flashes, will continue to be a fixture in the KSU dugout in his role as associate head coach and pitching coach through the 2013 campaign. He joined former KSU head coach Rick Rembielak's staff in 1997 and remained with the Flashes when current KSU head coach Scott Stricklin took over the reigns in 2005.
“I'm very pleased we are able to keep a coach of the quality of Mike Birkbeck at Kent State,” said Kennedy. “When you consider the success of Kent State baseball and the outstanding success of our pitching staff, we truly have one of the finest coaching staffs in the country.”
“Mike's been a huge part of the program for the last 13 years,” Stricklin said. “One of the greatest luxuries for me here at Kent State is to have a pitching coach like Mike Birkbeck.
“The respect that Mike has within the region and nationwide among professional scouts, high school coaches and players is tremendous. It's an unbelievable asset to have a person with his qualifications and experience lead our pitching staff.”
Birkbeck helped mentor the Flashes to their seventh Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship – the fifth such title during his tenure – and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009. Under his watch, two Kent State hurlers have received MAC Pitcher of the Year Honors (Dirk Hayhurst, 2003 and Chris Carpenter, '08) and a KSU pitcher has been named to the All-MAC squad 19 times. In addition, Dan Adams was named a third team All-American in 1999 while John VanBenschoten was first team All-American in 2001. In 2009, closer Andrew Chafin was the MAC Freshman of the Year, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and a second team ABCA All-Mideast Region selection.
A native of Orrville, Ohio, Birkbeck pitched 14 seasons professionally, posting a career record of 12-19 with a 4.86 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 54 games with the Milwaukee Brewers (1986-89) and the New York Mets (1992, '95). He was a 1985 graduate of Akron and was named Ohio Valley Conference MVP and an All-American in 1982. He still holds the Zips' record for wins in a single season (9) and a career (24).
Birkbeck is a member of the Richmond Braves' 10th anniversary All-Diamond Team and Richmond's All-Century Team. He is also a member of the Greater Akron and Summit County Sports, Orrville Sports, Akron Sports and the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fames.
Birkbeck and his wife, Suzanne, live in Canton with their son, John.
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