Birkbeck to Remain at Kent State
6/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Kent State Baseball Associate Head Coach Mike Birkbeck will remain as the pitching coach of the Golden Flashes, as announced by Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen on Thursday afternoon. He will begin the second year of his six-year contract this fall.
"Retaining Mike Birkbeck was a priority," said Nielsen. "He's known in college baseball as one of the best pitching coaches in the country, and someone who both attracts and retains high performing student-athletes. Mike has played a significant role in the baseball program's success, both on and off the field, and I know our past, current and future Golden Flashes will applaud Mike's decision."
"I am thrilled to be continuing on in my position as associate head coach/pitching coach here at Kent State University," said Birkbeck, "and I am looking forward to working with the new head coach as we continue to move our baseball program to even greater heights. Kent State University is a very special place to me and with the talented core group of returning players and an exceptional group of student-athletes in our incoming freshman class, I am very excited about the future of this program."
The former major league pitcher will begin his 18th season as the pitching coach of the Golden Flashes in the fall. Birkbeck was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2004.
Under his guidance, Kent State baseball has captured seven Mid-American Conference regular season titles, eight MAC Tournament crowns and has earned eight NCAA appearances, including a College World Series run in 2012. Birkbeck has worked with 40 student-athletes who have been drafted or signed into professional baseball, including 2011 first round pick Andrew Chafin and the 2013 fourth round draftee duo of Tyler Skulina and Taylor Williams.
After a record-breaking 2012 season for the program, Birkbeck was named the Baseball America/American Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year this past November. Before coming to Kent State, he played 14 years of professional baseball. His final 10 seasons were spent at the AAA or major league level, and he also spent part of two seasons playing in the Japanese major leagues.
Birkbeck is a member of the Orrville Sports Hall of Fame, University of Akron Sports Hall of Fame, Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame, Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame, Summit County Sports Hall of Fame, the Richmond Braves 10th Anniversary All-Diamond Team and Richmond's All-Century Team. He graduated from Akron University with a degree in business administration/marketing in 1985 after being a four-year letterwinner, two-time captain and an All-American with the Zips.
Birkbeck's son, John, will begin his junior season this fall as a pitcher for the Golden Flashes. A national search for a new head coach is currently underway.
