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Cooper Vittitow 817-531-7548 |
Mike Jeffcoat, Head Coach 817-531-7547 Mike Jeffcoat is in his seventh year at the helm of the Texas Wesleyan baseball program. Mike has led Texas Wesleyan to four 30-win season in the last five years. In 2007, his Rams posted the programs highest win total, 41, since 1980, and lowest loss total, 10, since 1973, and Mike earned RRAC Coach of the Year honors. The Rams took their first Red River Athletic Conference tournament championship and advanced to the Region VI final. The team featured nine All-Conference performers and an All-American in Hayden Lackey. Five members of that team went on to play professionally in the following summer. In 2006, the Rams rode All-American selections Shea Harrison and Zach Archer to a 31-23, an appearance in the Red River Athletic Conferenc championship game, and a trip to the Region VI tournament. In 2005, Jeffcoat led the Rams to a 34-26 overall record and the RRAC North Division Championship with a conference record of 13-2. In his second season (2003) he led the Rams to their best record (38-22-1) since the 1995 season when they won 39 games. That team produced two first-team all-conference players in freshmen, Shea Harrison and Matt Putman, and a Relief Pitcher of the Year selection, Seth Manning. The team had a 14-game winning streak and knocked off 2nd ranked Oklahoma City. Mike was born and raised in Pine Bluff, AR, where he excelled as a high school pitcher. He attended Louisiana Tech University on a baseball scholarship, but left before his senior year to sign a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians. He would later complete his degree in physical education in 1986. On August 21, 1983, Mike made his major league debut against the Seattle Mariners, and on September 18th, he out dueled the Yankees' Dave Righetti for his first major league victory. In May of 1985, Mike was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he remained until becoming a free agent at the end of the 1986 season. He then signed with the Texas Rangers and spent the next six years in Arlington. In 1989, Mike had arguably the best year of his career, posting a 9-6 record in 22 starts, with a 2-to-1 K/BB ratio and a 3.58 ERA. On August 2, 1991, Mike doubled home a run in the 9th inning of a 15-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, making him the first American League pitcher since the inception of the designated hitter rule in 1973 to record an RBI in a regular season game. He also became the first American League pitcher to record a hit since the Rangers' Ferguson Jenkins did so in 1974. Even though Mike finished his career with the Florida Marlins in 1994, he has continued to make his home in the metroplex. He and his wife Elaine live in Arlington with their children Drew, Haley, Ryan, and Kaley. |
Brad Averitte,
Assistant Coach 817-531-7548 Brad is in his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Rams. Averitte will be working with the catchers and serves as recruiting coordinator. Averitte played collegiate baseball for two seasons at Northeast Texas CC. A two-year letter winner for Chad Tidwell, he started in his sophomore season at catcher and threw out 45 percent of would-be base-stealers. He was also a one-year letter winner for Kevind Downling at Arkansas Monticello. While at Monticello, he hit .298, threw out 33 percent of his runners in 2002, and was tabbed as one of the Gulf South Conference’s top newcomers. Averitte was a two-year letter winner at Keller High School. While at Keller, he caught a no-hitter and a perfect game. He was the head coach for the Laramie Colts in the 2005 Mountain Collegiate Baseball League in Laramie, WY. He led the Colts to a 27-16 record and an appearance in the championship series. Averitte graduated from Arkansas Monticello in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in both History and Psychology. He is the son Mark and Pat Averitte. Brad has three Wesleyan graduates in his family, including, his brother, Jimmy Averitte ('96), his mother, Pat Averitte ('83) and his grandmother, Betty Averitte ('64).
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Cooper Vittitow, Assistant Coach Cooper Vittitow joined the Rams coaching staff in the fall of 2007. Vittotow came to Texas Wesleyan from Galveston College where he served as an assistant for the previous two seasons. An accomplished player, Vittitow was an All-State selection at Monterey High School in Lubbock, TX. He went on to play at Lubbock Christian University where he earned All-American recognition at shortstop in 2002. Vittitow also played professionally, spending three seasons in the Frontier League. From 2002-04 he played with the Canton Coyotes, Mid-Missouri Mavericks, and the River City Rascals. In 2003 he was a league All-Star selection with Mid-Missouri. While serving as an assistant coach, Vittitow will also be working toward his Masters in Business Administration. |
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