Baseball
- Title:
- Volunteer Coach
Drew French is now in his second season as the Director of Baseball Operations for Tide baseball. After spending his first two seasons with the team as a volunteer assistant coach, French was named to his newest title on August 3, 2009.
French oversees the day-to-day administration of the baseball program. His responsibilities include serving as the travel coordinator during the season as well as scheduling and assisting in the coordination of recruiting schedules and trips for the coaches. His job also includes assisting with the coordination of all on-campus recruiting visits. French is also the director of player development where he works directly with the team's academic advisor, strength and condition coach and the head coach to ensure the progress of student-athletes during their time at the Capstone.
He is also the Director of Community Outreach for Tide baseball, helping the program win the University's 2010 Community Outreach Award for the 2009-10 academic year. This award is given annually to the Tide athletic team that puts in the most community service hours in an academic year with the baseball program putting in over 1000-plus hours last year.
"One of the things he has done a great job with is our community service work that he oversees," head coach Mitch Gaspard said of French. "Last year our program had the most community service hours in the athletic department - he is responsible for that. He has really put a lot of pride into putting our players in the right places to be able to get out in the community and talk to folks."
French came to the Capstone after spending the 2007 season as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. While working at CU, he was responsible for the daily operations of the pitching staff, as well as all recruiting and travel arrangements. He was also the director of Concordia's baseball camps during that year. French also served the Tornados' by helping raise funds for a new stadium and facilities for the baseball program. As the Nike equipment liaison, he also assisted with the uniform and equipment orders and purchases.
Prior to being selected to his current position, French served on the Tide coaching staff from 2007-09 as a volunteer coach and camp director. As a coach, he worked directly with the pitching staff, overseeing the bullpen sessions, conditioning and strength programs on a daily basis. He also served as the defensive coach for the outfielders, having the responsibility of aligning the defense in-game. French also threw batting practice prior to the games. Off the field, French was responsible for formulating the scouting reports on opponents, assisting with on-campus recruiting, and directing junior college tournaments and summer high school tournaments.
During the summer of 2009, French served as the pitching coach for the North Fork Osprey of Long Island, N.Y. His responsibilities while with the team included running the day-to-day operations of the pitching staff including strength and conditioning and player development. With French's help, the Osprey's captured the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League's Kaiser Division regular season championship with a 25-14 overall record. His pitching staff specifically ranked in the top-five in the league in ERA, strikeouts and opponent batting average.
From 2004-07, French was the head coach and camp coordinator for the Austin SLAM Baseball program for players 14-18 years of age in Round Rock, Texas. He served as coordinator for all camps for SLAM Baseball as well as providing youth development for underprivileged and underfunded families in central Texas.
While at Concordia, French was named a three-time Academic All-Southwestern Conference selection and earned the Dawnna Dukes Leadership Award and was named the Texas State Representative for academics. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in marketing and management, sporting a 3.5 GPA for his college career.
A 2002 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas, French was a two-time all-district pitcher and outfielder. His efforts helped propel the school to a runner-up finish in the Class 5A state playoffs in 2001.
