BLACKSBURG – As announced by Virginia Tech baseball head coach John Szefc on Thursday, coaches Kurt Elbin, Ryan Fecteau and Corey Haines have each had their letters of appointment extended with title changes on the merit of their leadership, instruction and direction that have catapulted the program to extraordinary success.
Both coaching within their fifth seasons at Tech, Elbin has been promoted to the title of associate head coach, offense and recruiting coordinator while Fecteau has been promoted to the title of associate head coach, pitching. Additionally, Haines – who has served on Szefc's coaching staffs since 2013 – has been elevated to the title of assistant head coach, baseball operations.
Thursday's announcement comes with the Hokies on the verge of completing arguably their greatest ACC season to date. As of May 18, Virginia Tech (37-11, 16-9 ACC) is ranked among the top three national programs in each of the six leading college baseball polls, lays claim to the No. 5 RPI and is in the running to clinch its first ACC trophy should it champion the ACC Coastal Division.
With Elbin in the dugout, Tech has turned into an offensive machine, ranking among the top 15 NCAA Division I programs this season in batting average (.309), slugging percentage (.560), doubles (124) and home runs (91). During his five-year tenure in Blacksburg, Elbin has laid the foundation from which the "Hammerin' Hokies" have taken off, improving annually in scoring average from 5.6 to 8.4 runs per game.
On the recruiting trail, Elbin has helped Tech ink two consecutive top-30 classes out of National Signing Day (per Perfect Game), attracting a number of top-500 recruits that has allowed the Hokies to routinely restock their talent around the diamond.
"Kurt Elbin has been a vital part of our coaching staff and our baseball program for five years now," said Szefc. "The coaching, development and culture he has brought to our program – specifically to our offense – is tremendous.
"Our player personnel has been dramatically improved by way of his recruiting. I look forward to working with Kurt in continuously building our program for years to come."
Under Fecteau's direction, Tech's pitching staff has matured into one of the most consistent units in the ACC. In 2021, the Hokies set the program record for single-season strikeouts (562), producing four professional pitchers at year's end, including three that came off the board during the MLB Draft.
This season, Fecteau has Tech in line to achieve its best national placement in ERA across his five-year stay with the program, knocking on the door of the country's top 25 pitching staffs (4.04 ERA). The Hokies are also poised to remain among the top 50 programs in strikeout-to-walk ratio for the third consecutive year.
"Ryan Fecteau has been a tremendous part of our coaching staff during the last five years," said Szefc. "Our pitching operation has dramatically improved under his tutelage, especially considering the draft picks that have come out of here and our constant presence at the top of the ACC.
"Our success on the mound is attributed to his hard work with our staff. His recruitment of our pitching has also been top-notch."
Partners with Szefc for nine seasons, Haines has played an instrumental role in managing the all-around aspects of the Virginia Tech baseball program.
"Corey Haines has also been a tremendous part of our coaching staff," said Szefc. "His day-to-day in how he helps me run the inner-workings of our program – as far as the administrative aspects of it, the day-to-day with our players, his care for the ballpark and his overall work as our operations director – is of immeasurable importance.
"I have worked with Corey longer than any other person I have worked with during my years of coaching. He is a vital, vital part of Virginia Tech baseball."
Coach Szefc promotes three Virginia Tech baseball staff members
