MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama has hired Mark Calvi, pitching coach for national champion South Carolina, as associate head baseball coach and head coach-in-waiting to succeed Steve Kittrell after the 2011 season.
Kittrell announced in June that he intends to retire. Calvi will become only the fifth head coach in South Alabama baseball history.
The university announced the hire Thursday. Calvi will be formally introduced at a news conference Friday at 1 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
Erdmann on the Hire
Athletics director Joel Erdmann said several qualified candidates expressed interest in the position.
“Obviously, we’re very excited about hiring Mark. He brings not only a wealth of coaching experience to the table, but a demeanor and various intangibles that are going to make him a great member of this family,” Erdmann said. “A facet of the game that we looked deeply at was pitching, and his background in that area — as well as in recruiting, and his familiarity with the Sun Belt Conference, the southeast region and the nation — is very impressive.”
“Mark has been with two very, very good programs, and he has demonstrated loyalty and longevity to those schools,” Erdmann said. “And the key is that he has had success — success that includes conference championship levels and Regionals, while rising to Super Regionals and Omaha on the way to a national championship.”
Six Seasons at South Carolina
Calvi spent the past six seasons at South Carolina, where his pitching staffs ranked among the Southeastern Conference and NCAA leaders. The Gamecocks reached an NCAA Regional in each of his six seasons in Columbia and finished each with an ERA under 4.00.
This season, as South Carolina won the College World Series, its staff ranked in the top 10 nationally in three categories:
- ERA: 3.75, seventh nationally
- Strikeouts per nine innings: 8.9, sixth
- Hits allowed per nine innings: 7.48, third
The Gamecocks posted a 2.15 ERA in the College World Series.
11 Years at FIU
Before South Carolina, Calvi spent 11 years at Florida International, a Sun Belt Conference rival of South Alabama. The Golden Panthers reached an NCAA Regional seven times during his tenure and advanced to a Super Regional in 2001.
In 1995, FIU’s pitching staff led the nation with a 2.40 ERA and threw 16 shutouts, tied for the sixth-highest total in NCAA history.
Calvi has coached 35 pitchers who have been drafted or signed by Major League organizations.
Background
Calvi, 41, is a native of Marco Island, Fla. South Alabama plays its home games at Stanky Field.
