Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Baseball Coach Dave Piepenbrink Announces Resignation
7/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 19, 2006
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Dave Piepenbrink, head baseball coach at Marshall University, resigned from the position, effective Aug. 1, athletic department officials announced today.
Head coach for parts of the past nine seasons after replacing Craig Antush midway through the 1998 campaign, Piepenbrink is the second-longest tenured coach in program history. He ranks No. 2 in school annals with 170 wins, behind only his former Marshall coach Jack Cook (422). He leaves the program with an all-time record of 170-285-3 (.374).
Piepenbrink, 39, said his resignation was not an easy choice to make.
"It came down to a family decision," he said. "I have an opportunity to pursue other career avenues with State Farm Insurance in Inwood, W.Va., and after giving it serious thought, this opportunity was too good to pass up.
"It is sad for me to leave Marshall, but I hope whoever replaces me wins twice as many games as I did. I'm a Marshall guy, and always will be a Marshall guy, and I want what's best for the university and the athletic department."
From 2002-04, Piepenbrink directed Marshall to its best three-year win total, 66, in the history of the program. He was MU's head coach for all but 20 games of the Herd's Mid-American Conference era (1998-2005) and guided Marshall to its first league tournament appearance since 1995 (Southern Conference) when it qualified for the 2006 Conference USA Tournament. C-USA was rated the fifth-best conference in the nation this past season.
The 2006 Herd also enjoyed the program's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since 1995, when Marshall swept a doubleheader from No. 25 James Madison in March.
Piepenbrink joined the Marshall coaching staff in 1996 as an assistant after a standout playing career under Jack Cook and Howard McCann from 1987-90. During his playing days he set school records - since broken - in doubles (41), runs scored (150) and at-bats (480). He now ranks second in career runs and total bases (308), and third in doubles and walks (98).
Piepenbrink was a first-team All-Southern Conference performer in 1990 and was named to the all-tournament team that same season after guiding Marshall to a semifinal berth in the league tournament.
"We appreciate all of the hard work and tremendous effort Dave brought to the program," Marshall Director of Athletics Bob Marcum said. "He fielded a very competitive team in our inaugural season in Conference USA and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors."
"I enjoyed working with Mr. Marcum over the last four years," Piepenbrink said. "He has been very understanding and supportive throughout this process."
The athletic department will immediately conduct a national search for Piepenbrink's successor.
