January 29, 2015

 

Nine Innings with Murray State Coach Kevin Moulder

By Sean Ryan

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

 

Change is afoot at Murray State.

 

Reagan Field, which saw chair-back and bleacher seats installed last year, gained lights in the past couple weeks paving the way for night baseball and the construction of a new press box has begun. The baseball team, the lone holdout among Murray State’s athletic teams to use the name “Breds,” will join the other teams as Racers. And the Racers have a new coach.

 

Kevin Moulder, who played at Murray State, returns to lead the program after spending seven years as an assistant at Saint Louis, winner of the past three Atlantic 10 regular-season titles.

 

Moulder took time to answer questions from CBI about his first head coaching job.

 

First Inning – As a graduate of Murray State, how does it feel to come back as the program’s head coach? 

It is really exciting for me that I’m able to get my first head coaching opportunity at a place that is special to me and that I care so much about.

 

Second Inning – The school has made recent investments in the program. Can you update us on what’s new for 2015 and if anything more is on the horizon? 

Other than my ties and past positive experience at Murray State, the facility upgrades were the other big attraction to the job. They just finished installing the lights this week and are days away from starting construction on our new press box. The press box will not only be a cosmetic upgrade, but now we will be able to stream all of our home games, it is going to have multiple radio booths and a suite for donors and former players. Grandstands and chair backs were installed at the start of last season. We have some other exciting future plans for Reagan Field, including an indoor facility. When it is all finished, I feel like we will have one of if not the top facility in the OVC.

 

Third Inning – How difficult was it to leave Saint Louis, where you’d been a part of three straight A-10 regular-season titles? 

Extremely difficult. I was born and raised a Billiken fan and am really proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past seven years at SLU. Having recruited many of the players, you really get attached to them and want to see them through to the end of their time playing, but it is a never-ending cycle so that is always the case when moving jobs.  I’m excited to follow them this year, this is the most talented group of players they have had.

 

Fourth Inning – What are a few things you learned coaching alongside Billikens coach Darin Hendrickson? 

I spent 10 years with him as a player and a coach, so I have been on both sides of things with him. As a player, he constantly pushes you and demands more out of you. In a nutshell, he is really good and getting players to compete in all aspect of life. He was also really good to work for and how he treated his assistants is something I’ll remember and try to mimic as a head coach.

 

Fifth Inning – As a pitching coach, how involved will you be with the pitchers at Murray State now that you’re a head coach? 

I am with the pitchers every day and watch every bullpen they throw. I am fortunate to have some really good assistants that allow me to take this approach. Andy Morgan runs the hitting and infielders, Daniel Dulin helps with the hitters and coaches our base running, catchers and outfielders and Cameron Finch, our volunteer, runs our throwing program for our pitchers and assists me with them. I just try to oversee it all and let them do their jobs.

 

Sixth Inning – Speaking of pitching, what do you remember about being on the short end of Auburn pitcher Eric Brandon’s perfect game in 2002? 

I remember it well, it is the only perfect game I have ever been a part of at any level.  That was on a Sunday, the final game of the series, Eric was really good that day and we got to head home pretty quick...

 

Seventh Inning – What are three things you look for when recruiting pitchers?

1. Projectability  2. Strike-throwers  3. Fastball (velocity, life, tilt)

 

Eighth Inning – What are some of Murray State’s strengths heading into 2015?  

We have a good group of guys that have all bought in to what we are trying to do and where we will eventually take the program. We have a lot of older players who have been through a lot and are desperate to go out with a winning taste. We return the OVC Pitcher of the Year in Brock Downey and probably have the best kickoff returner in college baseball in Pokey Harris (FCS All-American).

 

Ninth Inning – Murray State Baseball sheds the Breds moniker for the first time this year and will assume the Racers nickname used by all other sports. For those of us who like Breds, what are some of the reasons for the change? 

It was a branding issue. The university thought it would benefit the baseball program to join the rest of sports in being Racers, especially with some of the success our basketball program has had.

 

 (photo courtesy of MSU Media Relations)