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The University of Dayton welcomed a baseball talent, Brian Harrison, as an assistant coach on July 5, 2007. Harrison joins the Flyer baseball program after serving as head coach at Urbana for the past three seasons. The addition of Harrison to the staff paid off immediate dividends during the 2008 Flyer campaign. Returning only three offensive starters from the 2007 team that won 21 games, the 2008 Flyer squad won 31 games and the offensive unit enjoyed tremendous increases in nearly every category including the big four: batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and RBI. Harrison's influence was vital to the breakout year that senior outfielder Kevin Miller enjoyed. A lifetime .167 hitter in his previous three seasons, Miller finished his senior season with the seventh best batting average in the Atlantic 10 with a .362 average. Harrison also adds professional coaching experience with the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League in 2007. As a hitting coach with the Paints, Harrison helped the team to a second place finish in the East Division. He was also instrumental in guiding veteran shortstop Travis Garcia to a Frontier League MVP crown during the summer of '07. Harrison, a native of Cleveland, took over the Blue Knights and suffered through a 7-43 record in 2005, his first season as head coach of the NAIA program. After adding his first recruiting class, he turned around the program in just one season, resulting in a 37-21 record and a second place finish in the American Mideast Conference South Division. Urbana also finished fourth at the Region IX Tournament in 2006 to wrap up one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NAIA baseball history. "I am excited about Coach Harrison joining our staff at The University of Dayton," UD Head Coach Tony Vittorio said. "He brings a great amount of baseball knowledge to our program along with what I feel is outstanding passion for the game of baseball as well as recruiting great players. His track record at his last two stops speaks for itself. His work ethic and loyalty definitely was noticed." The 2006 Blue Knights broke 13 school records including a program record for wins in a season with 37. As a result, five Urbana players earned First Team All-Conference honors, another three were Second Team and two were Honorable Mention honorees. Harrison was named the 2006 AMC South Coach of the Year while guiding the 2006 AMC Player of the Year as well as three First Team All-Region picks and three NAIA All-America selections. Harrison commented, "What I expect out of my players is what I expect out of myself: hard work, dedication and passion toward the game of baseball." Before coming to Urbana, Harrison turned the tables for the better at Cuyahoga Community College. He was the head baseball coach for two seasons prior to joining the Blue Knight program. In his first season at the helm, the Challengers came within one victory of the school record and had the first winning season in eight years at Tri-C. That team improved their win total from 16 wins in 2002 to 35 wins in 2003. The team set 15 school records along the way, had three players nominated 1st team all-conference and was district runners-up. More importantly, Coach Harrison's influence was vital in helping a record eight players receive a scholarship to a four-year university. In 2004, the Challengers' success continued. Tri-C finished above .500 again and was crowned district champions. The team received their first invitation to the NJCAA Region XII tournament in seven seasons and closed it out with an impressive fourth place finish. Another three players were voted First Team All-Conference and Coach Harrison again placed eight players to a four-year university with a scholarship. Coach Harrison got his start with the Challengers as the hitting and defense coach during the 2001-2002 season. "I enjoy teaching and molding people into better baseball players," said Harrison. "It is my ultimate goal to build a solid program, and it is not just a habit of success on the field, but also off the field as well." Harrison completed his outstanding collegiate playing career at Shawnee State University, amassing more than 40 home runs and 200 RBI's. He earned All-America honors after leading the Bears to the NAIA College World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. Shawnee State finished 5th nationally as Harrison's concluded his season hitting .415 with 19 home runs, 21 doubles and 87 RBI's. During the summer of 1998, Harrison was selected to play for US National Team. With the honor of being selected for the team, Harrison helped lead the American squad to an 8-1 record in an international tournament in the Czech Republic. Team USA also conducted clinics and exhibition games in Germany and Austria. Coach Harrison's collegiate accolades afforded him the opportunity to continue his playing career in the professional ranks, where he played for the Evansville Otters of the professional Frontier Independent Baseball League. Coach Harrison completed just one professional season before an arm injury in his second season sidelined his career. Coach Harrison also served as an associate scout of the Cincinnati Reds baseball organization from 2004-2006. Coach Harrison and his wife Traci reside in Fairborn, Ohio.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT BRIAN HARRISON "In my MVP season of 2007, no one had a bigger influence on my approach to hitting than Brian Harrison. Having played in the New York Mets organization for 3 years, I had a chance to work with all types of hitting coaches and instructors, none in which ever brought out the most of my ability like Coach Harrison. As for a one on one instruction, Brian is on a whole other plain. Never has someone shown an understanding on a personal and professional level to hitting as he showed with me on a daily basis. He is by far one of the best and smartest baseball personalities that I have come across in my six years of professional baseball."
- Travis Garcia
"Throughout my years at the University of Dayton, I went through several hitting coaches. Coach Harrison is without a doubt the best hitting coach I've ever had. Through countless hours of studying an individual's swing, he has the ability to match a player's strengths with their style of play and develop the most efficient swing possible. Additionally, Coach Harrison also focuses a great deal on the mental aspect of baseball. Combined, he gives each player the capability to exceed their given potential and make the most of their time as a Flyer. Coach Harrison will continually give the University of Dayton baseball program a competitive advantage through his immense effort, dedication, and daily preparation."
- Kevin Miller
"Brian exudes not only passion for the game of baseball but working with kids to be the best they can be. Brian is not only an exceptional teacher but his track record as a recruiter is evident over the course of his coaching career. As a scout I see a lot of kids enter college and when you see them continually improve it is a reflection of not only their individual ability but the instruction that they receive. To me that is a sign of solid fundamental coaching and you see that with the entire University of Dayton Baseball program including Brian. It is nice to see the continuity within the coaching staff which I feel will pay dividends for years to come." - Derrick Ross "Coach Harrison has made his mark as a collegiate level baseball coach with one simple philosophy in mind; he deeply cares about his student-athletes. With the true belief in the development of an individuals core attributes, that of mind, body, and soul, Brian has dedicated countless hours to the betterment of others which naturally has transcended into his success on the baseball field." - Doug Young |
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