Richie GoodenowFormer Vanderbilt pitcher Richie Goodenow is the new pitching coach for the Lee University baseball team, Lee head coach Mark Brew announced Friday, three weeks before the Flames' season starts.
Goodenow, who coached this past fall at Dubuque in Iowa, said his wife, Lesley, has family in Chattanooga and he has played at Lee's Olympic Field a few times.
"I really like Cleveland," he said in a Lee release. "When Coach Brew contacted me, I didn't waste any time throwing my hat into the ring."
Goodenow replaces Drew France, who left the Flames to work in the Houston Astros organization.
"We are really excited for Coach French and this new opportunity," Brew said. "He did an excellent job with our staff over the last two and a half years.
"We are very pleased to have found a pitching coach of Richie's caliber in the middle of the year. He came very highly recommended from coaches I respect immensely. His knowledge base is excellent and he is a well-respected young coach."
Goodenow, a left-hander, led Vanderbilt with 31 pitching appearances in 2010 and had 47 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 44 1/3 innings. Also that year, he was the MVP of the Commodores' NCAA regional after pitching a two-hit shutout against Louisville.