Former Ooltewah High School star and professional pitcher Adam Howard is the new assistant coach for Chattanooga State's nationally ranked baseball team.
He succeeds Robert Long in working with pitchers under head coach Greg Dennis, who watched Howard shine for TCCAA rival Walters State the first year he directed the Tigers. After that 2004 season, Howard was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and remained in their organization for five years, reaching the Triple-A level.
Released by Arizona, he signed with the Schaumburg (Ill.) Flyers, an independent league team, but made only "a couple of starts" before requiring elbow surgery.
"That was it," said Howard, who then began taking University of Phoenix classes to finish work on a bachelor's degree and is on track to get that Jan. 7.
"I have four classes left," said Howard, 27, who worked last season at Frank Phillips College, a two-year school in Texas, and helped at East Hamilton High the previous year. He played at Ooltewah for Chattanooga State's other assistant coach, Joe Wingate, now an East Hamilton physical education teacher who will assist with football there this fall but be back with the Tigers for the spring season.
"Wingate and I stayed in touch ever since high school. He's a great friend and a great coach, and I'm really looking forward to working with him," Howard said. "The enticing thing about Chattanooga State is that Coach Dennis has done a great job getting that program on track. It's exciting to be in a program that's successful and going in the right direction. The main thing I want to do is try to help the kids get better and maximize their potential.
"It's also nice to be back close to home, around my family and friends."
Dennis likes Howard's passion for teaching pitching as well as his pro and junior college background.
"Obviously he's got the experience from the standpoint of being at this level and being successful at this level," Dennis said. "He pitched under Joey Seaver at Walters, and I've got a ton of respect for Joey as a coach and person. And even at a young age, Adam has a presence about him."
• Dennis will be running an evening "fall league" for grades 9-12 for the fourth year in a row, Aug. 11-Sept. 29, with evaluations Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. to group players based on age and ability. Each team will play 12 games with instruction and supervision from the Tigers coaches, and the cost is $225 for first-time players, $150 for returners. Anyone interested should call 697-2418.