Sports Briefs
Utah Valley baseball coach Eric Madsen has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Dave Carter and Casey Nelson. Both Carter and Nelson have coached at Utah Valley in the past and rejoin the staff as Madsen, who took over the head coach position on July 1, becomes the fourth head coach in the program’s 36-year history.
Baseball hires new assistants
Utah Valley baseball coach Eric Madsen has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Dave Carter and Casey Nelson. Both Carter and Nelson have coached at Utah Valley in the past and rejoin the staff as Madsen, who took over the head coach position on July 1, becomes the fourth head coach in the program’s 36-year history.
“These two will help bring the Utah Valley baseball program to a new level,” said Madsen. “Dave has a proven track record as a recruiter and an instructor and has always been able to get the most out of the pitchers he’s coached. Casey brings a lot of knowledge and energy and a great pedigree of coaching to our program.”
Carter returns to Utah Valley after spending the past five seasons at the College of Southern Idaho. He coached in Orem from 2000 to 2003 and returns for his second stint with the school and Madsen, whom he coached with at the College of Eastern Utah from 1996-99.
“It’s exciting to be back at Utah Valley and to be working with Coach Madsen again,” said Carter. “It’s good to be in an environment like this with the potential that is here. It’s also great to be working with Casey, who I coached here at Utah Valley.”
During his coaching career, Carter has coached several players selected in the MLB Draft, including current Texas Rangers pitcher Willie Eyre and Kansas City Royals pitcher Brandon Duckworth.
Nelson returns to Utah Valley after spending the 2007 season at BYU as the team’s director of baseball operations. He was a volunteer assistant for the Wolverines during the 2006 season.
Nelson began his collegiate playing career at Utah Valley in 2003, the school’s final junior college season. He also played at Salt Lake Community College in 2004 before finishing his career with two seasons at BYU.
Former Wolverine practicing with D-League Ambassadors
Former Utah Valley basketball player Jordan Brady has been practicing with the Ambassadors of the D-League team that will participate in the upcoming Rocky Mountain Review in Salt Lake City.
Brady, a forward from Vernal, Utah, was invited to practice with the team earlier this week and said he is excited for the opportunity.
“It’s been really fun and an awesome experience,” Brady commented. “It’s good exposure for what I’m trying to do, which is play basketball in Europe.”
Brady has an agent who is currently trying to negotiate a deal that would send Brady overseas to play.