Justin Blood Named Baseball Assistant Coach

STORRS, Conn. — Justin Blood, who spent the summer of 2005 as the pitching coach for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League, has been named an assistant baseball coach at the University of Connecticut. Blood, a former professional baseball player, will take on the responsibilities of pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Huskies.

"Justin is an effective teacher, communicator and leader, and I feel our program will benefit greatly from his addition," said UConn head coach Jim Penders. "He shares the same vision for the program that I do, and I feel fortunate to have him on my staff."

Blood was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2001 and excelled in the minor leagues before retiring to pursue coaching on the collegiate level. Upon retirement, Blood had accumulated a 3.97 ERA in 82 games as a minor league player, and a 7-4 record. He helped to lead the Inland Empire 66ers to the California League Class A title in 2003, posting a 5-2 record with two saves and a 3.07 ERA with 77 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 58.2 innings out of the bullpen.

The New Hampshire native joined the coaching staff of Quinnipiac University in 2003, serving as a volunteer coach. In 2004, he returned to his alma mater, Franklin Pierce College, to complete his degree and work as the baseball team's student assistant. Prior to assisting, Blood played three years for Franklin Pierce prior to being drafted. He ranks among career leaders at the college with 235 strikeouts (second), 12 wins (fourth) and a 4.62 ERA (seventh) in 204.2 innings (fourth) over 38 appearances (third) with 12 complete games (fourth). In 2001, he struck out a program-record 20 New Hampshire College batters, which still ranks fifth in NCAA Division II single-game history.