Friday, June 17, 2005

FORMER PIONEER DAVE PRICHARD TO SERVE AS MLB ENVOY COACH IN SWITZERLAND

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Former Tusculum College baseball player Dave Prichard will travel to Switzerland to serve as a coach with Major League Baseball's Envoy Program. Prichard is currently the head baseball coach at Carrabelle High School in Carrabelle Fla.

Prichard, a 2001 Tusculum graduate, was a middle infielder/utility player for four years at TC, including his senior season when the Pioneers posted a 29-24 record.

The Envoy Program selects and sends the game's best instructors to needful baseball communities around the world. Since its introduction in 1991, when two coaches traveled to Holland (now a regular participant in Olympic baseball competitions), the program has sent out coaches on more than 600 assignments to 72 countries world wide reaching more than 500,000 people. The program is dedicated to the development of international baseball by supporting national baseball federations and their affiliated clubs by providing detailed baseball instruction and development advice to players, coaches and baseball administrators.

This summer Prichard will travel to the cities of Sissach, Zug, Luzern, Embrach, and Fiesch, Switzerland.

"I'm pleased and honored to have a chance to represent both Major League Baseball and the game of baseball," said Prichard. "I'm looking forward to bringing my passion for baseball to new and existing baseball fans and players in Switzerland."

Prichard graduated from McMinn County High School in 1997 and played both baseball and football during his time there under Coach Rex Phelps and Coach John Mullinax, respectively.

"I'm very proud of what Dave has accomplished," said Tusculum head coach Doug Jones. "I always knew that he would be a great coach. He has a great love for the game of baseball and I know he will do a tremendous job teaching the game while representing MLB in Switzerland".

In his four seasons at Tusculum, Prichard played in 86 games, scored 41 runs and recorded 15 stolen bases in his 18 career attempts. He also shined off the diamond being named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Prichard is also a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a master's degree in Physical Education. In 2003, he served as an assistant coach at Cocke County High School in Newport, Tenn. In 2004, he moved to Carrabelle where he is currently serving as a head baseball coach and physical education instructor.

Prichard is the second Tusculum College baseball player to serve with the Envoy Program. Last summer, Prichard's former teammate and current Pioneer assistant coach Kenny Lawson traveled to Germany with the MLB Envoy Program. Lawson is also serving as Tusculum's Director of Intramurals.

The Envoy Program is one of several international game development programs operated by Major League Baseball International - MLB's international division. MLB International was founded in 1990 with the goal of growing the game of baseball around the world by creating interest and excitement in baseball through game development initiatives, special events, broadcasting and licensing.

Tusculum College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of eight colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Dom Donnelly
Director of Sports Information
Tusculum College
P.O. Box 5054
Greeneville, TN 37743
Office: (423) 636-7326
Website: http://www.tusculum.edu/athletics