Cincinnati’s basketball coach Mick Cronin wasn’t the only one to get a new deal this summer. Baseball coach Ty Neal has signed an extension locking him up through 2019. This comes off a season where Neal was one of the names for the vacant Indiana head coaching job. Neal came to Cincinnati from Indiana’s bench.
Cincinnati didn’t have a ton of success, they didn’t make the AAC tournament, but the groundwork was made. They improved 69 spots Warren Nolan RPI. The team really starred in the classroom. The Bearcats baseball team had the highest GPA of all Bearcat teams.
Instead of me paraphrasing a release, here is the said release, courtesy of NCAA.com:
Cincinnati director of athletics Mike Bohn announced a contract extension for head coach Ty Neal.
The extension locks up the Bearcats’ second-year coach until the 2019 season.
“Ty’s loyalty to UC is greatly appreciated and is fueled by his consistently demonstrated commitment to the long-term success of the young men he coaches and those he is recruiting to build a competitive program that is ascending to historical heights,” Bohn said. “A key member of our foundation of talented coaches, Ty adds to an outstanding roster of devoted leaders we have in our University community who are continuing to strive for a level of excellence on a day-to-day basis.”
Neal joined the Bearcats in the summer of 2013 after a successful stint as the top assistant coach at Indiana. Recently, he had been mentioned as a potential replacement at some high profile jobs across the country, leading the Bearcats mentor to reaffirm his commitment to UC.
“It’s flattering when your name is brought up regarding an elite program,” Neal said. “But rumors are just that. I’m proud to be the head coach at Cincinnati and my focus is on continuing to build this program to its own elite status.”
In his first year at UC, the Bearcats jumped 69 places in the Warren Nolan RPI and the Bearcats won the Joe Nuxhall Classic title.
Three student-athletes earned all American-Athletic Conference honors in the inaugural season for the league. The American, which ranks sixth among the 32 baseball-playing leagues nationally, sent two schools to the NCAA tournament with one making it to the College World Series.
Off the field, baseball squad earned the highest GPA among all UC men’s teams for the second straight semester. The team had a 3.232 GPA in the fall and topped its mark in the spring with a 3.347 GPA.
The academic performance by the baseball team propelled the department of athletics to its highest GPA ever recorded. Combined, all UC student athletes finished the 2014 spring semester with a 3.125 GPA.
“Our academics are a priority in our program and in the athletic department,” Neal said. “Program-wise, this is a product of the championship behavior expected of our club. I am excited about what we have achieved so far, and also have high hopes for the future with some of the outstanding student-athletes we have been able to recruit because of the on- and off-the-field commitment here in Cincinnati.”
In addition to the years added to his contract, Neal will receive an annual retention bonus, as well as commitments for facility upgrades, including the replacement of the artificial surface at Marge Schott Stadium, set to take place this summer.
Photo via: NCAA.com (article previously linked)
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