Longwood University Director of Athletics Troy Austin has announced the appointment of Brian McCullough as the new baseball head coach for 2013-14. McCullough, a former starting pitcher and team captain for the Lancers, takes over for Charles Buddy Bolding, who recently retired after 35 years at the helm (953-544-4). McCullough has served the past four years as an assistant coach, most-recently as the program’s recruiting coordinator and pitching coach, while also assisting with all baseball operations, including scheduling. He has played professionally in the independent Frontier, Northern and Atlantic Leagues (2007-11).
“I am very excited to announce that a former Lancer is going to take the lead of this tradition-rich program,” said Austin. “I know Brian has learned a lot from Coach Bolding from his four years as a player and four more years as an assistant coach. The dedication and pride Brian has taken in his role over the past year is encouraging, and I am looking forward to watching the program continue to grow.”
McCullough, who turns 28 next week, was a four-year starter for the Lancers (2004-07), compiling a career record of 20-14 with a 3.56 earned run average over 329.0 innings with 258 strikeouts and four saves. The innings pitched and strikeouts remain school records. He was the 2007 Division I Independent Pitcher of the Year and an All-Independent First Team selection when he posted a record of 6-4 with a 2.57 ERA over 105.0 innings with 73 strikeouts. McCullough led the Longwood pitching staff that season in games started (15), complete games (5), wins (6), shutouts (2), ERA (2.57), innings pitched (105.0), strikeouts (73) and runners picked-off (8), while adding one save. He was on the Wallace Watch List as a senior, and also ranks third at the school in career ERA (3.56), seventh in fewest walks per game (2.49), eighth in wins (20) and ninth in winning percentage (.588, 20-14).
“I eagerly accept my new opportunity as head coach of Longwood University Baseball,” said McCullough. “Ten years ago, I was recruited to come to Longwood by Coach Bolding, and since then, he has helped me grow as a college coach and taught me the values that Longwood Baseball represents. I am grateful to Mr. Troy Austin for giving me this great opportunity. I am a Lancer at heart, and my staff and I will continue to work hard to elevate this program that has represented its institution so well in the classroom, community and on the field. We look forward to continuing our tradition of building citizen leaders, maintaining close connections with our alumni and partnering with the surrounding community. We believe that the best is yet to come for Longwood Athletics and Longwood Baseball; and to be a part of it is a dream come true. My coaches, players and I look forward to coming to work every day to take Longwood Baseball to new heights. Go Lancers!”
McCullough posted a 23-18 record with a 3.86 ERA through 343.0 innings with 206 strikeouts through five years of professional baseball. Playing for Florence (Ky.), Chillicothe (Ohio), Windy City (Ill.), Washington (Pa.), Fargo-Moorhead (N.D.), Schaumburg (Ill.), Somerset (N.J.) and Pennsylvania … he made 153 appearances with 25 starts, four complete games, and two shutouts. His best years were 2007 in Florence and Chillicothe, when he was a combined 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA through 77.2 innings with 51 strikeouts, and 2010 in Schaumburg, when he was 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA through 61.0 innings with 35 strikeouts.
The Virginia Beach native is a 2003 graduate of Princess Anne High School. McCullough earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Longwood in 2010. His great grandfather, Samuel Franklin ‘Sank’ McCullough, played for the New York Giants and San Antonio Indians while Sank’s brother, Paul Willard McCullough, played for the Washington Senators.
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