Mark Scalf, the all-time winningest coach at UNCW and in the Colonial Athletic Association, retired from coaching following the 2019 season, a season that saw the Seahawks win the sixth CAA tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals for a 10th time, all since 2003.
In his final season at the helm, Scalf rallied the Seahawks in the season's final weeks to earn a berth in the CAA tournament by winning five of their final seven games in league play, including a series win at regular season champion Elon. The Seahawks continued their hot play going 4-1 in the conference tournament and edging Elon, 6-5, in 10 innings. For the second straight season, UNCW won 2-of-3 from the top seed in the tournament (Northeastern in 2018).
UNCW had four players selected in the Major League Baseball draft, including first-round selection Greg Jones, who went 22nd overall to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Scalf concluded his career with a record of 941-707-1 (.571) overall and 384-245-1 (.610) in the CAA.
The 2018 Seahawks won their fifth CAA tournament championship and played in the NCAA Regionals for a ninth time. UNCW also reached the finals of the regional for the sixth time before bowing to South Carolina at the Greenville Regional.
That season, Scalf navigated the Seahawks to their fourth straight CAA final. It was the first time in conference history that a program reached the finals of the tournament in four straight seasons. UNCW, who entered the tournament as the four-seed, opened with three consecutive win before suffering a loss to Northeastern in the first game of the championship round. The Seahawk, though, were able to rebound and knock off the Huskies for the title with a 7-4 win in Harrisonburg, Va.
Scalf also reached another milestone when he earned his 900th career win as UNCW edged Northeastern, 7-6 in 10 innings, on May 11, 2018.
The season’s success continued into the Major League Baseball draft in June as UNCW saw six players drafted, including four in the first 10 rounds. Ryan Jeffers was taken in the second round with the 59th overall pick by Minnesota. Joining Jeffers in the first 10 rounds were Austin Warren in the sixth (Anaheim), Alex Royalty (Cleveland) in the eighth and Clark Cota in the 10th (Oakland).
Six Seahawks were also selected in the 2017 MLB draft and a seventh player signed as a free agent following the draft.Â
Thanks in part to a prolific offense; Scalf guided UNCW to another 40-win season and the NCAA tournament in 2016. The Seahawks won their ninth CAA regular season crown and advanced to the regional finals for an eighth time.
UNCW landed 10 players on the CAA All-Conference squads, including five first-teamers. Nick Feight and Ryan Foster were honored as the league’s Player and Pitcher-of-the-Year, respectively, and were joined by Steven Linkous, Daniel Stack and Brian Mims on the first team.
Feight was named All-America by six media outlets while Mims and Foster were tabbed by four apiece. Feight set a school-record with a nation-leading 91 runs batted in.
The Seahawks reached the NCAA regionals for a seventh time in 2015 after winning their fourth Colonial Athletic Association title under the direction of Mark Scalf, who concluded his 24th season at the lead. UNCW posted a 41-18 record overall and 16-8 in the CAA last season, bringing Scalf’s number of 40-win seasons to six. The Seahawks continued to be the only program in the CAA to play in all 30 editions of the conference tournament.
Major League Baseball reached to the program five times in the 2015 draft, selecting Jordan Ramsey, Zach Shields, Evan Phillips, Nick Monroe and Will Shepley. All five signed bringing UNCW’s total to 63 players who have gone on to play professional baseball during Scalf’s tenure.
In 2014, Mark Scalf’s 23rd season at the lead of the program, UNCW posted its 16th consecutive season with a winning record (30-27, 10-8 CAA) and competed in the Colonial Athletic Association championship tournament for a 29th time. The Seahawks are the only program to play in all 29 CAA tournaments. Scalf also became the first coach in the CAA to surpass the 300-win mark in conference action.
UNCW had four players drafted in the Major League Baseball draft with Kelly Secrest (NY Mets, 10th round), Mat Batts (Minn., 17th round), Christian MacDonald (Miami, 25th round) and Jordan Ramsey (NY Yankees, 32nd round) being tabbed.
In 2013, UNCW posted a 38-23 overall record and topped the CAA with an 18-8 mark. Eight Seahawks earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors and Michael Bass earned five All-America honors. The season was highlighted by a 9-8 win in Chapel Hill, N.C., over then top-ranked North Carolina.
Season number 22 for Scalf was a special one for the long-time Seahawk. His club won its eighth regular season title, earned an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament and helped him pass the 700-career wins mark. Scalf was honored by the league’s coaches as Co-Coach-of-the-Year honors for the sixth time, tying the conference record.
Scalf has led his program to the NCAA tournament on eight occasions, including at-large selections in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2016. In 2003 the Seahawks reached the NCAA tournament for the first time and in 2008, UNCW fashioned a school-record 21-game winning streak and set a program record with 44 victories.
Under his direction, 75 Seahawks have gone on to play professionally, including first-round selection Brad Holt in 2008 after being drafted by the New York Mets. In 2006, both Chris Hatcher and John Raynor were taken in the first ten rounds, fifth and ninth rounds, respectively, by the Marlins. Both reached the Major League level. In 2010, Cody Stanley was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of the draft and he made his MLB debut in 2015. Former Seahawk hurler Seth Frankoff, a 28th round selection in the 2010 MLB draft, became the ninth Seahawk to reach the majors when he pitched for the defending World Series Champions Chicago Cubs on June 9, 2017.
One hundred twenty-three players have earned All-CAA honors during Scalf’s 26 seasons. Mat Batts was named CAA Pitcher-of-the-Year twice (2013, 2014) as was Ryan Foster in 2016. Battle Holley (1994), Bryan Britt (1996), Mark Carver (2008) and Nick Feight (2016) have been named Player-of-the-Year. In 2017, Alex Royalty was named CAA Pitcher-of-the-Year while Casey Golden was tabbed the league’s Player-of-the-Year.
Scalf served twice as an assistant on Team USA’s collegiate national team, first under Ray Tanner in 2003 and again in 2007 on Mike Weather’s staff. In 2007, Seth Frankoff became the first Seahawk to play for Team USA.
Scalf by the numbers:
941 – career wins
384 – career regular season wins in CAA play
134– Seahawks have earned All-CAA honors
83– Seahawks who have gone on to player professionally
10 – times UNCW reached the NCAA regionals
9 – CAA regular season titles won
6 – CAA tournament championships won by the Seahawks
5 – Seahawks have been named CAA Player-of-the-Year
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