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Connelly-Maness added

Baseball Tom Riordan

Connelly, Maness Join Baseball Staff

WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW head baseball coach Randy Hood has announced the additions of former Seahawk standout Terence Connelly and Seth Maness, who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, to the coaching staff for the 2022 season.

"Our program got a lot better today with Terence and Seth joining our staff," said Hood, who enters his third season as head coach of the Seahawks in 2021-22. "We're looking forward to the start of the new year and having a great 2022 season."

Connelly, who will take over as the volunteer assistant coach, played for the Seahawks from 2013-2017, helping the program to NCAA regional appearances three times and a Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2015. He concluded his career with the Seahawks as the program's all-time leader in games played (236) and hit by pitches (57). Both of those marks still stand, and he is ranked third all-time with 132 walks and sixth in on-base average (.435).

"I couldn't be happier to welcome Terence back to our program," said Hood. "It would be hard to find a person more qualified and one that loves this baseball program as he does. His work ethic, intensity, passion, and toughness were all qualities that stood out with him as a player and those are qualities that he will help pass along in the development of our current and future players."

Following his career at UNCW, he was selected by Arizona in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft and played two seasons in the organization before retiring following the 2018 season at Kane County.

Connelly moved to the coaching ranks following his professional career, landing on Jeff Johnson's staff at perennial powerhouse Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. He spent two seasons with the Indians as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped the program to a Region VIII title and an appearance in the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. In 2020, Connelly joined the coaching staff at UNCG and helped the Spartans to a 27-25 record during the 2021 season. While with the program, he coached first base and coordinated camps.

"I'd like to thank Coach Hood for the opportunity to represent the UNCW Baseball program once again," said Connelly. "I have a tremendous amount of pride in this program and everything that it represents. I am beyond excited to start getting after it with this staff and these young men, and to continue building on the successes of UNCW Baseball."

Maness, who will serve as the program's coordinator of player development, began his professional career in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals and made his major league debut early in 2013 in relief against Milwaukee. He pitched four seasons with the Cardinals and helped key their run as National League champions in 2013. Maness made 215 appearances out of the bullpen his first three seasons, including a career-high 76 in 2015.

"The opportunity to add Seth to our staff was a no-brainer," said Hood. "His experiences, from being one of the best to play at ECU then onto the major leagues where he pitched on the biggest of stages, will allow him to be such a great resource for our players and help us in all phases of their development. I'm certainly looking forward to working with him"

In 2017 he signed as a free agent with Kansas City and his last professional appearance came in 2019 as a member of the Nashville Sounds, the triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Maness was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Cardinals out of East Carolina. He was a four-time first-team All-Conference USA honoree while with the Pirates (2008-11) and concluded his career as the program's all-time leader in wins (38), innings pitched (411.2) and games started (61).

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Seahawks staff this season," said Maness. "I'm excited to return to the college game and help these athletes reach their full potential."

The Seahawks open their 2022 season Feb. 18-20 when they host Middle Tennessee State and St. John's.
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