FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Cal State Northridge head coach Matt Curtis has announced the hiring of Tim Leary as the Matadors’ new assistant baseball coach.
“I am excited to add Tim Leary to the Matador Baseball staff. I believe his track record of success at the collegiate and professional level as a player is unmatched among Division-I pitching coaches,” stated Curtis. “He’s earned great success at the collegiate level as a pitching coach in his time at UCLA and is a proven winner at every level. ”
The former first-round Major League Baseball draft pick will work primarily with the pitching staff and assist Curtis with recruiting and fundraising. Leary worked with Loyola Marymount’s pitching staff in 2006 and assisted the staff at UCLA from 1997-2000 and again in 2004 as the team’s pitching coach.
“Matador Baseball is determined to become one of the premier teams in the Big West Conference both on and off the diamond. The addition of Tim Leary to our staff is further proof that Head Coach Matt Curtis is looking to make an immediate and positive impact on our program,” said CSUN Athletic Director Rick Mazzuto.
Selected by the New York Mets with the second pick of the first round in the 1979 baseball draft, Leary pitched professionally for 15 years, ten of which were spent with the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.
One of his most successful seasons as a professional took place in 1988 as his efforts on the mound helped the Los Angeles Dodgers become World Series champions. Finishing the season with a 17-11 record and 2.90 ERA, Leary ranked second in the National League in shutouts (six), fifth in complete games (nine), and sixth in both wins (17) and strikeouts (180) and was named National League Comeback Player of the Year.
No stranger to success at the collegiate level, Leary spent a total five seasons as a pitching coach for UCLA before joining the staff at LMU in a similar role in 2006.
As the Bruins’ pitching coach, Leary helped the 1997 squad to a College World Series appearance and coached two first round draft picks in Jim Parque and Josh Karp.
“What excites me the most is that Tim was a successful major league player who was also committed to earning his degree. He possesses a strong commitment to the academic development of our student-athletes and, in my opinion, is the right person to build and develop a culture of success both on the field and in the classroom for the Matador Baseball program,” said Curtis.
Leary, who holds a degree in Economics from UCLA, was a three-year letterwinner, finishing with an overall record of 21-15 and a 3.09 ERA, 16 complete games, and 258 strikeouts. In 1979 he was selected to The Sporting News All-America squad and earned Academic All-American honors in addition to his success on the diamond as his team finished as Pac-10 champions that same season.
In 1991, Leary was elected to the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame joining Jackie Robinson and former American League President Dr. Bobby Brown as the only inductees from the baseball program.
Prior to his time at UCLA, Leary crafted a 10-2 record in his senior season at Santa Monica High School to earn All-CIF first team honors before graduating in 1976. Two years later he helped lead Team USA to the silver medal in the World Cup as the squad’s top pitcher, a designation that was also bestowed upon him when the national team competed in the 1979 Pan American Games.
Leary has two daughters, Anne-Sophie and Caroline, and a son, Thomas.
