Aug. 10, 2004
Columbia, S.C. –
University of South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner has announced the hiring of Mark Calvi as pitching coach for the Gamecock baseball team. Calvi comes to Carolina following 11 years as an assistant at Florida International University. At FIU, Calvi’s pitching staff finished among the Top 10 in earned run average five times and the Golden Panthers made seven NCAA appearances advancing to the Super Regionals against Southern Cal in 2001. His 1995 (2.40) and 1999 (3.07) staffs led Division I in ERA. In addition, the Golden Panthers led the entire nation in strikeouts in 1998 with 675 punchouts. His 1995 staff also posted 16 shutouts on the year, tied for the sixth highest total in NCAA history.
“We are extremely pleased to have someone the caliber of Mark Calvi join our program here at Carolina,” said head coach Ray Tanner. “He is nationally recognized as a superb pitching coach and as a recruiter. He, his wife Kaylie and daughter Taylor will fit well into our Carolina baseball family.”
Calvi established himself as one of the top pitching coaches in the country at FIU producing eight All-Americans and 13 All-Conference recipients. He has had 20 pitchers either drafted or signed by Major League Baseball teams. Calvi has also produced two pitchers that have led the nation in strikeouts and earned run average respectively. Pitcher Evan Thomas led the country in strikeouts with 220 in the 1996 season, the fourth highest total in NCAA history and Joseph Burns finished the 1995 campaign with a 1.20 ERA.
“I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to become a part of the University of South Carolina baseball program,” said Calvi. I am looking forward to joining one of the best programs and coaching staffs in all of college baseball. I’m anxious to get on board and work with Coach Tanner and staff in reaching the goal of winning the national championship.”
Originally from Marco Island, Fla., Calvi earned three varsity letters in baseball at Nova Southeastern University as a catcher. After earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Calvi signed a professional baseball contract with the Seattle Mariners organization in 1992, helping his team win a Northwest League Championship that season. The following year he worked as a scout for the Mariners.
