Stetson Baseball Names Therneau Assistant Coach

Pete Dunn, Stetson University
Dave Therneau, Stetson University
Dave Therneau

Former Cincinnati Reds organization pitcher and Embry-Riddle University assistant coach Dave Therneau has been named the pitching coach at Stetson University, Hatters head coach Pete Dunn announced on Monday.

Therneau recently enjoyed a highly successful eight-year stint as the pitching coach at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach.  The Eagles went a combined 360-135 (.727) during that stretch and made seven trips to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

“It is with great excitement that we announce the addition of Dave Therneau as pitching coach and assistant recruiting coordinator,” Dunn said.  “Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his seven-year professional career as well as his ultra-successful eight-year tenure at NAIA national powerhouse Embry-Riddle.  Year in and year out, his pitching staffs have established a track record of success on the national level.  Dave Therneau is a winner!  He is recognized as a tremendous developer of talent and will work extremely well with recruiting coordinator, Mark Leavitt, in the recruitment of quality student-athletes.”

“It was an honor to even be considered for the position,” Therneau said.  “During my eight years at Embry-Riddle, I was able to establish a good relationship with coach Dunn and coach Leavitt, and I am very excited to be joining the staff. I know Stetson Baseball is a great program with a great history, great facilities and great people.”

During his eight seasons at Embry-Riddle, Therneau’s pitchers combined to earn 17 All-American honors, while eight were selected in the Major League Baseball draft.  This past June, Tyler Cyr was picked in the 10th round by the San Francisco Giants, and Zac Grotz was a 28th-round selection by the Houston Astros.

Therneau also tutored Eagle pitchers who claimed a combined 27 All-Conference honors, including three consecutive Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades from 2009-11. In addition, an Eagle was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week 36 times during Therneau’s tenure.

In 2010, Embry-Riddle’s pitching staff led the nation in ERA at 2.63, and the Eagles ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation in ERA in seven of Therneau’s eight seasons.

Therneau was drafted in the ninth round by Cincinnati in 1998 and was one of the fastest moving pitchers in the Reds organization.  In 1999, he went from Class-A Rockford to Class-AAA Indianapolis in a matter of months, finishing the with a stellar 14-5 record.

In 2000, an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery brought Therneau’s career to an abrupt halt. He was able to compete after extensive rehab, helping pitch the Schaumberg Flyers to the Northern League playoffs in 2003 and the New Jersey Jackals to a Northeast League title in 2004.

Therneau was an All-American pitcher at Bellevue (Neb.) University, helping lead the Bruins to a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in 1998.  Prior to Bellevue, Therneau was undefeated on the mound for Big 12 Champion Texas Tech in 1997.  He also pitched in the Jayhawk Summer League, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

Therneau was a two-time all-conference performer at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas and an All-State selection at Denton High School.  He graduated from Bellevue University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.

by Jamie Bataille