Baseball

Paul Morgan
	Baseball - Head Coach Williams '07 First Season pmorgan@smcvt.edu 802.654.2977

Paul Morgan, an Essex Junction native and former standout shortstop at Williams College, has been named Head Coach of the Saint Michael's College varsity baseball program, it was announced on August 11, 2008. Morgan is the 19th head coach in the program's 96-year history, and only the third since the program was reinstituted as a varsity sport in 1990.

"We are excited to have Paul join the Saint Michael's community as head baseball coach," said Director of Athletics Geri Knortz. "His experiences as a student-athlete and coach, plus his local connections, make him a very good fit for this opportunity."

Morgan, who completed his tenure as an assistant coach with the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in August, spent the 2007-08 academic year as a mathematics teacher at The Salisbury (Conn.) School. While at Salisbury, Morgan served as the prep school's assistant baseball coach, helping the Crimson Knights compile a perfect 20-0 season in the spring of 2008. He also helped mentor Salisbury great Anthony Hewitt, a first-round draft choice by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Morgan had a stellar four-year career as the starting shortstop at Williams College. As a senior captain, Morgan led the Ephs to the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) West and NESCAC Tournament titles, and to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six seasons. He was twice named All-NESCAC and All-New England by the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association, and was selected to the NCAA Division III New England Regional All-Tournament Team as a senior. Over his career, Morgan batted .361 with 208 hits, 129 runs batted in, and 119 runs scored.

For three summers as an undergraduate, Morgan played in the NECBL with the North Adams SteepleCats, and one summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League. He also served as an assistant coach for the Essex American Legion baseball team last summer.

Ed Poland
	Baseball - Assistant Coach First Season epoland@smcvt.edu 802.654.2330

Ed Poland joins Coach Morgan for his first year as an assistant coach with the Saint Michael's College baseball program in 2008-09.

Poland has been involved with coaching for more than 20 years in several capacities. Most recently, he has spent the last five years as the head coach of the Essex (Vt.) High School junior varsity baseball team, including an undefeated season in 2008. He also spent 12 years as the head coach of the Essex Junction Little League program, and has also served as a head and assistant football coach at various levels. His overall record as a head coach stands at 209-54 (a .795 winning percentage).

As an athlete, Poland was a four-year standout third baseman at Essex High School, and played eight years of semi-professional baseball for the Burlington Expos.

Poland, who has spent the last seven years working in the College's physical plant department, has been a member of the Vermont Baseball Coaches' Association for the last 23 years. He also has been a member of the World Baseball Coaches' Association, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Essex Junction Little League. He currently is enrolled in the Johnson State College External Degree Program, completing his degree in education, and resides in Essex Junction.

Josh Jacobs
	Baseball - Assistant Coach Western New England '07 First season

Josh Jacobs, a high school teammate of head coach Paul Morgan and four-year collegiate standout, joins Morgan for his first year as an assistant baseball coach with Saint Michael's in 2009.

Jacobs enjoyed much success as a third baseman at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., where he graduated in 2007. While at WNEC, Jacobs and the Golden Bears won three Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships and made three NCAA Division III Tournaments. The squad also had a winning season in each of his four years, including three straight 30-win seasons, and a program-record 35 wins as a junior in 2006. WNEC went 127-46 during Jacobs' four-year career.

A native of Essex Junction, Vt., Jacobs was a high school teammate of Morgan's at Essex High School, where he graduated in 2003.