Former Eagle Returns To Winthrop Baseball Program As Volunteer Assistant Coach
ROCK HILL, SC–Former Winthrop baseball player Josh Odean is returning to his alma mater to serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles, it was announced today by head coach Tom Riginos.
Odean most recently served as an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey (June 2012-August 2014). Prior to that position, he coached at Pfeiffer University in 2001-12 following a stint as a Minor League strength and conditioning coach for the Detroit Tigers farm system in Lakeland, FL. While working with the Tigers, he oversaw all aspects of the Lakeland Tigers’ conditioning, lifting and nutrition programs. Along with fulfilling obligations to the Lakeland Tigers, he had the opportunity to work with big-league players on the disabled list by assisting in the rehabilitation programs designed by team physicians. Prior to joining the Tigers’ organization, he earned his Master’s in Sport Administration Degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN in 2003. He completed an internship at Vanderbilt and Belmont in the strength and conditioning departments while pursuing his degree.
His playing career started at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas before finishing up at Winthrop in 1996. Odean stayed at Winthrop for an extra semester to finish up a Bachelor’s Degree, and assisted former Winthrop head coach Joe Hudak with the maintenance of Winthrop’s baseball field and acquired internship hours by umpiring, coaching, and maintaining youth baseball fields for the City of Rock Hill.” I would like to welcome Josh and his family back home to Winthrop,” said Riginos. “I am extremely pleased with the addition of Josh to our staff. I have gotten to know him over the last couple of years while working our camps and I knew at some point he would join our staff. He is a tireless worker that brings great energy and a great baseball mind to our program. Josh will be in charge of the infielders and assist with the hitters and our strength and conditioning program.”
Josh’s wife, the former Heather Anderson, is also a 1996 Winthrop graduate and served as a Winthrop cheerleader from 1993 to 1996.