2016 Bucknell Baseball Guide

Page 11

Coaching Staff

#43 JASON NEITZ

ASSISTANT Coach | SIXTH Season | East Carolina '06 Former professional baseball player Jason Neitz joined the Bucknell staff in the winter of 2011, and in the summer of 2012 he was promoted to top assistant coach under new head coach Scott Heather. A native of nearby Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, Neitz was drafted in the 37th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants. Since taking over as Bucknell's pitching coach, Neitz has helped the Bison continue as one of the best pitching teams in the Patriot League by focusing on keeping the ball low and throwing strikes. In 2015, Neitz oversaw a staff that posted an impressive 3.37 ERA, the lowest for a Bucknell squad in nearly 40 years. That figure barely eclipsed the 2014 staff, which registered a 3.44 ERA. The Bison's team ERA has been lowered every year since 2009, with Neitz serving as pitching coach for the most recent three campaigns. A 2002 graduate of Mifflinburg Area High School, Neitz played baseball for four years at East Carolina before graduating in the fall of 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. A left-handed pitcher, Neitz was 3-2 with an ERA of 4.71 in 80.1 career innings over 43 appearances with the Pirates. He recorded 55 strikeouts. Neitz, who serves as Bucknell’s pitching coach, played professionally for four seasons, three in the Giants organization, and most recently one with the Washington Wild Things. Neitz got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant at Mifflinburg Area High School in the spring of 2010.

#39 Matt Busch

ASSISTANT Coach | Third Season | Bucknell '13 A 2013 Bucknell graduate and four-year baseball letterwinner, Matt Busch is part of his alma mater’s baseball staff as a volunteer assistant coach while pursuing a master’s degree in college student personnel. He is in his third year with the Bison in 2016. A Roseville, Minnesota, native, Busch appeared in 83 games, recorded 42 hits and scored 28 runs during his Bucknell career. He was a valuable twoyear starter in the outfield who also served as a pinch runner. Busch, a three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll honoree, was a member of the Academic All-Patriot League Team as a senior and was part of Bucknell’s 2010 Patriot League Tournament championship and NCAA team. Busch has coaching experience as a volunteer instructor at various Bucknell baseball camps the All-Star Baseball Academy in Pennsylvania, Minnesota Twins Youth Baseball Camps, Lovdahl Pitching Academy in Minnesota and with the Roseville, Minnesota, VFW. Busch graduated from Bucknell in May 2013 with a degree in education and psychology and a minor in classics.

#37 Bobby Felmy

ASSISTANT Coach | First Season | Georgia '06 Bobby Felmy is in his first season as an assistant coach at Bucknell in 2016. He spent the previous five years at the high school level as head coach of the nearby Shikellamy Braves in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Felmy is an accomplished baseball player. He was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants and went on to play four seasons in their minor league system. He played in the Northwest League (A) for the Salem Keizer Giants, the Southeast League (A) for the Augusta GreenJackets, the California League (A+) for the San Jose Giants, and the Eastern League (AA) for the Connecticut Defenders. As an outfielder, he hit .281 in his minor league career, with 223 RBI and a .410 slugging percentage. He ended his career with a total of 36 home runs and 82 doubles in 429 games. Felmy played collegiately at Georgia Perimeter College and the University of Georgia. While at Georgia Perimeter from 2002-2003, Felmy was named a Second Team NJCAA All-American along with First Team All-District and All-Region honors. Felmy then transferred to Georgia, where he was an outfielder for the Bulldogs from 2003-2006. During his time at UGA, he played in the 2004 and 2006 College World Series and was a part of the 2004 SEC Championship team. A native of Sunbury and a graduate of Shikellamy, Felmy resides in his hometown with his wife, Bria, son, Bobby, and daughter, Baylor.

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2016 Bucknell Baseball

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