Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Kevin Cooney Earns Contract Extension
8/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 3, 2004
Kevin Cooney, Florida Atlantic University's head baseball coach, has been awarded a four-year contract extension, announced Athletics Director Craig Angelos.
Cooney enters his 18th season at the helm of a nationally recognized Florida Atlantic program and has been a collegiate head coach for 22 years. He has amassed a 613-379-4 record for a .617 winning percentage and will coach his 1,000th FAU game in 2005. His overall mark stands at 753-429-9 a winning percentage of .636. He is the only active coach to direct a team at a Division I, II, and III Regional Championship. "Kevin is such a tremendous asset to the athletic department and to the baseball program. He's primarily responsible for the dramatic success that the baseball team has experienced," Angelos said. "Baseball is clearly one of the crown jewels in our athletic department and we want to reward him for his efforts and keep him in the athletic family for many years to come. As we work towards enhancing the baseball stadium and attracting the top talent in Florida, I believe under his leadership we can make frequent trips to the College World Series." Over the past six seasons, Cooney has guided five teams to 40 or more wins and an NCAA Regional appearance. The most notable season came in 2002 when a program, in only its ninth season at the Division I level, won its first NCAA Regional over the nation's no. 3 seed. The team closed out the season ranked no. 15 and carried the momentum into 2003. Since 2003, the Blue Wave have picked up Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and Tournament championships. The 2003 regular season title marked the second time the program had garnered such honors. The 2004 Tournament Championship marked a first for the program. It gave the team its first automatic bid to an NCAA Regional, while it was the fifth appearance in the last six years for FAU. Behind the team success has come individual success. The coaching staff has excelled at grooming talent and sixty players have had the opportunity to play professional baseball following their collegiate careers during Cooney's tenure at FAU. Currently, two former Blue Wave players are pitching in the major leagues.
