FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Contact: Ethan Ronan, Strategic Communications Assistant

Phone: (814) 935-1340

Email: ronan@southalabama.edu

MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama baseball head coach Mark Calvi announced last Monday the promotion of pitching coach Matt Hancock to associate head coach.

Last season, Hancock oversaw a pitching staff that was one of the top five producers in the Sun Belt Conference. During the 2026 season, the Jaguars finished third in ERA (4.93), third in total walks (216), fifth in fewest home runs (52) and fourth in fewest hits (502).

Before coming to Mobile, Hancock was the San Diego Padres' rehabilitation pitching coordinator after a season with their ACL Padres staff. Before joining the Padres, he was Troy's pitching coach from 2019-21. He coached Levi Thomas to All-America honors in 2020 (42 strikeouts in 23 innings), leading to Thomas' fourth-round selection in the 2020 MLB draft by the Padres. In 2019, Hancock helped Thomas achieve an 8-2 record with 87 strikeouts in 80 2/3 innings. He also developed Lance Johnson into a key relief pitcher, earning Johnson a spot on the 2020 Stopper of the Year watch list with a 2.80 ERA in 2019.

QUOTABLE

Head Coach Mark Calvi On Promoting Coach Hancock: 

"Matt is an exceptional coach and colleague who has earned the respect of his peers and players," Calvi said. "He has a tremendous work ethic, and his pitchers love him — he has a daily plan for each one of them, and it shows in their development, both on and off the field. Consistency, continuity and communication are the keys to success, and those are traits Matt exhibits every day. I'm thrilled to have him on my staff now, and hopefully for a very long time to come."

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