BELTON, Texas- There will be a new face in the UMHB dugout this spring, as the Cru announced Tuesday that former major leaguer Todd Haney has been added to the baseball coaching staff.
“Coach Haney brings a wealth of knowledge to this coaching staff,” UMHB head coach Mike Stawski said in a press release. “Not only has he coached at the highest level but he has also played at the highest level. That type of experience will be so valuable to our players. I am excited to watch him develop this roster that is full of talent and to see exactly what kind of impact he can make on these players, both on and off the field.”
Haney comes to Belton with a resume pages long, his most recent position being the Director of Player Development and Analytics at Texas State. He was a member of the Bobcats’ baseball program from 2018-2021, scouting upcoming opponents while assisting in game-day prep.
During the summers, he has served as the head coach of the Victoria HarbourCats, a collegiate summer league team in the West Coast Conference. Haney has also held the head job there since the 2018 season. Victoria did not have a team in 2021 due to Covid protocols, but is expected to be playing again next summer.
With Victoria’s season canceled in 2020 due to Covid as well, Haney served as a hitting coach for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Independent Constellation League. While there, he helped the team finish second in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, triples and home runs.
A large part of Haney’s great coaching ability, especially when it comes to hitting, is due to the fact that he was once a player himself, at baseball’s highest level. The Galveston native was drafted in the 38th round of the 1987 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, and made his major league debut in 1992 as a second baseman with the Montreal Expos. He saw action for the Chicago Cubs from 1994-1996 and spent time in the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets organizations before retiring from the sport in 2000.
A Texas grad, Haney starred for the Longhorns for two seasons before he was drafted, appearing the 1987 College World Series. He began his college career at Panola Junior College, earning NJCAA All-American honors as a sophomore.
His tenure at UMHB officially begins August 2.
A more comprehensive feature on Haney’s hiring will be published within the coming days.
