UCF baseball head coach Terry Rooney announced changes to his staff on Monday afternoon with the addition of assistant coach Brandon Romans while assistant coach Ryan Klosterman has been promoted to the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach.
“I am excited to welcome back home Brandon Romans as assistant coach,” Rooney said. “Brandon is one of the top young offensive coaches and recruiters in the country. He did an incredible job at Jacksonville State the last three years, including a conference championship and NCAA Regional bid. He is a winner, and as an alum, understands what it means to be a Knight.”
Romans played at UCF from 2007-09 as an outfielder and catcher and then served three seasons as the volunteer assistant. He spent the past three campaigns with Jacksonville State working with the catchers and outfielders while heading up the JSU recruiting efforts.
“I am fired up to be back home and coaching the Knights again,” Romans said. “I would like to give a special thanks to coach Rooney and all the administrative staff here for bringing me back. Three years ago coach Jim Case provided me with an opportunity at Jacksonville State and enabled me to develop my approach as a recruiter and hitting coach.”
The Cocoa, Fla., native was a part of the Gamecocks’ run in the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament where the team won six-straight elimination games to claim the title and a berth to the NCAA Oxford Regional. Romans aided JSU to a 98-80 overall record and 55-34 OVC mark during his tenure.
As a player with the Knights, Romans posted a .314 average with 17 homers and 77 RBI. The 2009 UCF graduate earned a degree in communications. He worked alongside Klosterman during the 2012 season, leading UCF to the second of back-to-back NCAA regional appearances.
“As part of this transition, coach Klosterman will now assume lead hitting coach and recruiting coordinator responsibilities,” Rooney said. “During the last four years, Klosty has been instrumental in our success while developing a flourishing reputation as a relentless recruiter and developer of talent.”
Klosterman enters his fifth campaign on Rooney’s staff and takes on additional responsibilities. He had previously worked primarily with the squad’s infielders and team defense.
The Knights’ defense has posted a .970 or better fielding percentage over the past four seasons under Klosterman’s tutelage. Klosterman, who spent eight seasons playing professional baseball after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round in 2004, has guided Dylan Moore, D.J Hicks and Darnell Sweeney to successful careers at the next level.
The Clermont, Fla., native played collegiately at Clemson and Vanderbilt from 2001-04. As a junior with the Commodores, Klosterman was tabbed to the All-SEC First Team as a shortstop and voted as the team’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year while aiding the squad to the NCAA Super Regionals.
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Article provided and written by UCF Athletics.