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Collegiate Baseball newspaper's 2008 National College Pitching of the Year, Scott Forbes is in his fourth season mentoring North Carolina's pitching staff and his first as the Tar Heels' associate head coach. Forbes, who is in his second stint in Chapel Hill, was an assistant at UNC from 1999-2002 and served as an assistant at Winthrop University for three seasons before returning to Carolina prior to the 2006 season. Forbes, who has totaled a record of 484-203 in 11 seasons as an assistant coach, has been an instrumental part of the Tar Heels' run to the final three of the College World Series in each of the last three seasons. Under his guidance, the Carolina pitching staff has ranked among nation's top 12 in earned run average in each of the last three seasons and statistically ranked as the top unit in the country in 2008. Last year, his staff led the country in ERA, strikeouts per nine inning and fewest hits allowed per nine innings. Carolina's 2.92 ERA was the program's lowest since 1983, and its 681 strikeouts smashed the school record by 138. Last season, UNC had 12 pitchers post an ERA of 3.03 or better. Additionally, the Tar Heels have recorded the top three strikeout totals in program history under Forbes' watch over the last three seasons. On the recruiting front, Forbes played in an integral role in landing the nation's No. 6 freshman class in 2007 and the No. 4 freshman class in 2008. "Since returning to Carolina as our pitching coach we have had great success as a team and as a pitching staff, and this is no coincidence," says Carolina head coach Mike Fox, who coached Forbes at North Carolina Wesleyan. "Scott is a motivator and has a great rapport with our pitchers and all our players. He is also a relentless recruiter. We are very fortunate to have him at Carolina." Eight of Forbes' pitchers have either been drafted or signed professional contracts over the last three seasons, including 2006 first-round picks Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard and 2007 third-rounder Luke Putkonen. Forbes and the rest of the UNC staff have gained a reputation of putting the health and future of their pitchers first and foremost, and Miller said it best during the 2006 College World Series: "I appreciate the coaches basically taking care of me. I've seen a lot of pitchers get abused in the postseason. They have my best interests at heart." Miller blossomed under Forbes and was named Baseball America's National Player of the Year, the Roger Clemens Award winner, first-team All-America and the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, while setting UNC records for single-season and career strikeouts in 2006. The No. 6 overall pick by the Detroit Tigers, Miller made his major league debut Aug. 30, 2006, and is currently with the Florida Marlins. Bard was named the Boston Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year after an outstanding 2008 campaign, and reliever Andrew Carignan is a fast-rising prospect in the Oakland Athletics organization. In 2008, senior relievers Rob Wooten and Tyler Trice were both selected in the top 21 rounds of the draft. After working with Forbes and dropping his arm slot prior to the 2007 season, Wooten emerged as one of the nation's top relievers with 91 appearances over the last two seasons. Right-hander Alex White anchored the Tar Heels' staff a year ago and became the third UNC pitcher to earn All-America honors under Forbes, joining Miller and Carignan. White was also named ACC Pitcher of the Year and - along with Wooten - claimed All-ACC honors. Additionally, freshmen right-handers Matt Harvey and Colin Bates earned freshman All-America honors in 2008. In 2007, right-hander Robert Woodard completed his decorated career as the Tar Heels' career leader in wins and is the only pitcher to rank in the UNC's top 10 in wins, winning percentage, innings and strikeouts. In Miller, Woodard and Adam Warren, Forbes has coached the Tar Heels' career leaders in strikeouts, wins and winning percentage, respectively. Additionally, Forbes has mentored a pair of relievers to NCAA-best performances over the last three years, as Jonathan Hovis led the nation with a 1.17 ERA in 2006, and Carignan shared the NCAA lead with 18 saves in 2007. In his final season at Winthrop, Forbes helped guide the Eagles to one of the finest seasons in program history in 2005, as they won the Big South title, earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Knoxville Regional and posted a 44-22 record. He helped coach five All-Americas and five Major League Baseball draft picks while at Winthrop, including 2005 second-rounders Daniel Carte and current major leaguer Kevin Slowey. Forbes, who was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2005 season, served as the Eagles' recruiting coordinator and third base coach. While at Winthrop, Forbes worked with one of the most respected pitching minds in college baseball in head coach Joe Hudak. He also worked as the position coach for catchers, outfielders and first basemen and coordinated the Eagles' strength and conditioning program, academic advising, community service and team travel. Forbes joined the Winthrop staff in July 2002. Prior to his stint with the Eagles, Forbes was on Fox's staff at Carolina for four seasons, helping the Tar Heels to NCAA Regional appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2002. While in Chapel Hill, he assisted long-time pitching coach Roger Williams with instruction for the Tar Heels' hurlers and served as position coach for Carolina's catchers and corner infielders. Forbes also assisted with recruiting and served as director of Carolina's summer camps. While at UNC, Forbes spent two summers as head coach and pitching coach of the Coastal Plain League's Wilmington Sharks. In 1999, he guided his team to the CPL title and earned the league's Coach of the Year award. The Sharks returned to the CPL playoffs in 2000, and Forbes tallied a 59-34 overall record in two summers with the team. After a standout playing career for Fox at North Carolina Wesleyan, Forbes broke into coaching as an assistant with the Battling Bishops during the 1998 season. He served as the team's pitching instructor and called pitches, helping Wesleyan to a 42-9 record and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division III College World Series. Forbes also worked as the team's strength coordinator and first base coach. As a player, Forbes hit .321 at Wesleyan from 1995-97 and led the team to a pair of Dixie Conference titles and a fifth-place finish at the 1997 Division III CWS. As a senior, he hit .387 with 61 RBI and 27 doubles, which set the NCAA Division III single-season record. That season, he earned second-team all-region honors and was named most valuable player of the Dixie Conference Tournament, as well as Wesleyan's MVP. Forbes also earned a spot on the regional all-tournament squad. He spent the 1994 season at Middle Georgia College, where he helped the team to the Georgia junior college state title. Forbes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from North Carolina Wesleyan in May 1998. He is married to the former Mandy Passwaters, and the couple has two daughters, Hannah and Ally. |
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