WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC Wilmington head baseball coach Mark Scalf was named ABCA East Region Coach-of-the-Year on Wednesday, following a vote of the region’s head coaches.

Scalf, who concluded his 17th season at the Seahawks’ skipper in 2008, won the award for the third time in his career, also winning in 2003 and 2006.

The Seahawks had a record year in 2008, winning a school-record 44 games and also setting a Colonial Athletic Association single-season record with 25 wins as UNCW captured its fifth regular-season title.

UNCW achieved its first top 25 ranking in the history of the program and reached as high as 16th in the Collegiate Baseball poll. The Seahawks also moved into the national spotlight when they reeled off 21 consecutive wins midway through the season.

A school-record six Seahawks were named First-Team All-CAA and Scalf was tabbed as Co-Coach-of-the-Year. It was his fourth CAA honor as UNCW earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. UNCW totaled 51 awards during the season, including All-America honors for CAA Player-of-the-Year catcher Mark Carver and junior righthander Brad Holt. Freshmen All-America honors were bestowed upon Cody Stanley, Stephen Harrold and CAA Rookie-of-the-Year Cameron Roth.

UNCW had four players drafted in the Major League Baseball draft, including Holt, who was picked by the New York Mets with the 33rd selection overall.

Scalf guided the Seahawks to their fourth NCAA appearance where they reached the finals of the Cary Regional for the third time. UNCW also reached regional finals in 2003 and 2004.

In 17 seasons, the Cary, N.C., native has compiled a career record of 556-436-1 overall and 214-151-1 in the CAA. The Seahawks have reached the 40-win plateau in five of the last six seasons. In 2008, UNCW finished the season ranked 21st in the NCAA Final RPI Rankings.  -Courtesy UNCW Sports Information