Southern Wayne graduate hired as Campbell coach

Published in Sports on August 1, 2006 2:08 PM

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BUIES CREEK -- Campbell head baseball coach Chip Smith has hired Southern Wayne graduate Chris Wiley as an assistant coach with the Campbell University baseball program. Wiley, a 2003 Campbell graduate, will serve as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

"We're excited to have Chris back home. As a player, he was like having a coach on the field," Smith said. "He played for a great high school coach, Doyle Whitfield, who had one of the top programs in the state. Chris is an up-and-coming young coach, who is a good teacher of the game."

Wiley spent the 2006 season at Division II Limestone College where he served as pitching coach. A native of Dudley, Wiley coached Saints all-region pitcher Kevin Pucetas, who was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Prior to his year at Limestone, Wiley served two seasons (2004-2005) as assistant coach at Louisburg Junior College. During his stint at Louisburg, Wiley helped lead the Hurricanes to an 89-31 record and two NJCAA Region X championships.

In addition to his work at Limestone and Louisburg, Wiley has been active as a coach in the Coastal Plain League. He has served as head coach of the Gastonia Grizzlies for the last two seasons, guiding the club to a second-half West Division title and berth in the 2005 Pettit Cup playoffs.

Wiley has also spent time as an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals.

He played at Campbell from 1999-2003 and was a key contributor in Campbell's 2001 season where the Camels set a school record with 33 victories. During that 2001 season, Wiley smacked a walk-off grand slam home run vs. Duke at Taylor Field and ied his career high with six RBI in that contest.

During his career, Wiley saw action in 166 games at catcher, first base and designated hitter, batted .289 and compiled 61 RBI.

Wiley played in the Coastal Plain League with the Florence RedWolves and the Fayetteville SwampDogs. He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Campbell in May 2003.

Brad Schrock, who spent the 2006 season as a volunteer assistant with the Fighting Camels, will take over pitching coach duties. Wiley replaces Kent Cox, who accepted a similar position at Gardner-Webb. Schrock assumes pitching coach responsibilities after the resignation of Sean Fleming.