ASU ready to name baseball coach – Tommy Raffo
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’s athletic department has called a news conference for 1:15 this afternoon to announce a new head baseball coach.
Former Mississippi State assistant coach Tommy Raffo interviewed for the position late last week. Raffo was also seen Sunday night at Tomlinson Stadium, site of the Xtra Innings Classic that ended Monday night.
Efforts to reach Raffo, who was one of 60-plus applicants for the position, were unsuccessful Monday night.
Raffo spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State, where he was an All-American in 1990. He was hitting and outfield coach for the Bulldogs. Raffo was also the Bulldogs’ recruiting coordinator, helping Mississippi State sign 10 consecutive Top 33 classes as ranked by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
Ron Polk, who retired as Mississippi State’s head coach at the end of the 2008 season, pushed for Raffo as his successor. Polk was critical of the decision when Mississippi State chose to hire Kentucky’s John Cohen.
Raffo was also linked to the Auburn coaching search, but the Tigers eventually hired John Pawlowski from the College of Charleston.
jonesborosun.com
7/1/08
