Aug. 17, 2011
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech baseball head coach Danny Hall has announced the addition of former Yellow Jacket outfielder Wally Crancer as the volunteer assistant coach on Wednesday.
Crancer comes to the Flats after spending four seasons in the minors with the Baltimore Orioles organization, eventually retiring in May in 2010. His best season came in 2009, when he batted .302 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 61games with the Frederick Keys.
He will work primarily with the outfielders, and also help current assistant coach Bryan Prince with the hitters.
“We are excited to have Wally back with our program,” Hall said. “He brings a dimension to our staff that I feel like we need. He was a very good player here as an outfielder and if you look at our staff, I think he is going to bring a really good presence in our outfield coaching.
“He brings a lot to our table, not only with the type of person he is but also his knowledge of baseball and how competitive he was as a player. I am excited to have another former player starting his college coaching career here at Georgia Tech.”
Crancer was a two-year starter at Georgia Tech from 2006-2007, batting .345 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 82 RBI 90 career starts. After transferring from Riverside (Calif.) Community College upon conclusion of the 2005 season, the power hitting corner outfielder helped the Jackets advance to the 2006 College World Series in his first season at Tech.
He was a part of a school-record tying 10 Yellow Jackets selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, going to the Orioles in the 12th round.
“I am excited to get the opportunity to come back to Tech, “Crancer said. “It is something I have always wanted to do, and to be able to come back here makes it really special. I am ready to get out there and coach. I have been off the field for a little over a year now since I retired and I can’t wait to get started.”
Crancer takes over for former volunteer assistant coach Rick Rembielak, who was hired as the head coach at the University of Akron in June.
“The purpose of the volunteer is really two-fold,” Hall added. “We want someone we can add to staff but also for these guys to get employment beyond the volunteer position. For most, it’s that first position to get into coaching. I want to give them every opportunity to learn and grow, and hopefully get a college coaching job somewhere.”
