Sept. 21, 2006
ATLANTA – Wes Rynders, a member of Georgia Tech’s 2002 College World Series team, has been named the volunteer assistant coach for baseball, head coach Danny Hall announced Wednesday.
An outstanding defensive player for the Yellow Jackets, Rynders was a four-year letterwinner under Hall from 1999-2002. In addition to the program’s second appearance in the College World Series, Rynders helped guide the Yellow Jackets to the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament championships as well as two NCAA Atlanta Regional titles.
“We are excited to have another former player joining our staff,” said Hall. “Wes was an outstanding player for us, playing for our 2002 College World Series team. He’s been coaching the last three years with the East Cobb Baseball program, as well as at Woodward Academy, and now we’re looking forward to helping him launch his collegiate coaching career.”
Since earning his degree from Georgia Tech, Rynders has served as a Grand Slam camp instructor, a head coach for a pair of East Cobb Baseball teams, and the assistant baseball coach at Woodward Academy.
A three-year starter in center field, Rynders is one of just 19 players to have competed in 200+ games for the Yellow Jackets. Rynders was named to the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament team and was a member of the ACC Honor Roll in 2000.
Rynders posted a career batting average of .302, including hitting a solid .375 in his final season at Georgia Tech. He also posted career-bests in doubles (10), home runs (3) and stolen bases (11) while recording the second error-less year of his career in 2002.
Rynders played for the Washington Wild Things of the independent Frontier League before retiring from professional baseball in 2004.
Rynders, 27, earned his bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech in 2002.
