The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Dunn Adds B.J. Green and Alan Kunkel to UAB Baseball Staff
7/19/2021 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB baseball head coach Casey Dunn has announced the addition of associate head coach B.J. Green and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Alan Kunkel to his staff.
"With B.J. and Alan, I couldn't be happier with the staff I get to work with each day," Dunn said. "I can't wait until school starts and our players get the opportunity to develop under these guys."
B.J. Green – Associate Head Coach
Green comes to The Magic City from Georgia Southern, where he served as the pitching coach since 2009.
"B.J. is truly one of the top pitching coaches in the southeast," Dunn said. "He has a unique ability to combine modern technology with an old school mentality.
"I have always wanted to work with B.J. and excited to bring him back home to Birmingham. He has a knack for developing talent and has experience working with truly elite arms. I am confident he will be a difference maker in our program."
The 2021 season saw the Eagles' pitching staff post a 3.93 ERA, which ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern reached the Sun Belt Conference championship game for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Relief pitcher Nick Jones earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) First Team All-American honors following a terrific season. Jones finished the season with a team-low 1.48 ERA. He struck out 67 batters and tied a single-season program record with 17 saves.
In 2019, Georgia Southern's bullpen converted 16 save chances and went 35-24 to win the Sun Belt East Division. Junior Seth Shuman was named First Team All-Sun Belt with a 3.83 ERA and 114 strikeouts to lead the league. Shuman was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by Oakland.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Green served as the pitching coach at Alabama for seven seasons. During his 11-year career as a player and coach, Green helped the Crimson Tide to eight NCAA tournament appearances, three SEC Tournament Championships (1999, 2002 and 2003), two Super Regional appearances, the 2006 SEC regular season title, the 2002 SEC West championship and a 1999 College World Series appearance.
Before he entered the coaching ranks, Green was a four-year letterman for the Crimson Tide from 1998-2001. He complied an 18-4 (.818) career record and set the Alabama freshman record with eight wins on the mound in 1998.
In 1999, Green led the team to a third-place College World Series appearance and SEC Tournament Championship.
A native of Gardendale, Ala., Green is a 2002 graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in sports fitness management.
Alan Kunkel – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Kunkel joins the Blazers following two seasons at the University of South Florida. During his tenure with the Bulls, Kunkel worked primarily with the hitters.
"Alan is one of the most connected coaches in the game," Dunn said. "His relationships will allow him to attract high-level players to our program.
"I have known Alan for years and always respected his ability to relate to his players and teach the game of baseball. His desire to be a part of UAB excited me and I can't wait to see the impact he will have on our program."
USF made its 14th NCAA Regional appearance in 2021 after winning the American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Bulls went on to win the Gainesville Regional and appear in the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. USF became just the seventh regional No. 4 seed to ever advance to a Super Regional.
During the 2021 season, the Bulls won the American Conference Tournament Championship to advance to its 14th NCAA Regional. The Bulls went on to win the Gainesville Regional and appear in the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. USF became just the seventh regional No. 4 seed to ever advance to a Super Regional.
In the shortened 2020 season, Kunkel developed a young team that featured five freshman in the starting lineup. The Bulls offense totaled 52 RBIs with 24 extra base hits.
Prior to South Florida, Kunkel served four seasons as the head coach and Director of Baseball Operations at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He led the program to a pair of Class 4A state titles during his tenure.
Kunkel coached and developed Raynel Delgado, a sixth-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He also coached pitcher Jake Eder, who was drafted in 2017 by the New York Mets before honoring his collegiate commitment to Vanderbilt. Eder pitched and won Game 3 of the College World Series, as he helped the Commodores earn their second national title in the last six years.
Aside from coaching, Kunkel has served as an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays, evaluating talent of area high school and collegiate players since 2017. He held the same title with the San Diego Padres from November 2010 to August 2017.
Kunkel played at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Mich., from 1995-1997. He then transferred to the University of North Carolina, where he played in Chapel Hill from 1997-1998. His UNC team was a NCAA Regional finalist in 1998 and was ranked in the top 15.
Baseball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65. This exclusive offer grants admission to all UAB men's and women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball and softball games in addition to all baseball home contests. Complete the Gold Card Request Form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
"With B.J. and Alan, I couldn't be happier with the staff I get to work with each day," Dunn said. "I can't wait until school starts and our players get the opportunity to develop under these guys."
B.J. Green – Associate Head Coach
Green comes to The Magic City from Georgia Southern, where he served as the pitching coach since 2009.
"B.J. is truly one of the top pitching coaches in the southeast," Dunn said. "He has a unique ability to combine modern technology with an old school mentality.
"I have always wanted to work with B.J. and excited to bring him back home to Birmingham. He has a knack for developing talent and has experience working with truly elite arms. I am confident he will be a difference maker in our program."
The 2021 season saw the Eagles' pitching staff post a 3.93 ERA, which ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern reached the Sun Belt Conference championship game for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Relief pitcher Nick Jones earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) First Team All-American honors following a terrific season. Jones finished the season with a team-low 1.48 ERA. He struck out 67 batters and tied a single-season program record with 17 saves.
In 2019, Georgia Southern's bullpen converted 16 save chances and went 35-24 to win the Sun Belt East Division. Junior Seth Shuman was named First Team All-Sun Belt with a 3.83 ERA and 114 strikeouts to lead the league. Shuman was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by Oakland.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Green served as the pitching coach at Alabama for seven seasons. During his 11-year career as a player and coach, Green helped the Crimson Tide to eight NCAA tournament appearances, three SEC Tournament Championships (1999, 2002 and 2003), two Super Regional appearances, the 2006 SEC regular season title, the 2002 SEC West championship and a 1999 College World Series appearance.
Before he entered the coaching ranks, Green was a four-year letterman for the Crimson Tide from 1998-2001. He complied an 18-4 (.818) career record and set the Alabama freshman record with eight wins on the mound in 1998.
In 1999, Green led the team to a third-place College World Series appearance and SEC Tournament Championship.
A native of Gardendale, Ala., Green is a 2002 graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in sports fitness management.
Alan Kunkel – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Kunkel joins the Blazers following two seasons at the University of South Florida. During his tenure with the Bulls, Kunkel worked primarily with the hitters.
"Alan is one of the most connected coaches in the game," Dunn said. "His relationships will allow him to attract high-level players to our program.
"I have known Alan for years and always respected his ability to relate to his players and teach the game of baseball. His desire to be a part of UAB excited me and I can't wait to see the impact he will have on our program."
USF made its 14th NCAA Regional appearance in 2021 after winning the American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Bulls went on to win the Gainesville Regional and appear in the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. USF became just the seventh regional No. 4 seed to ever advance to a Super Regional.
During the 2021 season, the Bulls won the American Conference Tournament Championship to advance to its 14th NCAA Regional. The Bulls went on to win the Gainesville Regional and appear in the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional. USF became just the seventh regional No. 4 seed to ever advance to a Super Regional.
In the shortened 2020 season, Kunkel developed a young team that featured five freshman in the starting lineup. The Bulls offense totaled 52 RBIs with 24 extra base hits.
Prior to South Florida, Kunkel served four seasons as the head coach and Director of Baseball Operations at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He led the program to a pair of Class 4A state titles during his tenure.
Kunkel coached and developed Raynel Delgado, a sixth-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He also coached pitcher Jake Eder, who was drafted in 2017 by the New York Mets before honoring his collegiate commitment to Vanderbilt. Eder pitched and won Game 3 of the College World Series, as he helped the Commodores earn their second national title in the last six years.
Aside from coaching, Kunkel has served as an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays, evaluating talent of area high school and collegiate players since 2017. He held the same title with the San Diego Padres from November 2010 to August 2017.
Kunkel played at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Mich., from 1995-1997. He then transferred to the University of North Carolina, where he played in Chapel Hill from 1997-1998. His UNC team was a NCAA Regional finalist in 1998 and was ranked in the top 15.
Baseball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65. This exclusive offer grants admission to all UAB men's and women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball and softball games in addition to all baseball home contests. Complete the Gold Card Request Form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
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