Former Kansas Assistant Kevin Frady Named Head Coach at Wenatchee Valley

Jan. 14, 2011

OMAK, Wash. –

Former Kansas assistant baseball coach Kevin Frady has been named the head coach at Wenatchee Valley College. Frady served as a volunteer assistant coach as well as the director of baseball operations under head coach Ritch Price from 2006 to 2010.

“I told (Coach Price) today that if he hadn’t taken a chance on me five years ago, none of this would be possible,” said Frady, who worked primarily with the team’s catchers and also served as the first base coach at KU.

“There is no way I can thank him enough for what he has done for my career. My five years at KU working with the staff – (assistant coach) John Szefc, (assistant coach) Ryan Graves and (baseball office manager) Marcia Bagby – and the players were some of the most enjoyable times of my life.”

Last season, Frady was instrumental in the development of KU’s young catching group, which included sophomore James Stanfield and freshman Alex DeLeon. The tandem threw out 27 percent of would-be base stealers.

Frady helped turn the Kansas catching unit into one of the best in the Big 12 over the last few seasons. In 2009, KU’s opponents stole just 33 bases against the Jayhawks – which were the fewest in the conference. He helped develop former catcher Buck Afenir into an all-conference backstop. Afenir also signed a pro contract with the New York Yankees organization following the 2009 season.

Frady arrived at KU from Phoenix (Ariz.) College, where he spent two seasons as the Associate Head Coach of the Bears. He also was an area supervisor for the New York Mets from 1999-2002 and worked as an assistant coach at Edmonds (Wash.) Community College and Eastern Oregon State.

He is a native of Edmonds, Wash., and played college baseball at Eastern Oregon State and Edmonds Community College.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for Coach Frady,” Price said. “He gets to go back to his home state and develop his own program. He’s ready to be a head coach; he’s definitely paid his dues. I have no doubts that he will build Wenatchee Valley into one of the finest junior college programs in the country.”