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Joe Hesketh Pitching Coach Second Season

One of the most notable alumni to ever don the Blue and White, Joe Hesketh begins his second season as UB's pitching coach. Hesketh, who starred for the Bulls from 1978-80, is a member of both the UB Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of '86) as well as the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2002).

Hesketh, one of 30 Bulls' players drafted, is one of the most dominant pitchers in UB history, recording an overall ERA of 1.77, including an incredible 0.91 his junior season. He also had 10 complete games in his Bulls' career and picked up one of the greatest wins in school history - a 4-0 shutout of baseball power St. John's and future major league star Frank Viola. Hesketh also picked up the save in a win on the road over nationally-ranked Miami (FL). He would go on to earn the 1980 ECAC New York-New Jersey District Player of the Year honors. His six shutouts in the Blue & White remain a school record.

A native of Hamburg, who starred at Frontier Central, Hesketh was drafted in 1980 by the Montreal Expos in the second round. Breaking into the big leagues with Montreal in 1985 - after earning American Association Pitcher of the Year honors in 1984 - Hesketh made an immediate impact. He went 10-5 with 2.49 ERA into late August, battling with Cincinnati Reds' hurler Tom Browning for Rookie of the Year honors, before a home plate collision broke his leg and ended his season.