FORT MYERS, Fla. – Former FGCU baseball player and assistant coach Pete Woodworth was named the Seattle Mariners' next pitching coach Tuesday afternoon when the club announced its 2020 coaching staff. Woodworth was a long-time staple in the Eagle baseball program, as he both played under and coached with head coach Dave Tollett, who he cites as one of the inspirations for his career in coaching.

"The way I got to FGCU was a little strange," Woodworth said. "I went to USF out of high school and was cut in the fall of my freshman year. I ended up getting in contact with coach Tollett and told him I really wanted an opportunity to play and he took a chance on me. I came down as a catcher but ended up transitioning onto the mound, which took a lot of help from the coaching staff. They spent a lot of time working to help me make that transition and I have a lot of respect for what they did because it made me fall in love with pitching."

From that first season forward, Woodworth said that he was confident that he wanted to become a pitching coach.

"The time that coach Tollett spent on our program, the energy that he put into developing us not as players but as people made a big impact on me," Woodworth said. "He (Tollett) always cared for both the players he had and those that had already come through. Whether people signed a professional contract or graduated and moved on from baseball, he was so focused on their overall development as human beings. I always said 'That's what I want to do when my playing career is over.'"

Woodworth, who played for FGCU from 2007-10 and worked on Tollett's staff for three seasons, was promoted after spending the 2019 season as the pitching coach for the Arkansas Travelers, the Mariners affiliate in the AA Texas League. During his stint in Texas, the Travelers finished the season with 1,324 strikeouts, the second-highest in the history of the Texas League. Woodworth was named Texas League Coach of the Year for his coaching efforts.

"The most exciting part of this job will be getting to work with guys I've overlapped with again," Woodworth said. "Obviously, the Big Leagues are the dream for every player and every coach. The fact that I will be continuing to coach and develop a lot of the guys that I've had the opportunity to coach and develop just adds to the excitement. It's always difficult when you transition to a new team, so having some of those connections pre-established will help me to keep the players accountable to the path they need to go on to be successful."

For Woodworth, it's all about connections. He referenced the importance of the relationship he had with the Eagle baseball skipper during his career and is working hard to create that type of relationship and mutual respect with his players.

"I, myself, had the chance to tell a few of these players that they were being promoted from their respective levels and it was one of the coolest things ever," Woodworth said. "When that happens, you're just so ecstatic for the journey they're about to go on. You've seen the work they've put in, the adversity and the struggles they have faced, and you've seen them succeed. At that point, whether it's getting drafted, signing a contract, or getting promoted… They're on their way. They're making it. It's just one of the greatest feelings. To see the joy in their eyes is awesome."

Tollett also had nothing but high regards for Woodworth, who he spent significant time with both as a player and a member of the 17-year head coach's staff.

"As a head coach, I loved coaching Woody," Tollett said. "As a player, he was awesome but it was honestly even greater to have him as part of my staff. Every day, he brought a passion and a love for not just the game, but for his alma mater, FGCU. We are extremely happy for him and excited to have another Big Leauger. He is the first from our program to become a major league coach, but it's not a surprise to me. He has always been a student of the game and has always tried to be a perfectionist in everything he does. I am excited for him to take this next step in his career."

The all-time career wins leader at FGCU (25-9 record), Woodworth signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as a free agent in 2010. After spending a season with the Gulf Coast League Rays, he returned to FGCU in a volunteer assistant coaching role. Since then, he has served as an area scout for the Rays, made a stop at Nova Southeastern and returned to his alma mater as the pitching coach (2015-16). Woodworth then settled into the Mariners organization, where he has happily been for the past four years.

Woodworth dominated the mound during his time as a student-athlete with the Green and Blue. His 272.2 career innings-pitched are the fifth-most in program history and his 261 career Ks check in at second, behind only former teammate and Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale (FGCU 2008-10).

"Coach Tollett was like a dad to me when I was at FGCU," Woodworth said. "As a player, he gave me a second life. After being cut from USF – which was the worst feeling – they (the coaching staff) gave me a huge second chance. What they did for me on the field and the opportunities they gave me turned me into the player I was. And we were good, too. We had fun, and we were winning. It helps when you have Chris Sale as your Friday night guy, but we got it done."

Woodworth, the other new additions to the Mariners' staff and the returners will hone their efforts on getting the club ready for the 2020 season. MLB opening day is set for March 26, which is the earliest starting date when international games are not factored in. He will join former Eagles and World Series champs Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox) and Jake Noll (Washington Nationals), as well as Richard Bleier (Baltimore Orioles) and Jacob Barnes (Kansas City Royals).

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 599-358-3 overall record (.625) and a 199-109 (.646) record in the ASUN. He is the only head coach in the program's history and led the program to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. He is a five-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to five ASUN Regular Season Championships and one ASUN Tournament Championship. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions, including as high as No. 9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 54 all-conference selections, 32 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 13 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, three ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one seven-time MLB All-Star.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 79 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including both men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past 20 semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl in 2017.
 
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