After reports earlier Tuesday morning said that UNC pitching coach Robert Woodard was set to take an offer from the Texas Rangers to be one of the team’s Minor League pitching coordinator, D1Baseball.com’s Aaron Fitt came out later in the day with news that an increased offer from the Tar Heels was enough to keep Woodard’s services in Chapel Hill.
UPDATE: In the last 24 hours, North Carolina stepped up with a strong push to keep pitching coach Robert Woodard. He has changed his mind and will remain at UNC, his alma mater. He had yet to sign a contract with Rangers, who now need to look elsewhere for a pitching coordinator. https://t.co/ij3NFCw0ac
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) December 12, 2018
Woodard has been a key piece to UNC’s resurgence in baseball over the last two seasons since he returned to his alma mater in a role he previously held at Virginia Tech.
The Tar Heels made their first College World Series since 2013 this past season, while also earning national recognition as one of the college programs on the forefront of the analytics movement in the sport.
Woodard was also one of the top pitchers when he played at UNC from 2004-07, helping the team to back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2006 and 2007.
Photo via UNC Athletics