Following the departure of former assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Jackson in July, the UNC baseball team announced a pair of new hires for its staff on Thursday.

Robert Woodard and Jesse Wierzbicki–who each helped lead the Tar Heels to the College World Series during their careers–will rejoin their former head coach, Mike Fox, in the dugout this season.

A key cog in both the 2006 and 2007 runs to Omaha, Woodard is also the winningest pitcher in school history at 34-5. He also never lost a home start during his time in Chapel Hill.

Jesse Wierzbicki--a part of the Tar Heels' 2011 College World Series team--was an undergraduate assistant at UNC in 2015. (UNC Athletics)

Jesse Wierzbicki–a part of the Tar Heels’ 2011 College World Series team–was an undergraduate assistant at UNC in 2015. (UNC Athletics)

After a short professional career in the San Diego Padres organization, Woodard spent 2011 and 2012 as an assistant at UNC–before later becoming the pitching coach for UNCW and Virginia Tech.

“To say today is a special day for my family and me would be an understatement,” Woodard said in a statement issued by the university. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about the University of North Carolina, its programs, its tradition and the amazing people I have met who make this university so great.

“It is hard to put into words what it means for me to rejoin this coaching staff with Coach Fox and Coach Forbes, two of my closest friends and mentors for almost twenty years.”

His former coach was just as excited to have him back.

“No player in my tenure at North Carolina has had more of an impact on the program than Robert Woodard,” Fox said. “His career numbers speak for themselves.”

Wierzbicki spent two years at UNC after transferring from Walters State.  He was part of the Tar Heels 2011 College World Series team before later spending three years with the Houston Astros organization.

A return to UNC in 2015 saw Wierzbicki earn his bachelor’s degree while serving as an undergraduate assistant with the baseball team. After spending 2016 as an assistant at Elon, he’ll be coming back home for 2017.

“It’s a honor and blessing to be back in Chapel Hill working with the Carolina baseball program,” Wierzbicki said. “To receive an opportunity to coach at my alma mater is a very proud moment. I’m very appreciative of Coach Fox and the rest of the coaching staff for bringing me on board.

“I’m looking forward to the beginning of the school year and meeting the team.”​