A year after Marshall McDougall’s playing career ended, he’s ready to begin his second act in baseball.
The former Florida State All-American was named the new baseball coach at Wiregrass Ranch, athletic director Dave Wilson announced Tuesday in a text message.
“Who knows when something like this will come again?” McDougall said.
McDougall has strong baseball pedigree. The 34-year-old Jacksonville native starred for the Seminoles and was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 College World Series. The former ACC player of the year set three single-game records against Maryland in 1999, with six home runs, 16 RBIs and 25 total bases in a 7-for-7 performance.
McDougall played professionally in the minor leagues, Mexico and Taiwan and played 18 games with the Texas Rangers in 2005. Knee injuries plagued his career, and the Wesley Chapel resident retired last year.
Although he has never coached high school ball before, he’s previously coached youth teams and academies.
“When I heard it was open, I figured that was the best opportunity for me to get in (to coaching),” McDougall said.
He inherits a loaded Wiregrass team that’s expected to be one of the best in the North Suncoast. The Bulls finished 19-10 last spring and qualified for their first playoff appearance in program history. They toppled Countryside and nationally ranked Steinbrenner in the postseason before falling in the Class 7A region final.
Much of that lineup is expected to return, including North Florida commits Zach and Austin Drury and INF Michael Campoamor, who has orally committed to Furman.
McDougall replaces Jeff Swymer, who stepped down this summer after facing a possible year-long suspension for drinking alcohol during a school-sponsored trip for a spring break tournament. Bishop McLaughlin hired Swymer as its head coach last month.