March 6, 2007

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins baseball head coach Bob Babb announced several changes to his coaching staff for the upcoming season. The Blue Jays will add five new assistants to a staff that already includes Babb and assistant coach Jack Newell.

Babb is entering his 28th season as head coach of the Blue Jays. He needs just one win entering the 2007 season to reach 750 victories for his career. Newell is entering his 13th season as one of Babb's assistants. Since Newell came to Hopkins in 1994, the pair has coached the Blue Jays to seven Centennial Conference titles. The following personnel will join Babb, Newell and the Blue Jays in their quest for an eighth Centennial Title in 2007.

Denny Cox rejoins the Blue Jays baseball staff after a lay-off of 27 years. He will serve as the Blue Jays' catchers' coach for the 2007 season. Cox came to Hopkins in 1969 as an assistant football coach before taking over the reins as head football coach in 1971 and head baseball coach in 1972. Under Cox, the baseball program showed steady improvement as the Blue Jays were invited to play in the NCAA Division III regional playoffs for the first time in 1976.

Phil Newman joins the Blue Jays staff to serve as varsity infield and hitting coach and the head coach of the junior varsity program. He played his college ball first at Mt. St. Mary's and then at Centennial rival, Dickinson College. Newman led the Red Devils to appearance in the Centennial Conference playoffs in his senior year. Since graduation from Dickinson in 2004, Newman has been working to develop youth baseball programs in the area.

Bob Laffey, a 2003 graduate of McDaniel College, is another addition to the Blue Jays staff for the 2007 season. Laffey was a three-year starter for the Green Terror at catcher and earned All-Centennial honors as a senior. He has coached on the high school level in Pennsylvania and Maryland his last stopping being at Bel Air, where he is currently a teacher. Laffey will work with coach Cox on improving the catchers.

Jim Flannery, who was a key member of last year's 28-9-2 squad, joins the coaching staff this year. Flannery led the 2006 squad in wins (7) and finished his career with a record of 16-1 (.889). He ranks third in school history for winning percentage. Flannery will help out with the pitchers and outfielders and provide some left-handed batting practice.

Ryan Lanpher, a member of the Blue Jays pitching staff the last three seasons, joins the coaching staff as a student assistant in 2007. A broken ankle in November prevented Lanpher from playing this, his senior season.

Babb and the Blue Jays open their 2007 season March 10th vs. William Paterson as part of the spring trip to Arizona.

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