Ole Miss baseball added Chris Cleary to the staff on Monday as the Coordinator of Operations – External Affairs. Cleary joins the diamond Rebels after being an assistant coach at Creighton and Butler.
“I am extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity that Coach Bianco has granted me,” Cleary said. “I am honored to be a part of a program with such a rich history and tradition. It is my goal to work diligently to make a positive contribution to Coach Bianco’s staff, the players, baseball program and community.”
Cleary graduated from Menlo College in Atherton, California, with a degree in sports management in 2012. He played four seasons for the Oaks as a pitcher and middle infielder. A dean’s list student off the field, Cleary also led Menlo to a conference title in 2012.
A native of Fresno, California, Cleary joined the Menlo baseball program as the outfield coach for the 2013 season, where he helped lead the program to a record 34 wins and an appearance in the Cascade Conference Championship game. Under Cleary’s guidance, the Oaks ranked in the top five nationally in fielding percentage (.970). He was later elevated to pitching coach in 2013. During his time at Menlo, Cleary coached two MLB draftees, five All-Cascade Conference players, an NAIA All-American, and conference player of the year.
Cleary transitioned to Butler University in 2014, where he served as an assistant coach, working with infielders and assisting with hitters. In Cleary’s second year in the program, the Bulldogs set a program record in fielding percentage with a .970 mark.
In the fall of 2016, Cleary joined the staff at Creighton, where he served as the volunteer assistant coach and as a staff administrator. With Cleary in the fold, the Bluejays improved their record from 24-25 in 2017 to 34-16 in 2018. Last season, Creighton collected three first-team All-Big East nods, one All-American and four MLB draftees, the programs most since 2006.
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