Miners complete coaching staff

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - The Mat-Su Miner coaching staff is complete.

Jimmy Smith, head coach of the Miners, has hired Garden City Community College assistant coach Chris Finnegan.

Finnegan will serve as an assistant coach on the Mat-Su staff. His primary responsibilities include working with the hitters and position players.

Smith said Finnegan is a young, hungry coach eager to make a name for himself in the baseball community.

"He's an aspiring coach. His passion is what defines him as a baseball coach," Smith said. "He really impressed me."

A friend of Smith's and coach at the University of Southern Mississippi told Smith he should consider Finnegan, a former USM player, for the vacant position on the Mat-Su staff. Smith said he trusts the advice of his colleague, and after talking with Finnegan, Smith thought the addition would be a great fit for the Mat-Su organization.

"There were a couple guys who threw their names at me, but when I talked to Chris, it was an easy decision," Smith said. "I just had a good vibe, and I went with it."

In addition to coaching the position players in the infield and outfield, Smith said, Finnegan will work closely with the catchers.

He will also man the first-base side during defensive situations coach, and have the opportunity to coach third base.

This is Finnegan's first opportunity to coach in the Alaska Baseball League, and his second stint in summer baseball. He spent a season with the Chillicothe Mudcats of the MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas) League. Finnegan has also served on the Peru State College (Neb.) coaching staff.

Finnegan began his college playing career at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. An all-region player in both seasons at HCC, Finnegan spent his final two seasons at Southern Mississippi. Finnegan played for three seasons at the professional level in the Independent League. He suited up for the Schaumburg (Ill.) Flyers and Adirondack (N.Y.) Lumberjacks.

Finnegan is one of two assistant coaches on the Mat-Su staff. Lenoir-Rhyne College assistant John Hendricks was hired as the Miners pitching coach earlier in the offseason.

Opening day for the Miners is Thursday, June 9. The Miners host a squad from Southern California at 7 p.m.