Todd Interdonato, an assistant coach the last two seasons, has been named Wofford’s new head baseball coach. Director of Athletics Richard Johnson made the announcement today.
Interdonato succeeds Steve Traylor who retired following Wofford’s Southern Conference Tournament championship and NCAA Regional appearance.
“We just concluded a remarkable baseball season; leading the nation in home runs, having a first team All-America selection, and winning the Southern Conference Baseball Championship,” said Johnson. “It was important to find someone who could continue that momentum and take our baseball program to the next level.
“I have been very impressed with the energy that Todd has brought to the program the last two seasons,” Johnson continued. “This past season’s team was the most successful offensive team in school history. With our tournament championship and NCAA appearance, we felt that Todd was instrumental in helping us achieve that success.”
Interdonato, 28, spent the last two seasons coaching Wofford’s hitters and coaching third base. Traylor considered Interdonato the team’s offensive coordinator.
In 2007, Wofford set school records for base hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, total bases and RBIs. The Terriers led the nation in home runs per game this season at 1.71 (108 in 63 games), and wee fourth nationally in slugging percentage (.519) and tenth in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) at .903. Wofford also tied the school record for wins in a season with 30.
“Since Steve Traylor announced his retirement from coaching, I have received countless resumes and applications from all over the country,” said Johnson. “During the search process, I talked with coaches and administrators from some of the top college baseball programs in the country. I benefited greatly from these conversations. I also received valuable input from current and former players. I had the benefit of two years of first hand personal observations, confidential player evaluations, and interviews with colleagues and staff.
“Twenty years ago, a young Wofford assistant under the tutelage of Mark Line, left to take his first head coaching job at the age of 24. Today, as the head baseball coach of the SEC Champion and number one-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores, Tim Corbin is at the top of his profession. I think that Todd Interdonato has the potential to follow in those footsteps.”
Interdonato’s influence on the Wofford offense began in 2006. The Terriers stole 90 bases, the second-highest total in school history. Wofford also set school records with 103 doubles, 777 total bases and 66 hit by pitch during the 2006 season.
A 2000 graduate of UNC Asheville, Interdonato came to Wofford after working as an assistant coach at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in 2005. He previously served a two-year tenure as an assistant at Gardner-Webb, where he received an MBA in 2004.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Wofford and the Athletic Department has given me,” said Interdonato. “We would like to continue to build on the success that we enjoyed this past season and work to take Wofford baseball to the next level. I am thankful for the responsibility that Coach Traylor has given me over the last two years and that will play a key role in the coaching transition.”
At Fort Scott, Interdonato served as the primary hitting and outfield coach while taking complete responsibility for the offensive progress of the program.
Interdonato played collegiately at UNC Asheville. He was a co-captain in the 2000 season when he batted .320 with six home runs and a team-best 38 RBI. He was named a Big South Conference Player of the Week in March 2000.
A first baseman/outfielder, Interdonato also saw action on the mound. He had over 25 appearances as a starter and reliever in each of his two campaigns with the Bulldogs.
Interdonato played his first two collegiate seasons at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz.
After graduating UNC Asheville, Interdonato signed a professional contract with the Evansville (Ind.) Otters in the Frontier League.
Interdonato began his coaching career as an assistant with UNCA in the 2002 season where he was the primary hitting and outfield instructor. He was also responsible for placing players in summer collegiate leagues.
He has also served as a summer league coach, leading the Salisbury (NC) Pirates of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. As the head coach of the Hornell Dodgers in the New York Collegiate League, he earned NYCL Coach of the Year honors in 2005.