Kris Harvey has been promoted to associate head coach in baseball at Catawba Valley Community College. He’s a former star at Bandys High who was All-ACC while playing college baseball at Clemson, and he spent five years playing minor league baseball./PHOTO BY CODY DALTON, CVCC ATHLETICS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Kris Harvey’s role in the Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) baseball program is expanding.
Harvey, an assistant head coach, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Red Hawks, has been promoted to associate head coach, CVCC officials announced via a press release on Thursday.
Harvey is a former star at Bandys High and Clemson (All-ACC) who also played five seasons of minor league baseball in the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.
“I’m excited at the opportunity to continue to help develop our student athletes here at CVCC,” Harvey said in the press release. “I’m thankful to (CVCC President) Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, (CVCC Athletic Director) Nick Schroeder and (CVCC head baseball coach) Paul Rozzelle for this promotion.
“The ability to provide help and guidance to student athletes and help them achieve their personal success is always an exciting opportunity for me.”
Harvey, who was a catcher, outfielder and pitcher during his own career, helped CVCC’s pitching staff excel.
In his first season as pitching coach in 2016, the Red Hawks were 23rd in the country in strikeouts. A year later, they ranked 10th.
Last spring, CVCC’s pitchers set a program record for strikeous (487) – ranking seventh in the country – and the staff ERA of 3.91 was 13th-best in the nation.
Harvey played a key role in working with sophomore left-hander Julian Smith, who became CVCC’s first draft pick (15th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers) taken directly from a CVCC baseball team.
Red Hawks head coach Paul Rozzelle has worked with Harvey during much of his coaching career, first at Bandys.
“Kris and I have been closely tied to baseball as it relates to both of our coaching careers,” Rozzelle said in the press release. “From back at Bandys High School in 2013 to now, we both have grown together as coaches.
“We think the same about everything baseball-related so this move was not only easy, but well deserved.
“We work extremely well together, and the success of this program is a direct reflection of the work that he has put in over the last few years.”
Harvey is the son of former major league reliever Bryan Harvey and the older brother of Hunter Harvey, a first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles who is currently assigned to Class AA Bowie (Md.) but sidelined by an injury.
KRIS HARVEY’S CAREER MINOR LEAGUE STATS: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=harvey001bry
MORE ON KRIS HARVEY: http://gocvcc.com/sports/bsb/2014-15/releases/201506093hhqbx