Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Baseball Preparing for Season to Begin
1/25/2005 12:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 25, 2005
The 2005 edition of the University of Utah baseball team will have plenty of new faces. Not the least of those will be the face of the program.
Bill Kinneberg is the new head coach of the Utes. He replaces Tim Esmay, who accepted a coaching position at Arizona State University. Kinneberg could be called Utah's "new old coach." It is the coaching veteran's second stint with the Utes, having served as head coach for one season back in 1996.
Along with Kinneberg, two of Utah's three assistant coaches are new as well. Like Kinneberg, both are in their second go-round with the Utes. Todd Delnoce was an assistant coach at Utah from 1995-2001. He will serve as the team's hitting instructor and will be responsible for much of the team's offensive philosophy. Bill Groves was an assistant at Utah in 1981 and 1982. He will serve as a volunteer coach. The lone holdover on the coaching staff is pitching coach Bryan Conger, who is in his second season with Utah.
"I couldn't be happier with the coaching situation here, after coming in so late," Kinneberg said. "Adding Todd Delnoce, who I've known for a long time, will help a lot. Todd will handle the offense. Bryan Conger has impressed me with his knowledge of pitching and his work ethic. Then, to have Billy Groves as a volunteer coach. I couldn't ask for a more experienced guy in that position."
In addition to all the new faces on the coaching staff, the Ute roster is dotted with plenty of them as well. Utah has 31 names on its roster for 2005 and 20 of them were not with the Utes last season.
While there are lots of newcomers, Utah has a few significant returners to build around. Last season's leading hitter Jay Brossman is back. Brossman hit .369 in 44 of the team's 58 games last season. Brossman saw most of his action at third base, but also started seven games as the team's designated hitter. He was also an All-Mountain West Conference selection as a utility player/designated hitter.
Shortstop Ryan Khoury, who was fourth on the team with six home runs, returns as well. He also ranked fourth on the squad in batting average, hitting .310. Khoury started 53 of the team's 58 games at shortstop and compiled a .965 fielding percentage.
Along with the return of Khoury, the infield should be bolstered by Doug Beck, who transfers to Utah from Texas Tech. Beck started all 55 games for the Red Raiders during the 2003 season and sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules. He batted .310, ranked third on the team with 38 RBIs and was also third with four home runs for Texas Tech during his junior season.
"The addition of Doug Beck really helps us with flexibility on the infield," Kinneberg said. "He can play all four spots if needed. I think he will be a very valuable player for us."
According to Kinneberg, his team's biggest strength will probably be at the plate.
"We think we'll have the ability to score some runs," Kinneberg said. "I don't know if we'll be a real good power team, but we'll do some pressure offense-type things. We'll definitely score some runs. Our best potential hitter will be Brossman. He had an outstanding fall at the plate."
Many of the previously-mentioned newcomers will be on the mound for Utah. The Utes return only one pitcher from last season. Jason Price, who tied for second on the team with four wins and led the team with 108.1 innings pitched is the team's lone returning hurler. Price was 4-8 in 17 starts and led the team with three complete games.
"We really have an unknown with our pitching staff," Kinneberg said. "We only have one returning pitcher and 10 new guys who will be getting their first opportunities in Division I baseball."
While Kinneberg is concerned about his pitchers, he feels good about the guys playing behind them. Defense, especially on the infield, should be another strength for the Utes.
"I really like our infield defense at this point," Kinneberg said. "We have some guys who can move around and play different positions. We have good depth on the infield, with guys who are versatile."
The Utes also have an experienced catcher returning. Trevor Eastman saw action in 43 games last season and started 38 of those contests. Of his 38 starts, 36 were behind the dish. Eastman batted .279 last season. In the outfield, the only returner with significant experience is John Welsh, who started 32 games in left field last season. Welsh batted .261 and hit four home runs last season.
While the Utes have some definite question marks going into 2005, one thing nobody will question is the toughness of the Utes' schedule. Utah will face four teams -- TCU, UCLA, UNLV and North Carolina-Wilmington -- who were in the NCAA Baseball Championship tournament last season. In addition to those four opponents, the schedule also includes tough road trips to Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara.
"Our schedule is very difficult," Kinneberg said. "Hopefully it will prepare us for Mountain West play. We have four or five straight weeks with top baseball schools. That stretch with Santa Clara, TCU, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and UNC-Wilmington looks pretty daunting at this point. But you schedule those games to prepare and get better come conference time."
Kinneberg is approaching this season with some simple goals. But they are goals he feels are attainable with the squad he has inherited.
"I really want to establish an aggressive style of play offensively," the Utes' head coach said. "We're going to execute a high-pressure offense and I think we'll be a good, sound defensive club."
Utah opens its season with 14 games on the road. That tough season-opening stretch begins Feb. 4 with a three-game series at Santa Clara. The Utes are scheduled to play at home for the first time on March 8, hosting Albertson College in a doubleheader at Ute Field. Utah's first action at Franklin Covey Field will be April 1, when the Utes host New Mexico in a three-game Mountain West Conference series.
-UU-
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