Briarwood alum named UM assistant baseball coach

Published 2:35 pm Tuesday, July 29, 2014

University of Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose recently announced the addition of alumnus and former Briarwood Lion Daniel Furuto to his coaching staff. (Contributed)

University of Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose recently announced the addition of alumnus and former Briarwood Lion Daniel Furuto to his coaching staff. (Contributed)

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – University of Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose recently announced the addition of alumnus and former Briarwood Lion Daniel Furuto to his coaching staff.

Furuto will serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Falcons.

“I’m really excited to welcome Daniel back to Montevallo as a coach,” Rose wrote in a release. “Montevallo means a lot to him and he will be a tremendous asset to our players and program. He was a great player here and played on some great teams. He will be able to pass down those experiences as well as others he’s gained the past few years while coaching in some great programs. He has become a very good young coach and even better person. I look forward to what he’ll bring to our program and players.”

Furuto was a four-year starter for the Falcons and was twice named All-Gulf South Conference during his collegiate careeer.

“I am grateful to be back at Montevallo,” Furuto wrote. “I look forward to working with our current players, Coach Rose and Coach Maas.”

As a junior in 2006, Furuto led the Falcons to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Furuto helped the Falcons compile a 43-18 record, an appearance in the NCAA Division II College World Series semifinals and a No. 3 final ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll. During Furuto’s senior season in 2007, Montevallo advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Region championship game and broke the school record for wins with a 47-17 record.

Furuto finished his career with a .330 career batting average and ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in several offensive categories.

Furuto arrives in Montevallo following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Union College, a NAIA school in Barbourville, Kentucky. Furuto helped guide Union to 30 wins in each of his two seasons as an assistant coach.

Prior to his tenure at Union, Furuto was a volunteer assistant coach NCAA Division I Campbell (N.C.) University during the 2011 and 2012 season on the staff of head coach Greg Goff, his head coach during his collegiate career at Montevallo.

At Campbell, Furuto coached outfielders and assisted with hitting. Furuto was heavily involved with daily operations, was the camp coordinator, and in charge of field maintenance.