OMAHA, Neb. –– Omaha Baseball head coach Rob Fournier announced the addition of Jeff Calhoon, Zach Gerch and Cory Wright to the first-year coach's staff. 

"Our staff is united by a common purpose: build people up, inspire relentless competition and create positive energy every day," Fournier said. "We believe culture is built through daily actions, not words and every interaction matters."

Calhoon comes to the Mavericks after two years as a development coach in the Houston Astros organization, most recently with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League. He will serve as recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for the Mavericks. 

"Jeff Calhoon brings tremendous experience to our program, from professional baseball with the Astros organization, to Division I and head coaching experience," Fournier said. "He is a tireless worker, a proven recruiter and an outstanding hitting coach who is passionate about player development."

"I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to join coach Rob Fournier's staff and be a part of the vision he has for this program," Calhoon said. "I'm looking forward to building relationships with our players, contributing in every way I can and getting to work."
 
An Omaha native, Gerch spent the past five years as an assistant at Cloud County College after four seasons as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Frontier Community College and four years as a volunteer/graduate assistant coach at Ottawa University.
 
"Coming from a Cloud County program that finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation, Zach has been part of building a championship culture," Fouriner said. "His commitment to relationships, player development and daily excellence makes him a perfect fit for Omaha Baseball."  
 
A graduate of Ralston High School, Gerch brings local knowledge to the recruiting trail and a deep respect for the Omaha program. 
 
"It's an unbelievable opportunity that Rob has presented to me," Gerch said. "The facilities are incredible, you're in the heart of baseball America, in my hometown, it's exciting."
 
Wright joins the Mavericks after two years as director of operations and player development at Jacksonville State, helping the Gamecocks to the 2016 Conference USA championship and NCAA tournament bid. Wright will serve as Omaha's pitching coach.  
 
"Cory brings tremendous energy, experience and a championship mindset to Omaha," Fournier said. "His ability to connect with players while challenging them to reach their full potential will make an immediate impact on our program."

"I wanted an opportunity to be a pitching coach at the Division I level and the opportunity fires me up to be in such a hotbed," Wright said. "Omaha is a special place in collegiate baseball and we want to make this thing a power in the Midwest."

Prior to his time with the Astros, Calhoon built a strong resume over a decade between DI and DII, including three years as head coach at Biola, where he led the Eagles to its highest-ever ranking at No. 8 in the nation. 

In addition to his time at Jacksonville State, Wright coached at Valdosta State and Emporia State. He and his new head coach first crossed paths when Wright played collegiately at Parkland against Wabash Valley, where Fournier forged an NJCAA Hall of Fame career, winning more than 1,100 career games as head coach.

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