FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Tharp, Assistant Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4498
 
January12, 2004
 
 
Ferrum Names Naff Director of Athletics
Holden Promoted to Assistant AD
 
Ferrum, Va. – Head Baseball Coach Abe Naff has been named Director of Athletics at Ferrum College, President Jennifer L. Braaten announced today.
 
Naff replaces Dr. Ted Kinder, who announced his resignation January 6 after 10½ years as Ferrum’s Director of Athletics in order to accept the same position at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.
 
Naff has served as Ferrum’s baseball coach for the past 19 seasons.  His teams have won six Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, and advanced to NCAA Division III postseason play eight times.  Last season, the Panthers won the Dixie regular season title and closed with a 29-6 overall record.  Naff was named Dixie Coach of the Year, his third such honor.  He was also named Virginia Small College Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors, his fourth such honor.  Naff has a 534-183-1 career coaching record, for a .744 winning percentage.
 
Naff, pictured above and at left, is entering his 22nd year with the Ferrum athletics program.  Prior to being named Head Baseball Coach, Naff served two years as Assistant Baseball Coach and Assistant Football Coach.
 
Naff has developed the Ferrum baseball facility into one of the regions’ top baseball on-campus facilities.  Panther Field has undergone a number of major renovations in the past six years under Naff’s direction.  The College added a new scoreboard, outfield fence, bullpens, and dugouts.  A new state-of-the-art press box was erected which includes offices, restrooms, storage space, and an indoor pitching mound/batting cage.  Additionally, the field was equipped with lights in the fall of 2001 and completely regraded in the fall of 2003.
 
A 1981 graduate of Lynchburg College, Naff went on to earn his master’s degree from Lynchburg in 1990.  Naff was a two-time All-Conference catcher for the nationally ranked Hornet baseball team and was recently inducted into their Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.  He and his wife Terri reside in Ferrum with their children, Mary Jessica and John Casey.  Naff graduated from Franklin County High School.
 
Braaten is pleased with the decision to promote Naff, citing his success in the area of student and program development.
 
“We are pleased to have Abe Naff assume responsibility for our department of intercollegiate athletics,” said Braaten.  “We are excited to see how his previous success with the baseball program at the local, regional and national level will carry over into his career in athletic administration.”
 
“Abe has developed relationships throughout the area and region with alumni, businesses, parents, and supporters of our programs.  He has a proven record of developing successful student-athletes, including major league players Eric Owens and three-time All-Star Billy Wagner.”
 
The College also announced the promotion of Gary Holden to Assistant Athletic Director.  Holden will continue to serve as Sports Information Director and Men’s Tennis Coach.  Holden has served 10½ years as Ferrum’s Sports Information Director and the past five and a half years as Men’s Tennis Coach.  Ferrum finished at 15-3 last season, with two players earning a All-Conference honors, one player being named Dixie Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Year, and Holden being named Coach of the Year.  Holden recently served as director of Ferrum’s tennis court renovation project.
 
Previously, Holden served four years as Head Wrestling Coach at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire, and two years as Assistant Wrestling Coach. Holden, pictured at right, was a three-time All-Conference wrestler for Plymouth State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1987 and his master’s degree in 1990.  He and his wife Leslie reside in Ferrum with their sons Taylor and Drew.
 
“Gary has been a dedicated and committed coach and administrator in the athletic department and will play a significant role in the future success of Ferrum athletics,” said Braaten.  “He has been instrumental in the promotion of our athletic program and is deserving of his new position.”
 
Naff and Holden will assume the respective duties in early February with the departure of Kinder.
 
"We are excited for the opportunity to look within our athletic department to promote two individuals who have meant so much to their individual programs and the department," said Braaten.  "We look forward to an exciting future for all of our athletic programs under their leadership.”
 
 
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