Vilade successor search underway, applications top 100

Assistant coach Stan Phelps is one of nearly 100 applicants vying to head the Patriots’ baseball team for next season.

University officials launched a search to fill the position after head coach James Vilade — the first and only coach the team has ever had — resigned effective at the end of this season.

He accepted a position as vice president of Premier Baseball Academy in Plano and also plans to work as an associate scout for the Florida Marlins.

Dr. Howard Patterson, vice president of student affairs, is in charge of the search for Vilade’s successor.

Patterson said he hopes a replacement is hired to begin in mid-June.

He said the search committee met last week to begin narrowing the field of 103 applicants.

He said committee members might conduct telephone interviews and on-campus interviews before making a final decision.

Vilade’s departure also leaves the position of athlete director open, as he has been baseball coach since 2003 and athletic director since 2008.

Patterson said the current search is focusing on hiring a baseball coach.

“If that person is not also the AD, we will appoint someone to assume the AD duties until such time that the student enrollment growth allows athletics to hire a full-time AD and not split the position between coaching and administration,” he said.

Vilade said he is endorsing Phelps for the coaching position.

“In my opinion he is qualified for the position,” he said.

As the assistant coach, Phelps works mainly with pitchers and assists conducting summer camps.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in human resource development at the University.