Wednesday, August 10, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida baseball program received its share of accolades during the 2005 season with senior Sadry Cafe earning All-America honors and six more Ospreys being named to the all-region squad. On Tuesday the program added one more award to close out its successful run on the Division II level.

After guiding UNF to a 48-16 record and a runner-up finish at the Division II National Baseball Championship in Montgomery, Ala., head coach Dusty Rhodes was named South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Rhodes, who has been at the helm of the Osprey baseball program for the past 18 years, believes the award reflects as much on the University, his staff and the players as it does on him personally.

"I think it's great that our program was recognized," Rhodes said. "It's always nice to be recognized for your work and I'm certainly honored to receive the award, but this is really an award for the University and the team. You don't win awards like this without good players and assistant coaches. I'm lucky to have both.