University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Riser Adds Former Tiger Cory Barton as Pitching Coach
Jul 18, 2023 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Baseball head coach Matt Riser announced the hiring of Cory Barton as the program's new pitching coach on Tuesday.
A former Tiger catcher and native of Trussville, Ala., Barton returns to Memphis after spending the last two seasons as the pitching coach at Mercer University.
"The chance to reunite with the city of Memphis, the University of Memphis and the Tiger Baseball program is so special to me and my family," Barton said. "I can't wait to get to work with our student athletes and staff as we continue to build Memphis Baseball into a championship-caliber program. Robin, Cooper and I are proud to be Tigers."
In 2023, Barton helped the Bears to a runner-up conference finish and wins over Baylor and Rutgers. Barton saw standout pitcher Josh Harlow selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 19th round of this year's MLB Draft. The Bears enjoyed a 40-win season and were runners up in the Southern Conference in 2022 as well. Barton's staff led the league in strikeouts and batting average against in 2022, and in addition, his staff had the second-lowest ERA in the Southern and lowered its ERA after losing 200 innings of experience from the 2021 team.
Before his two seasons as the pitching coach at Mercer, Barton spent three season (2019-2021) at Rice University as the pitching coach.
In his final season at Rice, Barton's pitching staff was led by Brandon Deskins, who ranked 11th in Conference USA with a 3.88 earned run average. Not only did Deskins lead the pitching staff in ERA, but he also lead the team in strikeouts (73), averaging 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings, the 33rd-best mark in the nation.
Under Barton, the 2019 season proved to be a smashing success for the Rice pitchers. Not only was right-hander Matt Canterino named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, he was selected in the second round of the 2019 Major League Draft as the 54th overall selection. Four other Rice pitchers – Evan Kravetz, Garrett Gayle, Addison Moss and Roel Garcia – were all selected in the 2019 draft due to Barton's influence. The Rice pitching staff led Conference USA with 520 strikeouts on the season while Canterino (.199) and Kravetz (.200) finished first and second in lowest opposing batting average.
Barton joined Rice after a stint at Louisiana Tech, where he served as the Bulldogs' pitching coach and was named the 2018 Conference USA Assistant Baseball Coach of the Year. Not only did Louisiana Tech lead the league and finish 25th in the nation with a 3.48 ERA, the pitching staff also posted C-USA's second-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio (2.77-to-1), the 15th best ratio among all Division I pitching staffs. The staff was also 12th nationally in walks allowed per nine innings. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21-9 record in conference play, setting the program record for league wins. The Bulldogs were 31st in the nation in WHIP (1.29), tied for second in the conference with four shutouts and maintained a steady .253 opponent batting average.
Prior to Louisiana Tech, Barton served four years as Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at McNeese State where he helped lead the Cowboys to the 2017 Southland Conference regular season title. While at McNeese, the Cowboys won 30 games or more each year for the first time since 1995 and were also ranked in the top 25 for the first time in school history during the 2017 campaign. In 2015 the Cowboys posted a 3.66 team ERA, the second-best mark in the last 20 seasons, while also setting the then school record for strikeouts in a season with 466.
Barton is a 2007 graduate of Memphis and was on staff as an undergraduate assistant coach during Memphis' 2007 NCAA Regional season. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UL-Monroe (2008-13). He and his wife, Robin, have one son, Cooper.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A former Tiger catcher and native of Trussville, Ala., Barton returns to Memphis after spending the last two seasons as the pitching coach at Mercer University.
"The chance to reunite with the city of Memphis, the University of Memphis and the Tiger Baseball program is so special to me and my family," Barton said. "I can't wait to get to work with our student athletes and staff as we continue to build Memphis Baseball into a championship-caliber program. Robin, Cooper and I are proud to be Tigers."
In 2023, Barton helped the Bears to a runner-up conference finish and wins over Baylor and Rutgers. Barton saw standout pitcher Josh Harlow selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 19th round of this year's MLB Draft. The Bears enjoyed a 40-win season and were runners up in the Southern Conference in 2022 as well. Barton's staff led the league in strikeouts and batting average against in 2022, and in addition, his staff had the second-lowest ERA in the Southern and lowered its ERA after losing 200 innings of experience from the 2021 team.
Before his two seasons as the pitching coach at Mercer, Barton spent three season (2019-2021) at Rice University as the pitching coach.
In his final season at Rice, Barton's pitching staff was led by Brandon Deskins, who ranked 11th in Conference USA with a 3.88 earned run average. Not only did Deskins lead the pitching staff in ERA, but he also lead the team in strikeouts (73), averaging 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings, the 33rd-best mark in the nation.
Under Barton, the 2019 season proved to be a smashing success for the Rice pitchers. Not only was right-hander Matt Canterino named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, he was selected in the second round of the 2019 Major League Draft as the 54th overall selection. Four other Rice pitchers – Evan Kravetz, Garrett Gayle, Addison Moss and Roel Garcia – were all selected in the 2019 draft due to Barton's influence. The Rice pitching staff led Conference USA with 520 strikeouts on the season while Canterino (.199) and Kravetz (.200) finished first and second in lowest opposing batting average.
Barton joined Rice after a stint at Louisiana Tech, where he served as the Bulldogs' pitching coach and was named the 2018 Conference USA Assistant Baseball Coach of the Year. Not only did Louisiana Tech lead the league and finish 25th in the nation with a 3.48 ERA, the pitching staff also posted C-USA's second-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio (2.77-to-1), the 15th best ratio among all Division I pitching staffs. The staff was also 12th nationally in walks allowed per nine innings. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21-9 record in conference play, setting the program record for league wins. The Bulldogs were 31st in the nation in WHIP (1.29), tied for second in the conference with four shutouts and maintained a steady .253 opponent batting average.
Prior to Louisiana Tech, Barton served four years as Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at McNeese State where he helped lead the Cowboys to the 2017 Southland Conference regular season title. While at McNeese, the Cowboys won 30 games or more each year for the first time since 1995 and were also ranked in the top 25 for the first time in school history during the 2017 campaign. In 2015 the Cowboys posted a 3.66 team ERA, the second-best mark in the last 20 seasons, while also setting the then school record for strikeouts in a season with 466.
Barton is a 2007 graduate of Memphis and was on staff as an undergraduate assistant coach during Memphis' 2007 NCAA Regional season. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UL-Monroe (2008-13). He and his wife, Robin, have one son, Cooper.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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