RAPP NAMED ASSISTANT BASEBALL COACH AT GUILFORD

Greensboro, NC (09/26/01) -- Guilford College Director of Athletics Mike Ketchum named 31-year-old Craig Rapp assistant baseball coach Wednesday.

Before coming to Guilford, Rapp assisted the varsity baseball squad at West Forsyth (NC) High School and helped it to three consecutive trips to the state playoffs from 1999-2001. Rapp was a junior varsity assistant coach for North Davidson High School in 1994.

Rapp received a full scholarship to North Carolina State in 1988 and compiled a 24-9 record as a starting pitcher through his junior year. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 35th round of the 1991 Major League Draft.

As a professional, Rapp spent two years as a starting pitcher in the Braves' organization. He ranked sixth in the Pioneer League in 1991 with a 3.08 earned run average (ERA). Rapp posted a 7-3 career record before a shoulder injury forced him to retire in 1993.

Native to Harrisburg, PA, Rapp attended Red Land High School where he was a three-year varsity letterman and set conference records for innings pitched and strikeouts. His school-record 0.23 ERA in 1988 helped attract the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him in the 11th round of the 1988 Major League Draft.

Rapp earned his bachelor's degree in middle grades education from Winston-Salem State in 1994. He is married to the former Kelli Swing and has two children, Clayton (2), and Maria Rapp (1).

Rapp will work with head coach Gene Baker and assistant coach Adam Taylor to improve on Guilford's 2001 record of 15-24. The Quakers return 17 letter winners from last year's club. The Quakers went 4-12 last season in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and set school records for batting average and stolen bases in a season.