Former Iowa baseball player Jim Magrane has joined the Iowa baseball team as a volunteer assistant head coach.

“We are excited to add Jim to our coaching staff,” head coach Rick Heller said in a release. “With his professional experience coupled with being a former Hawkeye, we couldn’t have found a better fit. Jim has outstanding baseball knowledge and a great work ethic and will be a big addition to our staff.”

Before returning to Iowa, Magrane enjoyed a 13-year professional baseball career with the Tampa Bay Rays’ and Washington Nationals’ organizations.  He also played overseas in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, China, South Korea, and Italy.

Magrane competed for the Hawkeyes from 1996-1999. While at Iowa, he was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, when he went 6-4 with a 4.43 ERA. He tossed 107.2 innings (a school-record) and struck out a school season record 110 batters. He also tied the school single-game mark of 17 Ks.

He joins head coach Rick Heller and the rest of his staff as they start their first season at the Hawkeye helm.

— by Ryan Rodriguez