MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball head coach Mark Calvi announced the hiring of Andrew Carden as Director of Baseball Operations Friday.

Carden joins the USA staff after spending the past three years as an assistant coach at Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, Ala.

“Andrew (Carden) came highly-recommended to me by an outstanding coach in this state, Wynn Fletcher, at Central Alabama Community College,” Calvi said. “He worked under Wynn for a few years as an assistant coach, and he had great things to say about him. Andrew is a young, experienced, organized and knowledgeable coach and person. He is responsible, trusting, respectful and thorough. It was the right fit for him, even though he is a field coach.

“This was the right fit for him. He has all of the qualities to be a good director of operations. And his wife is in pharmacy school here at South Alabama so it was a great fit for him personally and professionally. He’s thrilled and we’re thrilled to have him. He has done a fantastic job so far, and I am extremely excited to have him on the staff.”

Prior to his stint at CACC, Carden served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons (2006-08) at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., where he also lettered four years from 2003-06. As a student-athlete, Carden helped CU capture the 2004 NAIA national championship. The Bulldogs returned to the championship game in Carden’s senior year where they earned a runner-up finish. Carden was voted team captain as a senior, and earned a bachelor’s degree in history that same year.

While serving as a graduate assistant at CU, Carden earned a master’s degree in administration.

“I know South Alabama has a great baseball tradition, and I wanted to be a part of that,” Carden said. “From a professional standpoint, I thought it was a great step for me. I recruited for three years at Central Alabama and handled some operations there, and enjoyed doing that. And I thought this was a step to allow me to be even more involved with the operations side of it.

“I knew coach Calvi and his past and the success he has had, so I knew just being around him was going to help me. And I had heard great things about (assistant) coach (Alan) Luckie, and I knew just being around him and his business mind would benefit me as well.”

Carden is a native of Hartselle, Ala., and a 2000 graduate of Hartselle High School. He lettered four years in baseball and football for the Tigers, and helped the HHS baseball program capture back-to-back 5A state championships from 1999-2000.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).