News Summary
The University of North Carolina Asheville has named Alex Raburn as the interim head baseball coach for the upcoming season. Raburn, who improved the team’s batting performance last year, aims to foster a winning culture following the resignation of long-time coach Scott Friedholm. With a strong coaching background and a commitment to player development, Raburn will lead the program as it looks toward future success after Friedholm’s notable tenure.
Asheville, NC – The University of North Carolina Asheville has appointed Alex Raburn as the interim head baseball coach for the upcoming 2026 season, following the resignation of long-time coach Scott Friedholm earlier this week. Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone made the announcement on May 23, 2025, expressing confidence in Raburn’s ability to lead the program and foster a winning culture focused on player development.
Raburn just wrapped up his first season with the UNC Asheville baseball coaching staff, during which he took charge of the team’s hitters. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs experienced a significant improvement in their batting performance, with their average in conference play rising from .266 in 2024 to .288 in 2025. The team also led the conference by striking out the fewest times, totaling only 152 strikeouts throughout the season. Notable players such as Patrick Gillen and Rylen Stockton achieved commendable standings, with Stockton receiving Second Team All-Conference and All-Freshman honors.
Before joining UNC Asheville, Raburn served two seasons at James Madison University (JMU), where he held a similar role coaching the infielders, was the first base coach, and assisted with hitting. In 2024, Raburn’s efforts contributed to JMU reaching the NCAA Regional Final. The team’s infield ranked sixth in the nation for double plays, successfully completing 52 double plays, the highest for the university since 2002. Additionally, JMU ranked 11th in the nation for double plays per game, with an average of 0.97. Raburn’s infielders achieved an impressive fielding percentage of .972 over those two seasons.
Raburn’s coaching credentials extend further back, as he also coached at Rider University, where he contributed to the team winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and making an NCAA regional appearance in 2021. He began his athletic career playing college baseball at the University of North Carolina from 2013-2015, where he was part of a team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference championships and advanced to the College World Series. He played in 133 games for the Tar Heels, ending his college playing career with a .251 batting average, 11 doubles, one triple, and four home runs in his final season.
The interim appointment comes after Scott Friedholm concluded a notable coaching tenure with UNC Asheville. Friedholm, who was appointed head coach on June 17, 2014, has the distinction of having the longest tenure and most wins in the program’s history, ending with a record of 195-340-1 and achieving his best season in 2023 with a 26-26 record. Under his leadership, 15 players earned All-Conference honors, and the program received notable recognition, including three Big South Conference Sportsmanship Awards. Friedholm also established a tradition by integrating the Jeff Fox #6 jersey in honor of former player Jeff Fox, who passed away due to COVID-19 in March 2021.
In a significant development for the program, UNC Asheville broke ground on the Jeff Fox Hitting Facility on May 19, 2025, a project supported by generous donations. This facility is expected to advance the training resources available to the baseball team significantly. Senior player Corbin Lanowitz wore the No. 6 jersey during the season, embodying the values of dedication and loyalty represented by the number.
Looking ahead, UNC Asheville plans to conduct a national search for a permanent head coach after the completion of the 2026 season, as the program seeks to build on the foundation laid by both Friedholm and Raburn for future success.
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Additional Resources
- UNC Asheville Announces Alex Raburn as Interim Baseball Head Coach
- Wikipedia: College Baseball
- Scott Friedholm Announces Resignation as UNC Asheville Baseball Head Coach
- Google Search: UNC Asheville baseball
- UNC Asheville Baseball Breaks Ground on the Jeff Fox Hitting Facility
