Categories: College University AthleticsCollege/University News

UNC Asheville Appoints Interim Head Baseball Coach

Baseball team in huddle on the field at sunset

News Summary

UNC Asheville has appointed Alex Raburn as the interim head baseball coach for the upcoming season after Scott Friedholm’s resignation. Raburn joins with a solid record from his previous coaching roles, significantly improving the team’s batting average and strikeout statistics. With Raburn’s experience and coaching success, the Bulldog Baseball program is prepared for advancements during the transition period. This comes as a part of a planned search for a permanent coach after the season concludes.

Asheville, North Carolina – UNC Asheville Director of Athletics, Janet R. Cone, has officially announced the appointment of Alex Raburn as the interim head baseball coach for the 2026 season, following the resignation of Scott Friedholm. This decision was made public on May 23, 2025, marking a new chapter for the Bulldog Baseball program.

Raburn steps into the head coaching role after completing a successful debut season on the UNC Asheville coaching staff, where he was responsible for overseeing the hitters. During his time, he significantly impacted the team’s performance, as evidenced by the improvement in the batting average in conference play, climbing from .266 in 2024 to .288 in 2025. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs also achieved the distinction of having the fewest strikeouts in the conference, totaling only 152 for the season.

Raburn’s impact on the team is further illustrated by the achievements of his players. Notably, Patrick Gillen and Rylen Stockton both ranked in the top 10 for batting average in the league. Stockton earned additional recognition, receiving the Second Team All-Conference and All-Freshman honors, highlighting the development and talent present in the squad.

Prior to his role at UNC Asheville, Raburn spent two seasons at James Madison University (JMU), where he served as the infield coach, first base coach, and assistant hitting coach. During his tenure at JMU, the baseball program experienced notable success, advancing to an NCAA Regional Final in 2024. Under his coaching, the JMU infield ranked sixth nationally in double plays with a total of 52 and finished 11th in double plays per game at a rate of 0.97. His coaching was instrumental in Wyatt Peifer earning the prestigious Gold Glove honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings in 2024.

On the defensive front, Raburn’s JMU teams consistently demonstrated strong fielding capabilities, boasting a .972 fielding percentage for each of the past two seasons, which ties for the second-highest mark in the program’s history. His coaching experiences also include a successful stint at Rider University, where the team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and advanced to an NCAA Regional in 2021.

In addition to his coaching background, Raburn is also recognized for his playing career at the University of North Carolina from 2013 to 2015. He was part of a team that achieved considerable success, winning 59 games and reaching the College World Series in 2013.

Looking ahead, a national search will begin following the conclusion of the 2026 season to identify the next permanent head coach for the baseball program. This transition comes after Friedholm’s resignation; he served as head coach for 11 years, compiling a record of 195-340-1, with his best season occurring in 2023 when the Bulldogs finished with a 26-26 record.

Friedholm’s leadership significantly contributed to the program’s development, including the integration of the Jeff Fox #6 jersey tradition and the successful hosting of fundraising events. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs achieved multiple awards and honors, including All-Conference accolades for student-athletes.

The UNC Asheville baseball community is poised for a transition period as Alex Raburn takes the helm as interim head coach. His prior experience and recent success could pave the way for continued improvements and potential achievements for the Bulldog Baseball program in the upcoming season.