WILMINGTON, N.C. – Rick Jones, a former UNC Wilmington pitcher and current head coach at Tulane, was tabbed by USA Baseball to be the head coach of the National Team for the 2009 squad.

This will be Jones’ third tour with USA Baseball, having previously served on the staffs of the USA Presidential Cup staff in 1989 and the National Team in 1990.

Jones, who played for UNCW in 1974-75 and was a reliever on the 1975 NAIA World Series club, recently, concluded his 15th season at Tulane.

He is one of three coaches with UNCW ties to serve on a Team USA staff. Current UNCW head coach Mark Scalf assisted the 2003 and 2007 National Teams, while Jerry Myers, head coach at Old Dominion, is the pitching coach for this summer’s USA squad. Meyers served as the Seahawks’ pitching coach from 1992 through 1995.