2014 Coaching Staff
COACHING STAFF
Jacson Lowe, Varsity Head Coach
[email protected]
[email protected]
Coach Lowe is entering his 12th year as a coach for the Red Wolves, his fourth as head coach (37-36 overall at CRHS). After playing three years of varsity baseball at North Surry High School in Mount Airy, Coach Lowe attended the University of North Caroilna at Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in journalism. After working as a professional sports writer for three years, Coach Lowe returned to UNC to get his M.A.T. degree in Social Sciences Education in 1999. During that time, he did his student teaching at Orange High School and served as an assistant baseball coach. He spent the next two years as the head coach of Hillside High School in Durham before returning to Orange for one year as an assistant. He joined Coach Andy Simmons in building the Red Wolves program into one of the top 2A programs in the state. He has worked baseball camps at UNC-CH under Coach Mike Fox, Duke University under Coach Chris Pollard, and has served as a speaker for coaching clinics in Durham and Hillsborough. The Red Wolves have advanced to the 2A state playoffs in each of his first three seasons as head coach. He has two sons, Ethan (11) and Jared (9). His wife of 16 years, Jill, is a counselor at Central Elementary High School.
Jeff Grande, Hitting Coach, Associate Head Coach
Coach Grande begins his third year as an assistant for the Red Wolves. His primary duties include hitting instruction and working with middle infielders. Coach Grande played for legendary coach Jack Leggett, now with Clemson, at Western Carolina. Originally from Maine, Coach Grande moved with his family to the Hillsborough area where he now serves as an operating room PA-C. Coach Grande has served as director of player evaluation for the Carolina Blue Sox and is currently the head coach for the Evoshield 11U baseball team. He and his wife Donna have three children, Danielle who is currently studying abroad in Germany as a high school junior, and twins Saige and Andrew (11). Andrew is a member of the Evoshield 11U team.
Chris Joy, Head JV Coach
Coach Joy is beginning his first year at Cedar Ridge High School and will be the head JV coach, a post he held last year at Carrboro High School. Joy, a Pennington, NJ, native, was a pitcher and outfielder during his high school playing career. Once moving to the area as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Coach Joy served as a community coach from 2011-2013 in the Carrboro area. In addition to working with the JV, Coach Joy is also the outfielders coach.
Zach Erwin, Assistant Coach
Coach Erwin begins his second year as an assistant for the Red Wolves and will serve as the JV pitching coach. He is currently a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He works with game day operations for the UNC baseball program at Boshamer Stadium and is also actively involved in the Young Life Program. Coach Erwin was a LHP for A.L. Brown in high school before becoming a Tar Heel.
Greg Walters, Assistant Coach
Coach Walters is starting his first year with the Red Wolves program after serving as a pitching coach for 10 seasons in the Baltimore Metro Area. Coach Walters will assist with the pitchers and also works with the third basemen.
Spencer Merritt, Assistant Coach
Spencer Merritt returns to the Red Wolf baseball family for the 2014 season after completing his degree in Engineering at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. Merritt was the leadoff hitter and starting second baseman for Cedar Ridge in his final two seasons. His brother, CJ, was also a two-year starter in the outfield before joining his brother in Charlotte. Merritt will assist with both the JV and Varsity programs and work primarily with the middle infielders.
Jacson Lowe, Varsity Head Coach
[email protected]
[email protected]
Coach Lowe is entering his 12th year as a coach for the Red Wolves, his fourth as head coach (37-36 overall at CRHS). After playing three years of varsity baseball at North Surry High School in Mount Airy, Coach Lowe attended the University of North Caroilna at Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in journalism. After working as a professional sports writer for three years, Coach Lowe returned to UNC to get his M.A.T. degree in Social Sciences Education in 1999. During that time, he did his student teaching at Orange High School and served as an assistant baseball coach. He spent the next two years as the head coach of Hillside High School in Durham before returning to Orange for one year as an assistant. He joined Coach Andy Simmons in building the Red Wolves program into one of the top 2A programs in the state. He has worked baseball camps at UNC-CH under Coach Mike Fox, Duke University under Coach Chris Pollard, and has served as a speaker for coaching clinics in Durham and Hillsborough. The Red Wolves have advanced to the 2A state playoffs in each of his first three seasons as head coach. He has two sons, Ethan (11) and Jared (9). His wife of 16 years, Jill, is a counselor at Central Elementary High School.
Jeff Grande, Hitting Coach, Associate Head Coach
Coach Grande begins his third year as an assistant for the Red Wolves. His primary duties include hitting instruction and working with middle infielders. Coach Grande played for legendary coach Jack Leggett, now with Clemson, at Western Carolina. Originally from Maine, Coach Grande moved with his family to the Hillsborough area where he now serves as an operating room PA-C. Coach Grande has served as director of player evaluation for the Carolina Blue Sox and is currently the head coach for the Evoshield 11U baseball team. He and his wife Donna have three children, Danielle who is currently studying abroad in Germany as a high school junior, and twins Saige and Andrew (11). Andrew is a member of the Evoshield 11U team.
Chris Joy, Head JV Coach
Coach Joy is beginning his first year at Cedar Ridge High School and will be the head JV coach, a post he held last year at Carrboro High School. Joy, a Pennington, NJ, native, was a pitcher and outfielder during his high school playing career. Once moving to the area as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Coach Joy served as a community coach from 2011-2013 in the Carrboro area. In addition to working with the JV, Coach Joy is also the outfielders coach.
Zach Erwin, Assistant Coach
Coach Erwin begins his second year as an assistant for the Red Wolves and will serve as the JV pitching coach. He is currently a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He works with game day operations for the UNC baseball program at Boshamer Stadium and is also actively involved in the Young Life Program. Coach Erwin was a LHP for A.L. Brown in high school before becoming a Tar Heel.
Greg Walters, Assistant Coach
Coach Walters is starting his first year with the Red Wolves program after serving as a pitching coach for 10 seasons in the Baltimore Metro Area. Coach Walters will assist with the pitchers and also works with the third basemen.
Spencer Merritt, Assistant Coach
Spencer Merritt returns to the Red Wolf baseball family for the 2014 season after completing his degree in Engineering at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. Merritt was the leadoff hitter and starting second baseman for Cedar Ridge in his final two seasons. His brother, CJ, was also a two-year starter in the outfield before joining his brother in Charlotte. Merritt will assist with both the JV and Varsity programs and work primarily with the middle infielders.