BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University head baseball coach
Brad Hill has announced the hiring of
Ray Berry '24 and
Micah Kaczor as assistant baseball coaches.
"I am excited to have Coach Kaczor and Coach Berry in our program," Hill said. "Micah brings a wealth of knowledge to our pitching staff and experience, from his professional playing career, that will be beneficial to all of our players. He is very well respected in the coaching ranks for his player development abilities. He comes from a coaching background and has played for and worked alongside some very successful coaches. I am beyond excited for what he can bring to our team.
"
Ray Berry has been a great addition to our staff. Having just finished his playing career at King, he is a great resource for our recruits and relates well with them on the phone. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for with his passion for the game and the University. I believe he will be a quick rising star in the coaching world, and we are lucky to have him in the beginning of his coaching career."
Berry, a 2024 graduate of King, returns as a coach after spending the last four years as a pitcher for the Tornado, winning nine games over the course of his career. In 2024, he had three wins on the mound, with a career-high 50 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched. A two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree, Berry led the Tornado in saves during the 2023 season, racking up 13 strikeouts in 25 innings.
"First off, I want to thank God for his guidance in my life which has brought me to this opportunity," Berry said. "I'd like to thank my family for their endless love and support, while always encouraging me to follow my heart. I would also like to thank Coach Brown for taking a chance on me as a player and being a positive influence and role model in my time here at King. Lastly, I'd like to thank Coach Hill for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. King is a special place and I am honored to be in this position."
Kaczor joins the Tornado staff after a stint at NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University as a volunteer assistant coach. He pitched for two seasons at ETSU, serving as their Friday night starter, finishing up his two-year career with a 12-6 record and a 3.42 ERA. He currently holds the third-lowest career ERA in school history (3.42), and in 2019 posted a 2.13 ERA, the lowest single-season ERA since 1981. After graduating, Kaczor spent three seasons playing in the Colorado Rockies organization, finishing with a 7-6 record and a 4.23 ERA. In 2024, Kaczor helped the Buccaneers pitching staff to record 456 strikeouts, the second-most in program history.
"I am extremely grateful to Coach Hill and King University for this opportunity to join the baseball program," Kaczor said. "I am excited and ready to get to work with this coaching staff and our players!"
