FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason baseball head coach Bill Brown has announced changes to his coaching staff, including the hiring of Ryan Terrill as assistant coach and Kyle Wrighte as volunteer assistant coach.

In addition, former volunteer coach Tyler Nelin will return for his fourth year on the staff in a new role as Graduate Assistant Coach and former Mason pitcher James Beasley will also join the staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach.

Terrill comes to George Mason after three years at UMBC (2019-2021), where he most recently served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator. He will work with all of the position players offensively and coach the outfielders.

"I am excited to have Ryan join our staff here at Mason," Brown said.  "I have been incredibly impressed in what he had done in his previous stop at UMBC, especially the style of play that he employed. It is a dynamic approach based on sound fundamentals that incorporates a very active and aggressive style that emphasizes athleticism. We are going to look different this year from an offensive standpoint and Coach Terrill is the perfect person to implement and run the offense."

As the Retrievers hitting coach in 2021, the UMBC offense ranked among the America East Conference's best in several categories, including first in slugging percentage, on-base percentage and hit by pitch.  The Retrievers were second in the league in runs scored and home runs, and third in the conference in batting average, doubles, triples, RBI's and walks.

In 2020, the Retrievers ranked first in doubles, triples and hit by pitch, while ranking second in hits and third in RBI's in the COVID-19 shortened season.

In 2019, the Retrievers lead the league with 109 stolen bases, second-most in school history.  UMBC ranked second in runs scored, home runs, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage and walks.

Prior to UMBC, Terrill served as the head coach at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Md from 2015-2018. There he guided the Crusaders to three straight top 10 national rankings, culminating with the program finishing as the top-ranked team in the country according to USA Today in 2018.

Terrill finished his high school coaching career with a record of 125-12 and 10 of his former players have gone on to sign professional contracts.

Terrill played collegiately at Northwest Shoals Community College in Alabama, where he ranks third all-time in single-season batting average.  He also played at Liberty University, where he was a member of the 2003 team that qualified for the Big South Tournament Championship game.

Wrighte is a 2019 graduate of William & Mary, where he was the everyday shortstop his entire career.  He has been an assistant coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington since graduating from college and helped Bishop O'Connell to the VISSA State Tournament in 2021. He will work exclusively with the infielders in his new role at Mason as well as assist Coach Terrill with the offense.

"Kyle is an up and coming young coach who will bring an expertise and enthusiasm to his work with the infielders," said Brown.  "I couldn't be more pleased that he has agreed to join our staff and I look forward to watching him help develop a group of very talented infielders. He comes very highly recommended and I am excited to have him round out our staff."  

Wrighte runs The Infield Academy based out of Northern Virginia, offering instruction and camps for infielders. The Academy has helped numerous infielders develop skills that have prepared them for high school and college. In addition, he has also coached with Stars Baseball, a high-level travel baseball program based in Northern Virginia. 

Nelin will continue to work with all of the position players offensively and coach the catchers in his new role as Graduate Assistant.

"It is great to have Tyler back with us for a fourth year," Brown said.  "He has been an invaluable part of the baseball staff the past three years and his contributions have been numerous.  Tyler is an outstanding young coach with an incredibly bright future in college baseball who is dedicated to the success of Mason Baseball and our student-athletes.  His passion for baseball and coaching is unmatched."

Beasley will also join the staff as a Graduate Assistant as he begins his collegiate coaching career.  He will work with the pitchers alongside Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach Shawn Camp, as well as be heavily involved in developing scouting reports and analytics.

"I am excited that James has chosen Mason as the place to begin his coaching career," said Brown.  "He has a great baseball mind and moving into coaching was a natural transition for James as his playing career wound down.  He is a great addition to our staff and Mason Baseball."