Jake Boss Jr., an assistant baseball coach at the University
of Michigan for the past three years, has been named head
baseball coach at Eastern Michigan University, EMU Athletics
Director Derrick Gragg announced Nov. 13. Boss takes
over the head coaching duties from Roger Coryell, who announced
his retirement Oct. 28.
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Boss |
"When we started the process of searching for a new
head baseball coach, the name Jake Boss was at the top
of our list," Gragg said. "Coach Boss had tremendous
support from the entire baseball community and we are excited
that he will be joining the Eastern Michigan University
athletics staff to continue the strong legacy of success
our baseball program has built under previous head coaches
Ron Oestrike and Roger Coryell."
While an assistant coach at Michigan, Boss was part of
the Wolverines’ staff that led the team to three
straight 40-win seasons, with a 42-19 finish in 2005, a
43-21 record in 2006, and a 42-19 mark in 2007. The Wolverines
won Big Ten titles in both 2006 and 2007, won the NCAA
Regional title in 2007, and also made NCAA Regional appearances
in 2005 and 2006.
Prior to joining the Michigan staff, Boss was an assistant
baseball coach at EMU for seven seasons, from 1997 through
the 2004 campaign. He helped the 2003 Eagles win the Mid-American
Conference West Division title, as well as the Mid-American
Conference Tournament crown while advancing to the NCAA
Regional. The 2002 Eagles won the MAC West Division title
and the 2004 Eagles were runners-up in the MAC Tournament.
He completed his master’s degree in physical education
at EMU in 2000.
A native of Lansing, the 36-year-old Boss played baseball
at Alma College from 1989-93 and received his bachelor’s
degree in English in 1993. He received his master's degree
in physical education from EMU. He was an assistant baseball
coach at Lakeview (Mich.) High School in 1994 and moved
on to become the head baseball coach at Webberville (Mich.)
High School in 1995.
Boss began his collegiate coaching career in 1996 as an
assistant baseball coach at Iowa Central Community College
in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. The team finished
seventh in the 1996 NJCAA World Series and, in 1997, the
squad finished runner-up in the World Series.
An accomplished writer, Boss was co-author of a book,
"Dare to Hit .400", in the spring of 1998. He has been
a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association since
1995.
Boss and his wife, Cheryl (Schiff), live in Ypsilanti
with daughter, Abigail, and son, Jacob.
