Maryland Baseball Network is counting down to Opening Day! Today marks two days until the start of the 2017 season, so here’s a look at #2, Rob Vaughn.

ROB VAUGHN | 2

Position: Associate Head Coach

Hometown: Humble, Texas

Alma Mater: Kansas State (’11)

Experience: 5th season at Maryland

About Vaughn: Rob Vaughn is set to begin his fifth season at Maryland, his first as associate head coach. He first joined the Maryland coaching staff in 2012 after a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant coach at Kansas State University, his alma mater.

After a standout career as a catcher in his four years at Kansas State, Vaughn was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 30th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He spent parts of two seasons in the minors, where he played with current major leaguers such as Dodgers’ outfielder, Trayce Thompson, and Mets’ reliever, Addison Reed.

While directing Maryland’s recruiting efforts, Vaughn brought in the highest ranked recruiting class in team history in 2015. Under his tutelage, many recent recruits have made an immediate impact at the plate, including Nick Dunn and Marty Costes, who were both awarded Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2016. In his six years as a coach, Vaughn has coached 24 players who have either been drafted or signed by a professional team, including 2015 draftees Brandon Lowe and LaMonte Wade.

Vaughn’s refers to his hitting philosophy as “The Pack.” In the Pack, each hitter has his own role, whether it be to run, drive in runs, be a “master of execution,” or a combination of the three. The three Pillars of the Pack, as Vaughn calls these attributes, are vital in the Pack’s effort to function as a single unit.