WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Former William and Mary pitching coach Jad Prachniak has accepted the head coaching job for the West Chester University Golden Rams baseball team.  Prachniak had been an assistant coach for the Tribe baseball program for six years dating back to the 2006 season.  A national search for Prachniak's replacement will begin immediately.

"I have had the distinct pleasure to work with Jad over the past 11 years as a student-athlete and coach.  I have witnessed his growth as a person and leader," Tribe head coach Frank Leoni said of Prachniak.  He continued, "I am extremely proud of him, and I thank Jad for his many contributions to my programs, both at Rhode Island and here at William & Mary.  He will certainly be missed, and we wish him well as he embarks on the next stage of his promising career."

Over his six seasons at William and Mary, Prachniak was instrumental in transforming the Tribe pitching staff into one of the finest in the CAA.  In 2011, the College finished third in the conference with a team ERA of 4.43, a William and Mary school record.  In 2010, the Green and Gold were second in the CAA with a team ERA of 4.87.

This past season, Prachniak helped Logan Billbrough earn CAA Co-Pitcher of the Year honors, the first such award in William and Mary history.  Over his six seasons, Prachniak had four of his pitchers get selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including Kevin Landry in 2009.  Overall, pitchers under Prachniak's tutelage account for 48 entries in the W&M all-time top-10 lists and six school records.

Prior to joining the College's staff, Prachniak was a volunteer assistant for Leoni at Rhode Island, where the Rams captured the 2005 Atlantic 10 championship, culminating in a regional appearance at Long Beach State. In five years as a coach, Prachniak has coached seven players who have gone on to pitch at the professional level.

Prachniak was a four-year letterwinner with the Rams from 2001-04 and compiled a career record of 3-5. During his junior season, he earned a 2-1 mark with a 3.48 ERA, the lowest among URI starting pitchers. Additionally, he limited the opposition to a team- best .243 batting average and helped propel the Rams to the Atlantic 10 Eastern Division Championship. As a senior, Prachniak served as a captain and helped lead the squad to the Atlantic 10 regular-season title. That season he also received a Scholar-Athlete Award from the Rhode Island House of Representatives.