Andy Pascoe out as Western Illinois baseball coach; Sheriff takes over on interim basis

MACOMB —  Western Illinois University did not renew the contract of head baseball coach Andy Pascoe.

The school announced the move early Thursday evening.  

Pascoe was named the mentor of the Leathernecks on September 19, 2019, becoming the seventh in the history of the program. WIU went 8-44 in 2022 under Pascoe's watch. 

In three seasons, the Leathernecks went 19-86 overall, including the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign. WIU went 12-39 in the Summit League during that time.

Before joining the Leathernecks, Pascoe served as an assistant coach for Butler University for three seasons (2016-19). In his second season with the Bulldogs, Pascoe helped buster the offense to reach the 2018 Big East Tournament for the first time in school history. The year also saw Butler break the school record for winning percentage in a season (.630), and it marked the first winning season (34-20) since 2003.  

In his first two seasons, Pascoe assisted the team to increases in all major offensive categories, highlighted by a tripling of their home run total. His work helped Butler earn three All-Big East Selections in 2017, five in 2018 and two in 2019, including second-team All-American Harrison Freed, who was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. 

Before Butler, Pascoe served as the Director of Scouting (Michigan) for Prep Baseball Report. His coaching career began as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Evansville (2011-15). Pascoe helped the Purple Aces to an overall record of 147-131, a regular-season conference title (2014), and seven MLB draft picks. The program also amassed four All-Americans, a conference player of the year and 22 all-conference selections.

After Pascoe completed his collegiate career in 2010, he remained with Evansville as a volunteer assistant before being promoted to assistant coach in the summer of 2012.  

It was a season to remember in 2014, as the Purple Aces finished the campaign with a 34-21 record and their first regular-season Missouri Valley Conference Championship since 2006. The team totaled a .283 average, slugged 103 doubles and scored 330 runs en route to the most productive offensive season during Pascoe's tenure. 

In his fifth and final season as part Evansville's staff, Pascoe coached All-American Kevin Kaczmarski to become the program's first MVC Player of the Year. A ninth-round pick by the New York Mets in 2015, Kaczmarski finished his senior year leading the nation in batting average (.465) and triples (9) and was second in on-base percentage (.543) and slugging percentage (.746).

A four-year letter winner, Pascoe played in 151 games between 2007 and 2010. During his playing career, he was a designated hitter, catcher, and infielder. As a junior Pascoe was a second team All-MVC selection at DH, leading the Purple Aces in hitting with a .331 average.

Pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Tayler Sheriff has been appointed interim head coach of the Leathernecks. 

Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton