Second in the Nation • 2007

Mike Twardoski has guided the Eagles to three NCAA Division III World Series appearances, three NCAA regional championships, six NCAA tournament berths and six conference championships. Twardoski, a former professional player with four major league organizations, assumed the Emory head coach position prior to the 2000 season.

In ten seasons at the helm of the Eagles, Twardoski has a career record of 318-128-1 (.711). He has guided the Eagles to six seasons of 30 or more wins including a school-record 43 truimphs during the 2007 campaign.

Twardoski's teams finished second at the Division III World Series in 2007, fifth in 2003 and seventh in 2000. His teams have compiled final national rankings of second (2007), fifth (2003), seventh (2000), ninth (2001 and 2004). During the regular season, Emory was ranked as high No. 1 in the nation in 2001 and No. 2 in 2004.

Twardoski was honored as the regional Division III Coach of the Year in 2000, and as the state Division III Coach of the Year by the Georgia Dugout Club in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

Twardoski joined the Emory staff prior to the 1999 season as an assistant coach. After that season, he took over as head coach.

Twardoski played pro ball for 10 years in the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves organizations. He was the team MVP for Boston's Triple A affiliate, Pawtucket Red Sox, in 1990 and 1992. In Pawtucket, Twardoski shared playing time at first base and designated hitter with Mo Vaughn. Four times, Twardoski was singled out as the best first baseman in his league by "Baseball America" in its annual rankings. Twardoski was a 29th round pick by the Indians in 1986.

He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Alabama where he led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with a .399 average his senior year. In the last game of his college career Twardoski went 3-for-3 against Kevin Brown, then pitching for Georgia Tech, who became a 200-game winner in the majors with six teams, most recently the New York Yankees.

After his playing career ended in 1995, Twardoski created and operated the East Coast Baseball Academy.

Twardoski and his wife, Tina, have one daughter, Chelsea, and one son, Trace.

Bobby Perez joined the Emory coaching staff for the 2008-09 year.  Perez works with the Eagle hitters and infielders, as well as participating in the recruiting duties for the team.

This is Perez's second stint as an assistant coach with Emory.  He was an assistant on Head Coach Mike Twardoski's staff for the 2006 season, helping guide the Eagles to a 31-9 record, a midseason no.1 ranking, a UAA Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 

Perez two seasons (2006-08) as a Volunteer Assistant Coach with Division I Georgia State University, helping the team win a school-record 33 games in 2008.  While with the Panthers, Perez worked with the outfielders and hitters, helping four players to be selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Perez played his collegiate baseball at the Division I University of Louisville (Ky.) for two seasons, which included a 39-18 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Regionals in 2002.  Perez also played two seasons at South Florida Community College.

While completing his bachelor's in exercise science at Louisville, Perez served as a Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach for the Cardinals, working with the catchers and infielders and coaching first base. He earned his bachelor's in exercise science with a minor in sports administration in 2003 and completed his master's degree in exercise physiology in 2005.

Perez, originally from Valrico, Fla., resides in Decatur with his wife Cristina.

Coach Perez would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.