Kyle Hudson to Join Illinois Staff as Volunteer Assistant Coach
January 16, 2015 | Baseball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois baseball head coach Dan Hartleb announced the addition of former Illini Kyle Hudson to his staff as a volunteer assistant coach on Friday. A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Hudson was a two-sport athlete and three-year letterwinner in both baseball and football at Illinois from 2005-08.
"I am extremely excited to have Kyle back with our program," Hartleb said. "He is one of the all-time great Illinois athletes. He is one of only a handful of athletes in the world that has been a starter in two sports at the Division I level and has played at the highest level of baseball during his time in the MLB with the Baltimore Orioles. I have as much respect for Kyle as any player I have ever coached because of his work ethic, leadership, desire and maturity.
"He and his wife Shaela (former Illini cheerleader) will be a great addition to our Illini Baseball Family. Kyle's knowledge and leadership abilities will be a great asset to our players and to our program as a whole. I am extremely proud of the fact that Kyle has a great desire to give back to young people as a coach. He has a bright future in the coaching profession."
Hudson shined on both the baseball and football fields at Illinois before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft. His baseball accolades include an ABCA third-team All-America honor, ABCA first-team All-Region laurel and unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2008. He also was a standout wide receiver, playing in the 2008 Rose Bowl and beginning his career as the University of Illinois' Newcomer of the Year in 2005.
"I would like to thank coach Hartleb for this great opportunity," Hudson said. "He has been one of my biggest supporters since the time I stepped on campus in 2005. I could not have asked for a better mentor throughout my college and professional baseball career. I am excited for the opportunity to coach at the place that gave me so much in the three years I spent here as a student-athlete. The University of Illinois has such tradition, not only in athletics, but also in academics. I look forward to working alongside coach Allen and coach Dickinson, as well as helping with the continued success of our student-athletes. The Illinois Baseball program is one of the best in the country and I am blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this great program once again."
Hudson ranks second on Illinois' career batting average list with a .376 mark, behind only Darrin Fletcher's .392 average. He ranks third in school history in career steals (66) and fourth in career Big Ten batting average (.361). He holds the UI record for career steals in Big Ten play (36), steals in a Big Ten season (25) and the second-most steals in a season (40), a total that tied the school record at the time.
He wrapped up his collegiate career with an incredible junior season in 2008, hitting a team-high .398 and reaching base at a team-best .498 clip. He tied the then-school stolen base record by stealing 40-of-49 bases and broke the Big Ten record for stolen bases in conference games during the season. Hudson also broke the conference record for runs scored in Big Ten play with 40. He played an error-free center field in 2008 with five outfield assists, and drew a Big Ten-best 39 walks.
Hudson was called up by the Orioles in 2011 and played 14 career MLB games, collecting four hits, three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. He spent the majority of his minor league career in the Orioles organization (2008-12) followed by minor league stints with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organizations.
