Assistant Coach Matt Howard joined the Griffins staff following the 2012 season while also beginning his professional playing career as an outfielder with the Traverse City (Ill.) Beach Bums of the Frontier League (Independent Professional Baseball Federation).
In his first season with the Beach Bums, Howard helped Traverse City to a 64-32 record and a first-place finish in the Frontier League East Division. He appeared in 19 games and compiled a .222 (10-for-45) batting average, two doubles, a triple, a home run, seven RBI, three walks, and two stolen bases. Â
A graduate of Slippery Rock University, Howard finished a prestigious collegiate career at Slippery Rock University hitting .401 in his senior campaign with 10 doubles, six homers and 40 RBI. Howard started all 96 games of his two-year career with the Rock and earned honorable mention All-American honors by both the NCBWA and Daktronics to complement recognition as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-West Player of the Year.Â
