Hofstra baseball coach leaves for minor leagues

Patrick Anderson has resigned as Hofstra's baseball coach to become a consultant to the general manager for the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns, the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, the team announced Wednesday. Hofstra named John Russo, Anderson's recruiting coordinator, interim head coach.

Anderson was 46-92-1 in three seasons at Hofstra. He had also been an assistant from 1998-2001. Before that, Anderson had spent eight seasons as a minor-league hitting and catching instructor with the Kansas City Royals. "He came from professional baseball and I think there was an interest to go back to that level," Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes said. "He had done some good things with our baseball program, we had that signature win over Miami last year."

Hagerstown was a minor league focal point last season as it featured teenager Bryce Harper, the Nationals' first overall pick of the 2010 MLB draft, for 72 games last season.

The Suns said Anderson will work with the team's baseball camps, corporate sales department and as advisor to GM Bill Farley on operational and entertainment processes.

"We are very happy to welcome Patrick to the Suns family," team owner Bruce Quinn said in a statement. "He possesses a true baseball mind and understands the business of baseball as well as anyone. Patrick has a proven track record and is well respected throughout professional baseball. We couldn't be more excited to add him to our team."

Russo, who spent three seasons working under Anderson, previously managed the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, leading the team to back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. He coached more than 60 players who were selected in the MLB Draft, including Christian Friedrich (2008 first round pick by the Colorado Rockies) and A.J. Pollock (2009 first round selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks). Entering the 2012 Major League Baseball season, he has coached three players -- David Carpenter (Houston), Darin Mastroianni (Toronto) and Friedrich -- currently on the 40-man rosters of their respective teams.

From 2001-05, Russo served as assistant coach at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind. He began his coaching career in 1998 as the hitting coach at West Alabama.