By Carlton D. White

cwhite@mdjonline.com

Dan Torrenti has been tabbed to replace David Joiner as McEachern’s new baseball coach. Torrenti, a former McEachern player under Joiner from 1995 to 1998 and later one of his assistants, was offered and accepted the position roughly a month ago.

“I’m just so excited,” Torrenti said. “To be the baseball coach at McEachern is such a great opportunity. It’s where I’m from. It’s where I went to school, It’s my hometown.

“It’s just such an honor to coach at the school where you played and grew up. I was an assistant there for a year and now I’m back as the head coach. It’s a blessing to be sure.”

Torrenti takes over the post held by Joiner since 1995.

“My freshman year was his first year as head coach of the team,” Torrenti said. “I played catcher for him and was a wide receiver on the football team for coach (Jimmy) Dorsey, who is now the athletic director at McEachern.

“My parents still live in Powder Springs and the people at McEachern were always great to me. I have always enjoyed the community and I’m excited to be back.”

After graduating from McEachern, Torrenti played collegiately at Oglethorpe University for four seasons, graduating in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in history. As a member of the Stormy Petrels, Torrenti was named all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference as a catcher and team most valuable player in 2000.

In 2002, Torrenti helped lead Oglethorpe to the SCAC East title, and in that same season, was again named to the all-SCAC team and won team MVP honors. He was also selected to the Rawlings all-Southern Region team and the all-SCAC tournament team.

Torrenti joined Joiner’s staff after graduating Oglethorpe, but later moved on to Ridgeland where he spent two years as an assistant baseball coach with the Panthers under Mike Dunfee.

Torrenti followed Dunfee when he left to take over the program at LaFayette High School in 2005, and earned Torrenti earned the Georgia Dugout Club Class AAA assistant coach of the year award prior to the start of the 2009 season.

After seven seasons as an assistant, Torrenti spent the 2011-12 campaign as the Ramblers head coach and athletics director, compiling an 11-14 overall and 9-11 Region 7AAA mark in his first stint as a head coach. He received his master’s in educational leadership from Kennesaw State in 2007.

Now, Torrenti, 32, takes over a program that finished 13-14 last year and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

“We had about 50 to 60 applications for the job, so there was a lot of interest,” McEachern athletics director Jimmy Dorsey said. “We got applications from all over and some from out of the state. We interviewed about seven or eight people and Dan stood out.

“Obviously, Dan is a graduate of McEachern and played football and basketball for us, so his familiarity with the community and our program really stood out. He did a great job in his interview and we were all impressed with him. He’s a young guy and seemed really excited about coming back here to work. We’re excited to have him back. He’s going to roll up his sleeves and get to work.”

Which is what Torrenti has already done. This past month, he’s met with several of his players to talk to them about expectations and to gauge their skills. He’s also continued reconnecting with the community.

“The opportunity to be at McEachern is a special one,” said Torrenti who has a wife, Leah, and two girls, four and two, with another baby due in September. “My number one goal is to have a great impact and influence on these young men on and off the field.

“Our personnel will dictate our style. We want our guys to maximize their skill sets and fill their potential. Until I get out there to really evaluate the guys, I’m enjoying reconnecting with the community and I’m excited about the possibilities for our future.”