After setting a school record with 34 wins, 16 of which in the MAC, the NIU baseball team keeps adding pieces to the puzzle.

The Huskies named River Grove, Ill. native Tom Carcione as the new assistant baseball coach. Carcione brings to the program 10 years of experience as a player in the Oakland Athletics farm system and has also coached at the college and professional level for seven years. The new coach will serve as the hitting instructor and will also work with the catchers.

Carcione got a chance to talk to the Star about everything from his new job to his past experiences.

NS: What are your feelings about coaching at NIU?

TC: It’s a great opportunity. I’m originally an Illinois guy from River Grove. Being away and coming back to the state and seeing what Ed [Mathey] and the staff have done with the program is really something. It gets you excited.

NS: What made NIU stand out to you?

TC: I wanted to get back in college baseball. My roots are from Illinois and my mom and dad still live in the area. What Ed and his staff have brought to the program just makes me excited to be here. I hope I can add a dimension to the team.

NS: What do you think you can bring to the program?

TC: I have experience in professional and college ball. I think my experience is something the kids can respect.

NS: What’s your first impression of the team?

TC: I got in a little over a week ago. So I’ve been able to see our guys a little. But like I said, I’m just really excited and I want them to buy into my philosophy of hitting and catching. I just want guys to play to their strengths.

NS: What do you want to see the Huskies do at the plate this coming up season?

TC: Most of all we are going to play the game the right way. Putting the ball in play is very important. Make the defense have to make plays. We will always know the situation on the base paths.

NS: What’s your relationship with head coach Ed Mathey?

TC: I had no prior contact with Ed until I talked to him over the phone about the opening. Everything actually happened through a mutual friend. Ed had a baseball relationship with him and Ed told him about the assistant coach spot. I heard about it and was very interested. I talked with Ed for a month over the phone and I finally arrived here last week.

NS: Do you think your experience in the pro’s can help bring in big-name recruits.

TC: Coach Joslyn is the head of recruiting but I don’t think my presence here would hurt at all. A big thing for kids now is relationship among players and coaches on the team. Facilities is a big thing too and we’ve got some nice things here. Hopefully I can get a player or two a year to come here. Also, we’ve had some guys get drafted and I think that’ll turn some heads.

NS: What’s your most important or memorable moment as a manager?

TC: I was the head coach of an NAIA school that closed in April but our team was able to play out the season. The team had been pretty bad in the past. I wasn’t even getting paid but we all stuck together and finished out the season and ended up losing the conference by two games.

NS: Finally, coming back to Illinois, it’s important to know… Cubs fan or Sox fan?

TC: I’ve been a die-hard Cubs fan my whole life.

NS: Are they going to advance in the playoffs?

TC: They need to get there first. I learned that in the minor leagues. We needed to win one out of our final four games to get to the playoffs and we didn’t do it. So the Cubs are gonna have to get there first.