Xavier Promotes Billy O'Conner To Replace Scott Googins

Xavier has promoted assistant coach Billy O'Conner to head coach, replacing Scott Googins, who went across town to Cincinnati.

O'Conner was an assistant to Googins the past four seasons and played two years at Xavier after transferring from Indiana.

"Billy is the full package when it comes to his playing, coaching and recruiting experience," Xavier director of athletics Greg Christopher said in a news release. "His passion for Xavier, mind for the game and tireless recruiting efforts have made him an invaluable part of our coaching staff during some great years for the program. More than that, I know he will continue our commitment to developing young men as students and people in addition to competitive baseball players. Billy has a bright future in coaching and I am excited to see the program continue to grow under his direction."

O'Conner spent one year as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and two years in the volunteer assistant role at Xavier, and also managed three seasons in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

"This opportunity is a dream come true for me," said O'Conner, a Cincinnati native. "It's an unbelievable feeling to grow up in the Xavier community, have the opportunity to play baseball at Xavier and now have the opportunity to represent the university and the baseball program as the head coach. This school and this program truly are home to me. I could not be more excited to help to build on a great foundation already in place."

As a senior captain, O'Conner batted .333 with two home runs and 39 RBIs and helped the 2009 team win 39 games, the highest single-season win total in program history. He played one season of affiliated ball in the Rangers system in 2009 and one year of independent ball for Washington in the Frontier League.

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