A dynamic duo joins the Athletic Department at University of St. Thomas - Houston to lead the Celts Baseball players to performance heights. New Head Baseball Coach David Wood and Assistant Coach Torry Peterson will guide the Celts into their second full season following a 51-year hiatus.

Coach Wood Says UST has Stand-Out Baseball Team

Wood recognizes an opportunity with this team. “UST stood out right from the start when hearing about the opportunity,” Wood said. “This team is very young and very talented. After looking into the roster and seeing who will be returning, I am very excited to see how they develop and perform. St. Thomas baseball is only scratching the surface. I look forward to continuing with what Clayton established over here in his two years and building a long-lasting culture of winning in the SCAC.”

Wood Brings Collegiate & Professional Experience

Formerly the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for St. Edward’s University, Wood brings a wealth of know-how and experience to UST’s Baseball program. At St. Edward’s, he played a key role in the Hilltoppers’ success, which featured 6 Heartland Conference Championships, a South-Central Regional Championship, 7 NCAA Regional appearances and a No. 3 finish in the 2013 NCAA DII World Series. His pitching staff also set a new school record by producing a 2.57 ERA.

Prior to his coaching career, the Long Island, New York native was quite a collegiate player, shining at Stony Brook University, then at Temple College, and finally, at Texas State, where he was named Second Team All-Southland on a Conference Championship team.

Within the professional ranks, he spent 2007 playing for the Kansas City Royals in the Arizona Fall League, where he won Player of the Year. During the 2008 season, he split time between the Wilmington Royals and the Burlington Royals as a team captain. Wood’s final season was with the Class A Burlington Royals, where he helped lead them to the championship series of the Midwest League.

Assistant Coach Peterson Excited to Bring His Skills and Knowledge

Joining Coach Wood with plenty of knowledge, experience and a love of the game is new Assistant Coach Torry Peterson. The Pearland native, who also had a collegiate baseball history as a player, has 9 years of NCAA Division III coaching expertise. He was the hitter and infield coach at East Texas Baptist University and helped cultivate 10 All-Americans there: Two were MLB draft picks. Most recently, Peterson coached C2, a select baseball organization in Pearland, Texas.

Peterson said, “What an incredible opportunity has been given to me at this point in my life and career. I would like to thank Coach Wood, whom I have known for many years and have always admired not only for who he is as a coach, but more importantly, as a person. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that he believes in me enough to bring me on board as his assistant in his first stint as a collegiate head coach.”

Athletic Director Todd Smith Predicting Success

Athletic Director Todd Smith said, “With Coach Wood and Assistant Coach Torry Peterson, our baseball program has laid a strong foundation, and we are set up for success in the near future. Coach Wood brings a winning pedigree and knows how to lead a winning baseball program. His success on and off the field at a Catholic school has prepared him well for this opportunity. We want to welcome Coach Wood, Assistant Coach Peterson and their families to the St. Thomas community.”