The Royals will begin DII play in 2019 and play at the club level next season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell has been hired to coach a startup baseball team at a Division II college.
Queens University of Charlotte athletic director Cherie Swarthout announced McDowell's hiring Thursday.
"We are very excited to launch baseball at Queens University of Charlotte," said Swarthout in the university's press release. "We also couldn't be more pleased with Jack's desire to establish and lead our Royals baseball program. His storied career, coupled with his coaching endeavors uniquely positions our program for success. We look forward to attracting talented young men who will help establish the Royals as a regional and national contender."
We're adding baseball to our roster of @NCAADII sports. The team will be led by former @MLB player Jack McDowell. https://t.co/SlZVb94qWh pic.twitter.com/uSeYH8PB8S
— Queens Univ of CLT (@QueensUniv) March 2, 2017
McDowell made three All-Star teams and won the Cy Young Award in the American League in 1993 during a 12-year major-league career spent mostly with the White Sox. He spent two years coaching Los Angeles Dodgers farm teams but was fired in 2015.
School spokeswoman Phylicia Short says McDowell recently moved to the area, and McDowell says it's been "a dream of mine to be able to build a program from the ground up."
Queens' team will debut at the club level in 2018 before becoming an official Division II sport the following year.
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