A familiar name to Hawk fans, Alex Pracher returns to Hawk Hill as a volunteer assistant for the 2013 season. Pracher spent three seasons as an undergrad at Stanford before pitching for the Hawks as a graduate student in 2012. With the Cardinal, Pracher ranked second on the team in appearances in 2008 as Stanford reached the College World Series. In 2010, he was the squad's closer, going 6-4 with a 3.15 earned run average, helping lead the Cardinal to the NCAA Regionals.

Pracher, a native of Marlton, N.J., returned to the Philadelphia area to pitch for head coach Fritz Hamburg and the Hawks in 2012. He posted the second-highest single-season innings total in SJU history as a key cog in a starting rotation that helped lead Saint Joseph's to its first-ever berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship. In the Hawks' first postseason contest in 38 years, Pracher tossed a five-hit shutout as SJU topped Rhode Island, 3-0; for his efforts, Pracher was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team.

"Alex's transition from player to coach is a great benefit for not only the players but our coaching staff as well," explained Hamburg. "Last summer, I was really excited that he chose Saint Joseph's to further his education and use his final year of collegiate eligibility. He was a major contributor to the progress we made this past season. His preparation throughout the year was always top-notch and that certainly left a very strong impression on his teammates and me. Alex is going to be an outstanding coach and I'm very happy that he is beginning his coaching career on Hawk Hill."

Pracher will assist with the Hawk pitching staff and will serve as the first base coach. He will also assist with the administration of camps and lessons.

Collegiate Playing Career

2012: Joined the Hawk pitching staff for his graduate season...Made 16 appearances, 14 of them starts, and notched five wins...Posted a 3.79 earned run average as a weekend starter...Led the team with four complete games, including two shutouts...Tossed a two-hitter in blanking George Washington, 4-0, on May 5...Took the ball for SJU's first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship appearance and held Rhode Island to five hits in a 3-0 win on May 23...His 95 innings pitched surpassed a 47-year-old school record and now rank as the second-highest single-season total in school history...Named to the Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team...Earned A-10 Pitcher of the Week honors on April 7, and was named the Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball Pitcher of the Week on April 10 and May 8.

2008-10 (at Stanford): Served as the closer for Stanford in 2010, posting a 6-4 record with four saves and a 3.15 earned run average...Helped the Cardinal reach the NCAA Regionals that year...Also ranked second on the team in appearances in 2008 and 2009...Member of the Cardinal's 2008 College World Series squad...Named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team in 2010.

High School: Four-time All-South Jersey honoree (2004-07)...Cherokee reached the playoffs in each of his four years, including a 2005 South Jersey Group 4 title...Notched 16 career wins and a school record nine career saves...Named the 2007 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Award winner...Played for the Tri-State Arsenal AAU squad, winning a national championship in 2004.

Personal: Earned a degree in political science from Stanford University and is pursuing a graduate degree in criminal justice at Saint Joseph's...Born on December 15, 1988 to Bob and Tina Pracher.

29   Alex Pracher
	Position: Assistant Coach - 1st Year Alma Mater: Stanford '11