Former Major League pitcher Seth McClung is stepping away from the dugout. After two seasons at the helm, McClung announced he will resign as head baseball coach of Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina, following the 2026 season.
"At the conclusion of the 2026 season, I will no longer be leading the Ashbrook baseball program," McClung shared in a social media post. "I'm extremely proud of everything we accomplished this year. We improved in virtually every statistical category, won 12 games, and posted the second-best record at Ashbrook over the last 20 seasons."
McClung, who pitched in the MLB from 2003 to 2009, took over a program in need of a spark. In his first season, he engineered a remarkable turnaround, leading the Greenwave to a 10-16 record—a six-win improvement from the previous year's 4-18 mark. The team's 12 wins in 2026 marked the second-best season for the school in two decades.
Beyond the wins and losses, McClung emphasized the culture shift. "I'm also very proud of the amount of equipment and gear we were able to provide for our players and the program," he noted, highlighting the tangible support that often makes a difference at the high school level.
The former big-league pitcher also took a moment to honor his coaching partner. "I'd like to acknowledge Coach David Blanton. Coaching alongside my former youth league coach was an absolute joy. Congratulations to him on his decades of service to youth sports and to the countless kids whose lives he has impacted. I'm proud to say I am one of those kids."
McClung's influence extends beyond Ashbrook. In 2024, he led Tarpon Springs (Florida) to a stunning 17-11 record after the team went just 6-21 the year before. He followed that up with a 13-15 mark in 2025, the program's best in 13 seasons.
McClung, who is the uncle of former Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung, finished his six-year MLB career with a 26-35 record, 346 strikeouts, and a 5.46 ERA. Now, as he prepares to hand over the reins, he leaves the Greenwave program on solid footing. "Moving forward, the next head coach will have a program moving in the right direction with plenty to build upon," he said.
Ashbrook High School, a public institution known for its strong academics and diverse athletics since 1971, will begin its search for a new leader. The Greenwave will look to carry McClung's momentum into the 2026 season and beyond.