Ben Buck returned to the Denver area as the top assistant coachfor head coach Dan McDermott and enters his second season as theRangers pitching coach in 2012-13. The Skyview High School productpreviously spent three seasons as the pitching coach/recruitingcoordinator at his alma mater Lamar Community College in Lamar,Colo.
Buck helped lead the Rangers to their second ever berth in theNCAA Tournament in 2012. He led the Ranger pitching staff tothe third lowest ERA in school history at 4.64 and tied for theschool record holding opponent batters to just .285 hitting. One pitcher, Aaron Harms, was named to the NCAA CentralRegion Second Team.
While being the Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Lamar,he contributed to 152 wins, two Region 9 Championships, two EmpireConference Championships and two District appearances. He hadthe privilege to coach two players selected in the MLB Draft, fourAll-Americans, and over 25 all-region selections, while placingover 30 sophomores to four-year institutions.
Buck spent his first two seasons of his playing career at LamarCC (2001-02) and left Lamar as the all-time leader with 18 careersaves. In two seasons he helped guide LCC to 106 winsincluding a #3 final ranking and a third place finish at the JUCOWorld Series in 2002. In 2002, Buck finished the season witha 1.06 ERA and nine saves, 3rd in the nation, and just 11 walks in26 innings. He is second all-time with his 1.06 ERA in 2002and also second in career ERA.
Following his two years at LCC, Buck continued his collegiatecareer at The University of Utah. Used primarily as a closer, Buckappeared in 26 games as a junior and had 22 strikeouts in 29innings. As a senior he appeared in 35 games and startednine. He finished his career with 61 appearances, 117 inningspitched, 71 strikeouts, and seven wins. During his senioryear, Buck led the Utes in wins with six and appearances.
Buck then pitched professionally for the Mid-Missouri Mavericksin 2004, an independent Frontier League club affiliated with theMilwaukee Brewers.
Buck was a feature speaker at the College Coaches Skills Camp inDecember of 2010 and will be in charge of the Ranger pitchers.
