Former Cougar named new manager for St. Louis Cardinals

Former College of Charleston baseball player Oliver ‘Oli’ Marmol has been named the 51st coach of the St. Louis Cardinals after serving as the team’s bench coach for the past two seasons, club officials said at a press conference on Monday, October 25, 2021.

With his rise, Marmol became the youngest manager in Major League Baseball.

“It’s an exciting day,” Marmol said at the press conference. “I am honored to sit here and be given this opportunity. The DeWitt family has built a winning tradition and an absolutely remarkable rich history here. For them to trust me as the guardian of this heritage is incredibly humiliating. “

A native of Orlando, Fla., Marmol arrived in college ahead of the 2005 campaign and quickly put his mark on the program with .327 with 11 home runs, 49 doubles, eight triples and 102 RBIs in three seasons with the Cougars. The quick shortstop easily had his best season at CofC in 2007 scoring 0.345 with 20 doubles, seven homers, 45 RBIs and 28 goals stolen to earn a spot on the All-SoCon first team. His 84 points scored that spring rank third on the program’s single-season list. He is eighth all-time in doubles, triples and stolen goals, and ninth in runs scored (171).

“Everyone here at the College is thrilled with Oli,” says Chad Holbrook, head coach of the CofC. “When a former player and representative of our baseball program becomes a major league coach, all you can say is wow! It just goes to show that character, work ethic, and persistence often pay off. Everyone associated with our program could not be happier for him and we know he will do an amazing job.

Read the full story at cofcsports.com.