The ECU baseball program announced the promotion of two of its assistant coaches.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
By ECU Sports Information
East Carolina baseball coach Cliff Godwin announced the promotions of Bryant Packard and Thomas Francisco on the Pirate baseball staff. Packard has been elevated to Hitting Coach and Outfielders Coach, while Francisco has been promoted to Assistant Hitting Coach and Catchers Coach.
Packard entered his fourth season on staff after serving as the program’s Director of Player Development since August 2023. In his expanded role, he will continue overseeing the development of ECU’s hitters and outfielders while playing a larger role in offensive strategy and player development.
As Director of Player Development, Packard managed recruiting efforts, player programming, opponent scouting, analytics, travel operations and mental performance initiatives. He also worked extensively with ECU’s hitters and outfielders, helping develop student-athletes both on and off the field.
With Packard’s guidance in 2026, two Pirates earned Conference Player of the Week honors, one received American Conference Honorable Mention, and Jack Herring claimed Atlantic All-Region recognition along with several Conference accolades.
With Packard’s help in outfield coaching, Braden Burress and Jack Herring were included in D1Baseball’s 2026 Preseason Top 150 Outfielders list (Burress No. 38, Herring No. 96).
A Greenville native and one of the most accomplished players in East Carolina history, Packard returned to his alma mater following a four-year professional career in the Detroit Tigers organization.
Packard’s playing career at ECU remains among the most decorated in program history. A two-time unanimous All-American Athletic Conference selection and the 2018 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, he became the first position player in school history to earn unanimous All-America recognition from every major publication. He helped lead the Pirates to two conference championships and still holds ECU’s all-time hit streak record at 32 consecutive games.
Following his collegiate career, Packard was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He advanced to the Double-A level and was ranked as high as the No. 12 prospect in the Tigers organization before returning to Greenville to begin his coaching career.
Thomas Francisco moves into his new role after serving as ECU’s Director of Baseball Operations and Catching Coach during the 2026 season.
In his previous position, Francisco directed all aspects of team travel, budgeting, equipment operations and daily administrative responsibilities while coordinating recruiting visits, alumni engagement and camps. He also led the development of the Pirate catchers, overseeing instruction in receiving, blocking, throwing, game management and leadership.
Under Francisco’s guidance, Walker Barron became the first ECU catcher since 2019 to earn selection to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List.
Prior to serving as Director of Baseball Operations, Francisco spent the 2024-25 season as a Graduate Manager, assisting with the development of infielders and hitters while supporting daily baseball operations, recruiting efforts and scouting preparation.
A former Pirate standout, Francisco enjoyed a highly successful collegiate career from 2019-21. A Second Team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2021, he helped lead East Carolina to two AAC Regular Season Championships, two NCAA Regional Championships and consecutive NCAA National Seeds.
Following the 2021 season, he was selected in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and spent three seasons in professional baseball before returning to East Carolina.
A three-time AAC All-Academic Team selection and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, Francisco has continued to impact the program as both a mentor and coach since returning to Greenville.
During the 2026 campaign, the Pirates captured the American Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships while advancing to the NCAA Regional Final.
The promotions further strengthen a coaching staff that combines extensive collegiate and professional experience with a deep understanding of East Carolina Baseball’s tradition and championship expectations.