Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Dave Therneau was selected to lead the Embry-Riddle baseball program in August 2024, continuing a career with Eagles baseball that has spanned nearly 10 years. He was the Eagles' assistant coach from 2008-15 before taking over as the pitching coach at nearby NCAA I Stetson.

Therneau rejoined the Embry-Riddle baseball program in 2023 following a seven-year stint at Stetson. He transformed the Stetson pitching staff into one of the best in the nation over his seven seasons with the Hatters, developing nine hurlers who went on to pitch professionally, including Logan Gilbert, the highest drafted player in Stetson program history in 2018 when he was selected 14th overall by the Seattle Mariners.

In his first season as the Eagles’ skipper, Therneau guided an injury-Riddle ball club to a 25-24 overall record.

Over the course of his Stetson tenure, Therneau's staffs posted five of the top 20 single-season ERA performances and seven of the top eight single season efforts in terms of opponent batting average. Additionally, 10 of the top 13 single season individual performances in terms of strikeouts per nine innings were set during his seven seasons.

Therneau was named the Collegiate Baseball National Pitching Coach of the Year in 2018 following Stetson's historic campaign that saw the Hatters win the ASUN regular season and tournament titles. The Hatters also hosted and won an NCAA Regional en route to a NCAA Super Regional appearance and five Hatter hurlers were drafted following the 2018 season.

In eight seasons with the Eagles, Therneau’s pitchers combined to earn 17 All-American honors, while eight were selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Among those picks was Daniel Ponce de Leon, who made his MLB debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 with seven no-hit innings against Cincinnati almost one year to the day after being struck in the head by a line drive and needing emergency surgery.

Therneau also tutored Eagle pitchers who claimed a combined 27 All-Conference honors, including three consecutive Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades from 2009-11. In addition, an Eagle was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week 36 times during Therneau’s tenure.

The Eagles ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation in ERA in seven of Therneau’s eight seasons, including 2010 when Embry-Riddle’s pitching staff led the nation in ERA at 2.63.

Therneau’s career as a coach began in 2004 when he served as a player-coach with the Independent San Angelo Colts. He then served as a two-year head coach in the Strike Zone Upper Deck Collegiate League before joining the Embry-Riddle staff in 2007.

In addition to building an impressive reputation as a pitching coach, Therneau also made a name for himself as a pitcher and was poised to move up to the majors until he was derailed by an arm injury.  He was drafted three times and finally signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1998 after being drafted in the ninth round.
 
One of the fastest moving pitchers within the Reds organization in 1999, Therneau went from Class-A to AAA in a matter of months, moving from the Pioneer League (rookie level) in Billings, Mont., to the AAA Indianapolis Indians. In 1999, he was the first pitcher in all of professional baseball to reach eight wins and helped the Class-A Rockford Reds to the first-half division title.
 
Therneau’s 12-3 record with the Reds resulted in his promotion to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts where a 2-0 record and a 2.75 ERA in three starts earned him yet another promotion to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He finished the season with a 14-5 record, just one level away from the majors.
 
In 2000, Tommy John surgery brought Therneau’s career to an abrupt halt. Although he was able to compete after extensive rehab, his playing career ended in 2004 after he led the Schaumberg Flyers to the Northern League playoffs in 2003 and the New Jersey Jackals to a Northeast League title.
 
Before being drafted, Therneau was an NAIA World Series All-Tournament selection after leading Bellevue (Neb.) to a third-place finish in the 1998 campaign. While at Bellevue, he was an honorable mention All-American and was named to both the All-Conference and All-Region first teams.
 
Therneau transferred to Bellevue from Texas Tech where he went undefeated as part of a rotation that led the Red Raiders to a Big 12 championship in 1997. Prior to Texas Tech, Therneau was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 28th round, but opted instead to attend Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas where he led his team to two consecutive conference championships and was an All-Conference selection in 1995 and 1996.

In the summer of 1997, Therneau played in the Jayhawk Summer League, where he led the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He also led his team to a second place finish at the NBC World Series, and capped his season by being named a first team NBC All-American and All-Tournament selection.
 
Therneau also played with the USA Juniors squad that traveled to Japan to take on the Japanese national team in 1996.
 
A native of Denton, Texas, Therneau played on Denton High School’s baseball team, and was a first team All-State member in 1994.
 
Therneau earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication from Bellevue in 2000.