1. Academics The men of the diamond upheld UNC’s number 28 U.S. News ranking with an impressive 985 APR in the classroom [1000 is a perfect score]. “I’m interested in becoming a business major, and the Kenan-Flagler Business School is one of the best in the nation,” Munnelly says. “You need a fallback plan with baseball since anything can happen one day; so I figured getting a great education from Carolina would set me up for life.”
2. Baseball Program Since taking the reins back in 1998, head coach Mike Fox has transformed this basketball-crazy school into one of the premiere baseball factories in the collegiate ranks. Stats don’t lie. Four straight College World Series appearances, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2006. 450-plus wins since ‘98. More than 16 All- American honors. Over 12 ACC Academic Honor Roll members. Twenty-seven professional baseball players and counting. “Scott Forbes, our pitching coach, was the 2008 National College Pitching Coach of the Year,” Munnelly says. “After talking with him and some of the older pitchers, like Alex White [2009 MLB Draft first-rounder] and Adam Warren [2009 MLB Draft fourth-rounder], they said that they developed so much here. I’ve been here about a month, and I’ve already learned more here than I did in high school.”
3. Chemistry Baseball success at UNC extends beyond the foul lines. “Here at UNC, you’re part of a team and everyone is equal,” the frosh says. “Everybody hangs out together. The chemistry on the team is really awesome, so it’s probably a major reason why we do so well.”
4. Campus Atmosphere Tobacco Road. Dean Smith. Michael Jordan. Saturday afternoons in the fall. Sure, they have nothing to do with baseball; but hey, you’re not spending all of your time in the batting cage or library. “The atmosphere here is unmatched,” the college newbie observes. “Everyone here makes it seem like family, and everyone here make you feel so welcome when you step on campus. Chapel Hill is a great college town, from Franklin Street down to the Dean Dome. The student section, ‘The Tar Pit,’ is nuts at football games.”
5. Location Munnelly admits, “UNC has been my dream school since I was a little kid, so really, it was icing on the cake to receive a scholarship offer.” In addition to its strong baseball and academic prowess, location also played a decisive role in this Winston-Salem native’s decision. “Going out of state is a hassle,” laughs the 6’2” righty. “UNC is an hour-and-a-half away from a good home-cooked meal.”
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