WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Wilmington Sharks announced today that Vanderbilt`s Cliff Godwin will be the head coach of the Sharks for the 2005 Coastal Plain League season. Godwin is in his first year as the director of baseball operations for the Commodores.

A former standout at East Carolina, Godwin was an assistant for the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks last year, working with the catchers and hitters. Before working for the Seahawks, Godwin was an assistant at Kinston High School for a year.

During his playing days as a Pirate, Godwin helped lead ECU to two CAA Tournament crowns in 1999 and 2000, and three NCAA appearances. During the 2001 season, he led the team with 15 home runs, earning him ABCA All-East Region honors. He was also named to the Wilson All-Regional team and to the CoSida Academic All-America team. Godwin was also named to the Academic All-America team as a sophomore.

After his college career, Godwin went on to play two years in the Frontier League with the Gateway Grizzlies.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation`s premier college summer baseball league, featuring 13 teams playing in three states (N.C., S.C., Va.). The league is certified by the NCAA and Major League Baseball, and gives college standouts the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local families for the summer and past experiences have been positive for both players and hosts.