July 14, 2004
It might have taken 21 years, but former University of Texas - Pan American standout Jim Hickey has finally achieved his dream of reaching the big leagues.
Hickey, pitching coach for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, was named the pitching coach for the Houston Astros on Wednesday (July 14). He was added to the staff along with new manager Phil Garner and hitting coach Gary Gaetti.
After serving seven seasons with New Orleans, Hickey's pitching staffs were considered some of the best in Triple-A as the Zephyrs led the Pacific Coast League in ERA in 2002 and 2003. During the 2001 season, the Zephyrs had the second lowest ERA in the league. In 1998, Hickey was a member of the coaching staff when New Orleans won its first ever Triple-A World Series title.
Hickey spent 14 seasons as a pitching coach in the Houston organization. In 2002, he was named the pitching coach of the Major League Baseball Futures Game and was named the Houston Astros Player Development Coach of the Year.
A former first team All-American selection in 1983, Hickey finished the season with an incredible 16-2 record with a 1.66 earned run average. He struck out 109 hitters in 130.1 innings of action while only surrendering 29 walks. He started 18 games for the Broncs that season, completing 16 under former UTPA head coach Al Olgetree.
With Hickey in the pitching rotation in 1983, UTPA set a school-record by winning 64 games and advancing to the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. Behind his arm, the Broncs defeated Grambling State, 5-0, in the first round then followed up with a 9-8 victory over Northeast Louisiana. UTPA dropped its next two games to Mississippi State and Texas.
Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 13th round, Hickey posted a 7-4 record in his first season with Niagara Falls, NY. He spent eight seasons in the minors with the White Sox, Dodgers and Astros.
Hickey joins Florida Marlins' first base coach Perry Hill as the only two former UTPA players to currently coach in Major League Baseball.
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