Oklahoma State assistant taking over Penn State baseball team

Sunday, August 22nd 2004, 10:24 am

By: News On 6

Robbie Wine, who has 23 years of playing and coaching experience at the college and major league levels, has been hired to be Penn State's head baseball coach, director of athletics Tim Curley announced Saturday.

Wine, the son of former Philadelphia Phillie Bobby Wine, will be formally introduced Aug. 30

Wine, who will take over for recently retired Joe Hindelang, will lead the Nittany Lions after spending the past seven seasons as assistant coach in charge of hitting and defense at Oklahoma State. Wine also oversaw talent evaluation, recruiting and office administration for the Cowboys.

"We are thrilled to welcome Robbie Wine, as our 13th head baseball coach, and his family to Penn State," Curley said. "Robbie has a tremendous background as an elite baseball player and coach. He brings great energy, enthusiasm and passion to our program, and we are confident the future is very bright under his leadership."

"We are excited for Robbie and at the same time we hate to lose him," said Oklahoma State head coach Frank Anderson. "This job will allow him to run his own program and I think he will be a great fit for Penn State. His track record with player development and the offensive ballclubs that he has produced at Oklahoma State speak for themselves. We wish him good luck and think that he will do a great job for the Nittany Lions."

Wine, 42, will begin an immediate search to fill the one remaining assistant coaching position he has. Assistant coach Jon Ramsey has remained on staff and will assist in coaching the hitters and defense.

Wine was a two-time All-American catcher at Oklahoma State before being taken by the Houston Astros in the first round (8th overall) of the 1983 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, the second highest pick in Cowboys history. He was the Sporting News 1982 Player of the Year when he set Oklahoma State's home run record. He made three appearances in the College World Series as a player, including a second-place finish in 1981.

Wine spent 14 years in professional baseball, including nine as a player and five as a coach. He spent 1991 as a hitting coach, third base coach and defensive coach for the Miami Miracle of the Florida State League. He worked for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1993-96 as an assistant bullpen coach and a roving catching instructor.

In 2004, the Cowboys hit .312, which was third in the Big 12, and had 48 home runs.

Wine and his wife, Shealynn, have two children, a son Cory (17) and a daughter Mackenzie (13).