Indiana University Athletics
Nori Named Assistant Baseball Coach
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 10, 2005
Micah Nori, a former baseball standout at Indiana from 1994-97, has been named a Hoosier assistant baseball coach, head coach Tracy Smith announced Wednesday. Nori will serve as the Hoosiers' hitting coach, work with the catchers and assist with the infield.
"I'm excited to work with Tracy once again and return to Indiana University," Nori said. "I always said if I ever had the opportunity to get back into coaching, I would hope it would be in Bloomington. I don't know if I would have returned anywhere else."
Nori's familiarity with IU stems back to his father's playing days. Fred Nori suited up for the Hoosiers from 1963-65 and produced a .284 batting average with five home runs and 55 RBI before playing in the New York Mets organization. During Micah's stint at Indiana, he was an integral part of the 1996 team that won the Big Ten tournament, along with Smith, who was the team's pitching coach. The Big Ten champions advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional, where Nori batted .340 in three games.
A mainstay in the middle infield, Nori closed his career with a .305 batting average, 20 home runs, 127 RBI, 116 runs, 35 doubles and 18 stolen bases. His name is still scattered throughout the IU record book, sitting among the top 20 in home runs, RBI, doubles, hits (180), slugging percentage (.483) and extra base hits (60).
In his final campaign, Nori led the team with a .365 batting average, 66 hits, 12 home runs, 59 RBI, two triples, 115 total bases and a .635 slugging percentage. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and received the Jake Gimbel Award for outstanding mental attitude.
"Micah is familiar with IU and fits the bill as an IU guy," Smith said. "He was part of the last championship team here, and I think he is a perfect fit. I know him extremely well and can tell you we are bringing a first-class individual into the program."
After graduating with a bachelor of science degree with an emphasis in sport marketing and management and a minor in business, Nori worked as a graduate assistant under the tutelage of Smith at Miami (Ohio) in 1998. The following season, Nori served as Miami's hitting coach as well as working with the catcher and infielders. Additionally, Nori began working toward a master's in sport organization, which he has nearly completed.
Upon the completion of the 1999 season with the RedHawks, Nori worked as an advanced scout with the National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors, where he remained until accepting the Hoosiers' assistant coaching post.
"(Former Indiana Baseball) Coach (Bob) Morgan did some great things in 22 years here," Nori said. "We're looking to build on that and get Indiana back to where it was when I graduated in 1996. We look forward to producing good baseball players, but more importantly, good people."
Nori and his wife of three years, Melissa, have a 10-month-old son, Dantè. His sister, Denaire, was a 1995 Indiana graduate and a women's basketball manager, and his brother, Brady, played under Smith at Miami before graduating in 2000. In addition, Nori's sister, Emi, also graduated from Miami.