Conner Named San Diego Padres Organizational Scout of the Year

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – In only his first year with the organization, former USC Aiken pitching coach Mark Conner was named the 2010 San Diego Padres organizational Scout of the Year last week.

Conner received the award at the 13th Annual San Diego Padres Awards Dinner held at the San Diego Hall of Champions.

Over the course of his first year in the Padres organization, Conner’s coverage included Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. In the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Conner signed Chris Bisson, the club's fourth-round selection out of the University of Kentucky, as well as Wes Cunningham, the club's 17th-round selection out of Murray State.

According to the Padres, Conner was chosen as the Padres’ Denny Galehouse Scout of the Year because of his thoroughness and diligence in covering his territory and exhausting all resources to gather information on players he scouted.

Conner was the Pacer pitching coach for five seasons (2005-09). He helped the Pacers to a school-record 47 wins in 2008 and the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship in 2009.

Conner came to USCA from Indian Hills Community College, located in Centerville, Iowa. As an assistant coach for the nationally-ranked junior college, Conner worked with pitchers and catchers and managed the strength and conditioning program. He also served as head coach of the junior varsity baseball program.

Prior to working at Indian Hills, Conner was an assistant coach for Cumberland University (Tenn.) for four seasons. He also served as the recruiting coordinator.

As a player at Cumberland, Conner was a four-year standout catcher, earning Mid-South All-Conference honors in 1998. A member of four conference championships (1996-99), his Cumberland squads appeared in three NAIA World Series.

Conner earned his Bachelor's of Arts and Master's of Arts degrees in Education from Cumberland in 1999.