MONTGOMERY, Ala. ------ Auburn University at Montgomery baseball head coach Q.V. Lowe has announced the hiring of Clay Booth as the new assistant coach for the program.

Booth replaces long-time associate head coach Marty Lovrich, who accepted the head coaching position at Southern Polytechnic State University in June.

"Clay played here and was a graduate assistant here, so he knows what AUM baseball strives to be," Lowe said. "He is fully aware of the requirements of this position, from recruiting, to field work, to paperwork, to individual coaching. He is extremely dedicated and committed to AUM and I know he will do a great job."

Booth spent the previous three seasons on the Warhawks' staff as a graduate assistant, following a two-year playing career with the team.

As a graduate assistant coach, Booth worked defensively with the catchers, while also helping with the team offensively. He assisted with the scouting of opponents, recruiting of student-athletes, opponent scheduling, coordinating travel and organizing and assisting with fundraisers. He also helped with field maintenance and community service projects.

A member of the 2009 AUM team which advanced to the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round, Booth appeared in 80 career games for the Warhawks, finishing with a .291 career batting average. He recorded 12 doubles and four home runs, while driving in 46 runs. 

Prior to his arrival at AUM, Booth was a two-year letterwinner at Shelton State Community College, where he helped the Bucs to a fourth-place finish at the Junior College World Series as a senior. During his career at SSCC, Booth posted a .296 batting average, with 11 doubles and 41 runs batted in.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Booth prepped at Tuscaloosa High School, where he played for head coach Kenny Burns.

The son of Billy and Tracey Booth, he earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education and sports leadership from AUM in 2010.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to coach the game I love at the school I graduated from," Booth said. "Coach Lowe has built a tradition here that is like no other, so I am excited about the chance to add to that tradition as an assistant coach. I know the expectations of AUM baseball and look forward to the challenge of helping the program to a new level."