Chad Holbrook has been part of the North Carolina baseball program as a player or assistant coach since 1990, and he’s played a huge role in building the Tar Heels into the national superpower they have become. But he won’t be around to reap the latest fruits of his labors–UNC moving into its brand-new ballpark next year. Instead, he’ll help the other Carolina open its own sparkling new facility.

Holbrook left his job as North Carolina’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator on Monday to accept the same position on Ray Tanner’s staff at South Carolina. It’s a phenomenal hire for the Gamecocks, whose recruiting coordinator Monte Lee left to take the head job at College of Charleston last week. Holbrook might very well be the nation’s best recruiter and is underrated as a hitting coach; the Tar Heels have posted seven of the eight highest team batting averages in school history under his watch.

"I am very excited to have Coach Holbrook and his family become a part of Gamecock Nation," Tanner said in a statement. "He is truly one of the finest coaches and recruiters in all of college baseball. His experience and expertise will be an asset to our baseball program."

Family considerations played a part in Holbrook’s decision to leave a North Carolina program that looks poised to make a fourth straight College World Series run in 2008. His son, Reece, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004, and his wife, Jennifer, has family in Columbia.

"This was such a difficult decision because of the generosity and support that Jennifer and I have received from the Carolina family through some tough times with our son, Reece," Holbrook said in a statement. "While we move on to other professional opportunities, our hearts and souls will always be in Chapel Hill, and we’ll forever be Tar Heels.

“This was both a professional and a family decision. Jennifer and I are excited about being able to give our sons, Reece and Cooper, more time to spend with family and grandparents that they have not had in the past. With Reece’s situation that was important to us.”

In other Carolinas coaching news, new High Point coach Craig Cozart hired Bryan Peters as his recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. Cozart and Peters worked together on Jay Bergman’s staff as Central Florida the last two years, and Peters’ 13-year coaching career also includes stints at Stetson and South Florida.

"When I came to High Point to take this job, I knew that I wanted Bryan Peters on my staff," Cozart said in a statement. "His ability to recruit and establish relationships as well as his ability to identify talent was a must for our program. He has a very successful philosophy on offense and does a tremendous job of relating to players. He was a guy that I had to have in order to accomplish the goals we have set for High Point baseball."