COLLEGE PARK, MD -- New Maryland head baseball coach Matt Swope continued to fill out his coaching staff with the promotion of Maryland baseball alumni to Assistant Coach on Wednesday after serving two years as Maryland's Director of Player Development.

A native of Mount Laurel, New Jersey and Maryland alumni Gardiner becomes an assistant after serving two years as director of player development with the Terrapins. In his two years on staff, the Terps enjoyed two of their most successful seasons in program history, claiming back-to-back outright Big Ten Championships and the program's first conference tournament title in 2023. Gardiner also served as an assistant coach in the New England Collegiate Baseball League during the summer of 2022 with the Sanford Mainers.

"I want to thank Coach Swope for this great opportunity, said Gardiner." "Maryland holds a very special place in my heart and I owe it to the rest of the Dirty Terps alumni to work hard and continue to do things better than they have ever been done before." 

"Tommy is a true Terp and an exceptional infield coach, said Swope." "I'm excited to see him grow into his new role and see the impact he makes with our players on and off the field."

Gardiner played in 108 games for the Terps from 2018-21. In his final season, Gardiner batted .248 with four home runs and 29 RBI's, nearly tripling his career RBI total in the process. Gardiner was also a key fixture on the 2021 Terps team that went to its first regional since 2017, playing all over the infield before settling in at third base.