Connor McGuiness, who played baseball at Emory from 2009-12 and who also served as the Eagles' pitching coach during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, capped off a memorable first year as Assistant Pitching Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers with a World Series championship.

The Dodgers' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on October 27 gave them a 4-2 series win and the franchise's seventh World series title. Los Angeles compiled a Major League Baseball-best 43-17 record during the 60-game abbreviated schedule and defeated the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series before topping the Atlanta Braves in seven games in the NL Championship Series.

A native of Arlington, Virginia, McGuiness made 41 appearances on the mound for Emory during his four-year collegiate career, helping the program to 95 wins, two University Athletic Association titles and one trip to the NCAA Tournament. During his two-year stint as the Eagles' pitching coach, Emory chalked up a 69-28 won-lost ledger and made two trips to the NCAA D-III Championships, with the 2014 squad finishing as national runner-up.  

"We are all proud of one of our Eagle family, not only reaching the top of his profession, but achieving the pinnacle of success by helping the Dodgers win the World Series, stated Emory Head Baseball Coach Mike Twardoski.  "I know how much hard work Connor put in and I couldn't be more proud to see that work pay off.  We are all excited to see where his professional career goes from here."  

McGuiness joined the Dodgers in 2017 as the pitching coach for the Great Lakes Loons, a Single-A affiliate in the Midwest League. He then spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the High-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes before joining the parent team in December of 2019.