Allen Osborne, head baseball coach at Wingate University, has been named an assistant coach at the University of Georgia according to an announcement Monday by Bulldog head coach David Perno.

Osborne will serve as the hitting instructor, coach third base, and assist in recruiting and camps. He returns to the Bulldogs where he first served as a graduate assistant under Robert Sapp in 1997-98, then as a volunteer assistant under Ron Polk in 2000-01 and Perno in 2002. In 2001, Georgia won the Southeastern Conference title and advanced to the College World Series. In 2002, Osborne helped Georgia qualify for back-to-back NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history.

Osborne has spent the past three years rebuilding the Wingate program as the Bulldogs captured the 2010 South Atlantic Conference title, the first since 2000. The Bulldogs advanced to the SAC Tournament each year under Osborne and increased their win total. The 19 conference wins by the Bulldogs in 2010 was the second most in school history.

“We’re excited to have Allen back with the Bulldogs,” said Perno. “I coached him at Marshall and have watched him grow as a coach, and we’re pleased to see him return to our program.”

Prior to directing the Wingate program, Osborne spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis. Osborne served as the hitting and catching instructor, and the third base coach. In addition, he coordinated camps and field maintenance for the Tigers. That year, Memphis made their first NCAA Regional appearance since 1994 and posted its most regular season wins in 13 years.

Osborne’s coaching career includes three years as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at East Carolina University. The Pirates made the NCAA Regionals in all three of his seasons in Greenville. In 2004, the Pirates were ranked as high as fourth nationally and posted a final record of 51-13 after falling to South Carolina in an NCAA Super Regional.

Osborne was a four-year letterman for the Marshall Thundering Herd. He was the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 1992 and earned All-Southern Conference honors as a catcher in his career. He earned a criminal justice degree from Marshall in 1995. While at Georgia, he earned a masters of education in sport management in 1998.

A native of Chesapeake, Ohio, Osborne is married to the former Janey Wheeler. They have a four-year-old daughter, Ellason Grace.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for my family and me to return to the University of Georgia and Athens,” said Osborne. “I’m looking forward to working with the Georgia Bulldogs and Coach Perno again.”