One of college baseball’s newest coaches called on a former mentor – who just happens to be a World Series most valuable player -- for help during fall practice.

Gallaudet coach Curtis Pride played Triple-A baseball for Bucky Dent, MVP of the 1978 series for the New York Yankees, and recently asked Dent to help teach the Bison baseball fundamentals.

“I wanted to help Curtis since he played for me. It is an honor to come out and meet his players and be here at the university,” said Dent, who managed Pride in Columbus, Ohio, then the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.

"We were fortunate to have Bucky Dent share his experience and expertise with our players, especially the infielders,” said Pride, who played for six Major League Baseball teams after being born profoundly deaf. Pride is beginning his second season at Gallaudet.

“I know that my entire team has benefited tremendously from the instruction provided by him. I have had a great deal of positive feedback from players who felt that Bucky made a significant contribution to improving their defensive skills. It is my intent to invite a former major-league player with exceptional teaching skills to work with my players during each fall practice.”

Dent spent three days with the team, hitting grounders to infielders and demonstrating fielding and throwing techniques.

“It is exciting to see how Gallaudet’s players play the game,” he said. “It is great to deal with kids who want to learn the game. There is a different approach in teaching (at Gallaudet), but in the end it is all about the game of baseball.”

Gallaudet is the only university in the world in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Dent played on two world-championship teams with the Yankees, and also is remembered for propelling the 1978 team into that year’s playoffs with a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in a tie-breaking game for the American League East crown.