Good morning. ECU Baseball was selected No. 1 in the 2025 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll!

What else are we mixing into today's Brew?

🏈 New defensive coordinator
🏀 Women beat VCU
​🏴‍☠️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Beefing Up the D-Line. Josh Aldridge has been named East Carolina's new defensive coordinator according to an announcement by head coach Blake Harrell. His acceptance to lead the Pirates' defense ends a two-year stay at Auburn (2023-24). Serving as the defensive edge coach in 2024, he was part of a staff that finished in the Top 31 of FBS leaders.

🏈 Learn more about Aldridge.

🔼 We’d Like to Report a Theft. The East Carolina women's basketball team came back from the dead to steal a victory from the VCU Rams, 48-46, on Wednesday evening in Minges Coliseum. Khia Miller sank two free throws off of a Journee McDaniel blocked shot in the final 20 seconds to win it.

🏀 Read more about the victory.
🏆 McDaniel is the Player of the Game.

🔼 Oh, Baby. We’ve got a few quick hits from the Twitterverse (X-verse?), including the Baby Race info above! 👆🏼

💜 Amiya Joyner made a special delivery to the Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health thank you to everyone who donated toys to help make this possible.
📚 Grades are in, and the Pirates prove they’re not “just athletes!” Head to the Athletics X page to see how well each team has done.

With Avelo Airlines, you can say goodbye to layovers, and hello to hassle-free travel with everyday low fares, reliable service, and no change or cancel fees! Take $20 off round trip base fares* when you book by the end of the season with promo code ECU20.

^{* $20 off ECU20 promo code discount applies to round trip bookings only. Book and travel by 6/30/25. Expiration date cannot be extended. To receive promo savings, enter promo code on aveloair.com when you begin your search or on the payment page. Per the Department of Transportation (DOT), advertised fares must include all government taxes and fees. Please note, this discount applies to base fare only, and does not apply to government taxes or certain carrier-imposed fees. For full terms and conditions, please visit Contract of Carriage at AveloAir.com.}

🤔 PIRATES TRIVIA

Quadruple the Honors. The volleyball team had four athletes named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

Angeles Alderete, Kenzie Beckham, Ellie Pate and _____ earned the honor.

Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

For more information on how you can support ECU Student Athletes through Team Boneyard, please email Doug Gomes at [email protected] or visit the Team Boneyard website.

⏪ ICYMI

We like our Brew Hot ‘n’ Fresh. But we’re not opposed to you reheating your cup. Here’s some news you may have missed recently…

🏴‍☠️ New Role. The women’s soccer team announced Emily Buccilla as the new head coach. Buccilla has been the assistant coach for the past seven seasons. She is the sixth head coach in ECU soccer history. She is the first female coach in program history.

⚽️ Read more about Buccilla.

📅 THE DAYS AHEAD

Friday, December 20

🏊 Women’s Swim FAU Invite @ 10am ET

Saturday, December 21

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. UNCW @ Noon ET | Live Stats | Watch
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Gardner-Webb @ 3pm ET | Listen | Live Stats | Watch

🏴‍☠️ View the full ECU Pirates schedule here.

📬 SHARE THE BREW

Do you know a friend or family member who is a Pirate fan? Simply forward them this email and they can sign up to receive the brew by clicking the link below to subscribe. The Brew is sent every weekday and is completely free!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Lara Uyar!

🏴‍☠️ Have a great Friday, y’all!