"Coach Penders is a dynamic leader with an impressive baseball background and coaching pedigree. He is deeply committed to the total student-athlete experience," said Debbie Taylor, director of Athletics at St. Edward's. "We feel Rob will be a tremendous asset to our team members both on and off the field. He has the ability to make our team a competitive force while competing for Heartland Conference titles, and against the elite teams at the NCAA Division II level."

Penders arrived at UT-Austin in January of 2006 for his second tour of duty with the Longhorns. He had previously served on the coaching staff for two seasons in 1999, and again in 2000 when the team reached the NCAA Division I College World Series.

"I am truly appreciative and flattered to have been given this opportunity," said Penders. "It's an ideal fit for me. St. Edward's has a strong commitment to academics, ethics, community, and being competitive athletically. I am excited about the chance to take over a squad that finished second in the Heartland Conference last year, all while being able to stay right here in Austin. There's not much more I could want."

Between his tenures at UT, Penders spent time as an assistant during the 2001 season at Galveston College, and then from 2002 to 2005 at San Jacinto College. During his four years at San Jacinto, the team qualified for the Junior College World Series three times, including a third place finish in 2002, and second place honors in 2003 and 2004.

As a college player, Penders was a four-year letterman for the Deamon Deacons and a team captain as a junior and senior. He played multiple positions, but primarily third base, and was voted to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic Team three times from 1994-1996.

In his prep days, Penders was a two-time All-State shortstop at East Catholic High School in Manchester, Conn. He played there for his father, Jim Penders, who was the National High School Coach of the Year in 1996. Rob's brother Jim currently serves as the head baseball coach for the University of Connecticut, where his father, and uncle Tom Penders (Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Houston), were members of the 1965 Huskies College World Series team.