No Hype. Just Results: Inside UNC’s Pitching Lab with Bryant Gaines and the Staff Behind the ACC’s Best ERA

UNC didn’t just lead the ACC in ERA this season—they did it by nearly a run and a half.

Senior right-hander Jake Knapp set the tone, becoming the first Tar Heel since J.B. Bukauskas in 2017 to be named ACC Pitcher of the Year—just the fifth in program history. He went 11–0 with a 2.14 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP, two complete games, and held hitters to a .187 average across 80 innings.

But it wasn’t just Knapp. It was the depth. Across roles and situations, UNC got reliable innings from a staff that executed consistently and gave them a chance every time out. That’s how you lead a league like the ACC in ERA—by getting it from more than one guy. The Diamond Heels boast a deep bullpen in 2025.

At the center of it all is Bryant Gaines, now in his fifth year as assistant head coach and sixth as pitching coach. He’s not chasing headlines. He’s coaching reps. Helping pitchers stay consistent. And making sure they understand how to keep improving.

Gaines has spent 15 seasons in Chapel Hill—four as a player, six under Hall of Fame coach Mike Fox, and the rest helping shape one of the most respected development systems in college baseball. Since 2020, UNC has produced eight MLB Draft picks, multiple All-ACC selections, and back-to-back pitching staffs that have ranked among the nation’s best.

In December 2023, UNC added the NewtForce Mound to their Pitching Lab. Gaines and Jason Howell, UNC’s Director of Pitching Performance, Development and Analytics, integrated it immediately. It didn’t change how they coached. It just confirmed what they already saw—giving them real-time ground force data they could use to spot issues early and make more targeted adjustments during sessions.

In the Q&A below, Gaines breaks down how the staff operates, how tools like NewtForce fit into the process, and why internal clarity—not external noise—is what’s driving this program forward.

Q&A with Bryant Gaines: How UNC Uses the NewtForce Mound in Their Pitching Lab

Former MLB pitcher Zach Day asks Bryant Gaines – UNC Assistant Head Coach – how UNC uses the NewtForce Mound inside their Pitching Lab to support pitching development.

Zach Day: You led the ACC in ERA by nearly a run and a half. What made this staff so effective all year—and what do you think separated them from the rest of the league?

Bryant Gaines: A forward focus and competing with themselves. We don't talk about other teams or our opponents very much. Instead, our pitchers do a great job of looking at each day as an opportunity to improve from yesterday. They all understand specific areas they need to improve or haven't performed to their capability in. At this point in the year, they all know who they are, and each day provides an opportunity to improve in a number of different ways.

Zach Day: Since adding the NewtForce Mound, what patterns or movement traits have you been able to spot—and correct—quicker than before?

Bryant Gaines: A number of things coaches have always been able to see, but not necessarily pinpoint or explain, are clear and obvious with the graphs and numbers the NewtForce mound provides. Instead of giving a pitcher an opinion of something you thought you saw, you can validate it immediately—whether it’s correct or not. This really helps identify what, when, and where there are discrepancies in the delivery of each individual pitcher.

Zach Day: When a pitcher’s struggling with their first move or generating force, how do you use the mound data to help guide your approach?

Bryant Gaines: Our pitchers throw off the mound in bullpens for two weeks before we ever begin to make any changes. We want to understand what they each do well, do poorly, and anything in between. We won’t make any adjustments until a large amount of data is collected. At that point, we provide drills and information that help correct whatever part of their delivery needs improvement. In some cases, it may not be about making changes at all—just staying consistent with what they do. This is why we’ll have each pitcher throw off the NewtForce mound every 2–3 weeks, so we can make sure they're at a good baseline.

Zach Day: You’ve helped multiple guys make big jumps—Love, Palermo, Carlson. Was there a specific “aha” moment this year where the data backed up what you were seeing?

Bryant Gaines: We relate everything back to the game—being efficient and effective in ways that play to each pitcher’s strengths. They know that if they improve parts of their delivery, get stronger, or improve timing, it’ll help them become more complete pitchers. By understanding their individual strengths and weaknesses through the tech, they have a much clearer plan for development throughout the year.

Real-Time Feedback in the Pitching Lab: Where NewtForce Fits

UNC’s staff doesn’t talk much about being different. They focus on what works.

Under Bryant Gaines and Jason Howell, the Tar Heels have built a system that prioritizes clarity, consistency, and trust. The NewtForce Mound is one of the tools they use to stay sharp—capturing what’s happening in the lower half and turning that data into useful, timely feedback.

It’s not about having more information. It’s about knowing how to use it.

And in Chapel Hill, that’s what’s helping turn reps into results.