As Kevin Rudolf's "Let It Rock" blared out of the new state- of-the-art speakers at remodeled Boshamer Stadium, announcing the first batter of the season, a familiar face stayed in the dugout.

And that song Friday afternoon was a far cry from the country songs like Little Big Town's "Boondocks" that used to introduce Chad Flack.

Flack was the winner of the 2007-08 Patterson Medal for top student-athletes and the bat behind three of the most important home runs in Tar Heel baseball history.

He's one of the most recognizable names in UNC baseball history, but this year his name and number are further down the roster than he was used to when he played.

All the way down in fact, as he is now an undergraduate assistant coach with the team. As a fifth year senior who will graduate in May, Flack has exhausted his four years of eligibility.

"It was either get a contract with a professional team or get into coaching," Flack said.

And that decision was almost made for him when he didn't get drafted.

"Coach came to me and told me the position was open," Flack said. "So, I jumped at it."

Flack has a standing invitation to attend spring training with the L.A. Dodgers, but says his concentration is now fully on becoming a coach.

It'd be hard to imagine the polite Forest City native who picks country songs to introduce him in the flashing lights of the big city of L.A. anyways. The guy is so polite he even has a song for you to listen to while you're waiting for him to pick up your phone call.

And, yes, that's a country song too.

Flack is the first student in his position that head coach Mike Fox can remember. The NCAA has strict rules on who can become an undergraduate assistant coach and Flack met all of the requirements.

But it wasn't just the requirements that were met, Fox knew Flack had the desire to be a coach and the qualities to do just that.

"It was kind of a no-brainer to get Chad back involved with the team and on board," Fox said. "He's extremely mature and has great leadership qualities. He was like that as a player, and now he's like that as a coach."

As a former third and first baseman, Flack works mostly with the corner positions doing everything from hitting ground balls to showing them how to field a bunt.

"I'm dealing with all the players and he's dealing with just one player for one practice," Fox said. "It's great for the one player, like third baseman Kyle Seager, to receive that attention and get a lot of pointers."

Fox appreciates the extra help around the field, and he sent Flack out to throw the ceremonial first pitch on opening day of new Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. But Flack said the best way he can help the team has nothing to do with the X's and O's of baseball.

"I'm still their best friend, so I try to play the active medium between coach and friend," he said. "I've been through the ups and downs, so I can be a mentor to them."

And when Flack says he's been through the "ups and downs," it isn't just a line.

As a standout recruit with a breakthrough freshman year, Flack's ceiling for success wasn't even in sight. But, injuries and what some call the breaks of the game led to an overall decrease in production over his college career.

Fox said that Flack handled that all exceptionally well, and now he can teach the players how to do the same.

"He's been through it all, and so it's good to listen," senior Garrett Gore said. "He understands where you're coming from and he knows because he's been there. What he says has got worth to it."

Gore, who was Flack's roommate last year, said Chad can also be a sounding board because he realizes how time consuming being a college baseball player really is. He knows that sometimes you'd like to sit down and eat your sub sandwich instead of wolfing it down on the run while trying it make it to practice on time.

"Chad understands little things like that," Gore said. "You can vent to him."

It's that same closeness that also has the potential to get Flack in trouble. The athletes he now coaches are his former teammates and still his friends.

He can't socialize in the same way as a teammate would, but Gore, now his neighbor, said Flack knows his boundaries and he's even become a sort of "conscience" for the team when they all hang out.

Flack takes his role seriously and performs it with the same professionalism as he would any other job, though this one is unpaid. His stipend comes in experience, and he calls it a stepping stone to his ultimate goal.

He foresees a professional future in coaching and said his time as an assistant coach under Fox has only intensified his desire to have that title as well.

"I definitely want to be a head coach one day, and you have to work your way up just like any other business," he said. "I'm starting out early, so hopefully I'll get an opportunity to move up."