The 2018 ABCA/
Baseball America Assistant Coaches of the Year have been announced in all 11 divisions: NCAA Div. I, NCAA Div. II, III, NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, II & III and High School Div. I, II and III. The 11 honorees will be recognized at the 75th annual ABCA Convention in Dallas, Texas on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 in the clinic hall!
The ABCA and
Baseball America began honoring a National Assistant Coach of the Year annually in 1999.
Duke's Josh Jordan was announced as the NCAA Div. I National Coach of the Year in October . This year, for the first time, the ABCA &
Baseball America are recognizing a National Assistant Coach of the Year in each of the 11 divisions. Coaching expertise, recruiting, loyalty to the program and respect for the players and the game are some of the many criteria examined when reviewing the candidates for the award.
NCAA Div. I: Josh Jordan, Duke University
Joined Duke as recruiting coordinator in 2012...Promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2015...Landed program's second-ever Top-25 recruiting class in 2016...Helped Blue Devils end 55-year NCAA Tournament drought...Set school record with 45 victories & first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2018.
See Also: Baseball America Josh Jordan Feature Article
NCAA Div. II: Sam Militello, University of Tampa
18 seasons at Tampa…Associate Head Coach at UT since 2009…Four National Championships…32 players drafted in MLB Amateur Draft…42-11 record in 2018, lost in NCAA South Regional…Coached 2018 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year, David Lebron.
NCAA Div. III: Kolin Conner, University of Concordia-Chicago
Three seasons at Concordia University-Chicago with a 108-40 record…Back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Div. III World Series…Three conference Championships & two NCAA Regional Championships…40-15 in 2018, up to #2 in Div. III polls which was the highest ranking in school history…has coached three NACC Conference Players of the Year.
NAIA: Keith Lytle, Oklahoma City University
Most wins in NAIA since 1991…14 NAIA World Series appearances including back-to-back in 2017 & 2018…Back-to-back 50 win seasons…led nation in slugging percentage, runner-up in team batting average (.358), runs (621) & doubles (152)…2005 NAIA National Champions.
NJCAA Div. I: Kory Koehler, San Jacinto College
19 seasons with San Jacinto College…Ranked inside of the Top-10 in NJCAA for the past 19 years…Has made 12 JUCO World Series Appearances…Coached 133 players drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft…52-15 in 2018, 3rd place finish at JUCO World Series.
NJCAA Div. II: Alan Orgain, LSU Eunice
Has won five national championships in 12 seasons at LSU Eunice…Won 2018 national title going 59-6…Set team record for wins (59) in 2018…Coached 2018 ABCA/Rawlings NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year & NJCAA Male Athlete of the Year, Zach Hester…Has coached 17 All-Americans at LSU Eunice and has had 40 players drafted by MLB teams.
NJCAA Div. III: Taylor White, Tyler Junior College
116-52 record in three seasons at Tyler Junior College…Won two national titles in three NJCAA Div. III World Series appearances…Took over as Pitching Coach prior to 2018 season and staff finished runner-up in country in strikeouts…Runner-up finish in NJCAA Div. III World Series in 2018…Coached three ABCA/Rawlings National Players of the Year.
Pacific Association: Deskaheh Bomberry, Sacramento City College
21 seasons at Sacramento City College…team went 36-16 in 2018 with runner-up finish in the California State Championship…Pitching staff led the Big 8 Conference in ERA, WHIP, Walks per 9 innings and Hits per 9 innings in 2018…Chosen as 2017 Junior College Assistant Coach of the Year by the Northern CA Scouts Association…Has had 18 Players signed into professional baseball.
High School Div. I: Josh Bayless, Cookeville High School (Tenn.)
Bayless this season helped Cookeville High to a 23-8 record and coached Joshua South, who became the first player in program history to earn all-state honors as a two-way player
High School Div. II: Jacob Clay, Brock High School (Texas)
Clay this season helped Brock High reach the state semifinals in Texas’ 3A division and coached two players named to the all-state team.
High School Div. III: Steve Healy, Boston College High School (Mass.)
Boston College High had a special 2018 season and Healy coached righthander Mike Vasil, who pulled out of the draft in favor of attending the University of Virginia, despite being a likely top-two rounds pick.
See Also: Baseball America Assistant Coaches of the Year Release