ELON, N.C. ? Dave Blank, Director of Athletics at Elon University, has announced that the school and baseball head coach Mike Kennedy have agreed to a contract extension which will keep the 13-year Phoenix skipper with the Southern Conference program through the 2014 season.
“Mike and his staff have done such a great job with our baseball program ? two consecutive 40+ win seasons (the first in school history) including conference championships, back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and a top-25 national ranking,” said Blank. “We are extremely happy to have Mike leading our program and we feel it is both appropriate and important to recognize his accomplishments with a solid commitment to the future of our coach, his family, and Elon University baseball.”
Kennedy was rewarded for his work, which includes leading Elon to its first-ever back-to-back Southern Conference regular season titles and trips to the NCAA Division I Regionals. In 2009, Kennedy’s squad finished 41-18 and appeared in the Atlanta Regional. It marked the fourth NCAA Regional appearance in eight seasons for Kennedy’s Elon squad. The Phoenix also achieved its highest-ever NCAA Division I ranking in 2009, peaking at No. 22 late in the season.
In the past 13 campaigns, Kennedy, a three-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, has amassed a program-record 436 victories. Included among that win total are 19 decisions over top-25 teams in the past 11 years.
“Elon is a special place with special people,” stated Kennedy. “This is clearly evident by the support and commitment made to me by Coach Blank, Dr. Gerry Francis and President Leo Lambert. I am excited about where Elon baseball is and I look forward to the future and the opportunity to continue to build on our current success. I also understand that I would not be in this position without the help of my current staff, the Elon community and, most importantly, my current and former players."
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the Phoenix program has racked up 12 winning seasons over the past 13 campaigns. His teams have won 30 or more games in all 10 official NCAA Division I years and have posted three seasons of 40 or more victories.
As head coach, Kennedy, who will serve as the pitching coach for Team USA (Collegiate) this summer, has coached 22 first team all-conference honorees, 27 second teamers, 22 conference all-tournament selections, nine all-region players, three all-region tournament picks, 11 all-state honorees, one league Player of the Year, one league Pitcher of the Year, two league Freshmen of the Year, two Freshman All-Americans and two academic All-Americans. Prior to the 2009 draft, Kennedy has worked with 25 players (23 as head coach) who have gone on to play professional baseball.
Kennedy Year-by-Year as Head Coach
Year ? Record ? Pct. ? Notes
1997 ? 34-16 ? .680 ? South Atlantic Conference Champion (NCAA Division II South Central Regional)
1998 ? 26-22 ? .542 ? Reclassification
1999 ? 20-35-1 ? .366 ? Reclassification
2000 ? 33-25 ? .563 ? T-4th Big South Conference
2001 ? 30-27 ? .526 ? 4th Big South Conference
2002 ? 34-23 ? .596 ? 2nd Big South Conference (NCAA Division I Clemson Regional)
2003 ? 34-23-2 ? .593 ? T-2nd Big South Conference
2004 ? 31-28 ? .525 ? 4th Southern Conference
2005 ? 32-25 ? .561 ? T-3rd Southern Conference
2006 ? 45-18 ? .714 ? 1st Southern Conference (NCAA Division I Clemson Regional; School-Record Wins)
2007 ? 32-29 ? .525 ? 3rd Southern Conference
2008 ? 44-18 ? .710 ? 1st Southern Conference (NCAA Division I Cary Regional;
Southern Conference Tournament Champions)
2009 ? 41-18 ? .695 ? 1st Southern Conference (NCAA Division I Atlanta Regional)
Career ? 436-307-3 ? .587