Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Baseball Announces Staffing Changes
7/11/2017 9:20:00 AM | Baseball
Collins returns to Louisiana-Monroe, roles and Haynes and Clowers changed
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head baseball coach Johnny Cardenas announced a number of coaching changes Tuesday morning that will take effect immediately.
Following three seasons as the Lumberjacks' top assistant and recruiting coordinator, Matt Collins will depart Nacogdoches for Monroe, La., where he will take over as an assistant on head coach Mike Federico's staff at Louisiana-Monroe.
With Collins heading east to Louisiana, Michael Haynes has been elevated to the position of recruiting coordinator to go along with his current title of assistant coach. Replacing Haynes as the assistant recruiting coordinator is Caleb Clowers who will also be elevated to an assistant coach after serving in a volunteer role at SFA since the start of the 2016 season.
"Over the last three seasons, Matt has done an incredible job of bringing in some great players to SFA," Cardenas stated. "I know he will do a great job for his alma mater."
Some of those players Collins brought to Nacogdoches include back-to-back Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year recipients Zac Michener (2016) and Josh Evans (2017). In all, four of Collins' pupils earned All-Southland Conference First Team accolades through his three-year stint in Nacogdoches and he helped the 'Jacks advance to the Southland Conference Tournament in the last two seasons.
A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Haynes just wrapped up his fifth year on Cardenas' staff as an assistant coach and assistant recruiting coordinator. Tasked with overseeing the 'Jacks' infielders, Haynes helped SFA set new program records for fielding percentage (.974) and fewest errors (54) in 2017. On the national scene, SFA's 2017 fielding percentage was the 68th highest in all of NCAA Division I baseball and the squad's 55 double players turned ranked 20th in the land.
"I am extremely excited that Michael is taking over as the recruiting coordinator," continued Cardenas. "He worked well with Matt and we expect great things with the program's recruiting under his guidance."
For the past two seasons, Clowers' role as the 'Jacks' volunteer assistant coach meant he oversaw multiple aspects of the program. He teamed with Collins and Haynes to help the 'Jacks become of of the best offensive teams both in the Southland Conference and the nation. SFA's team batting average of .298 in 2016 was the second-best among the 13 teams in the Southland Conference and the 36th highest nationally. In terms of extra-base power, SFA bashed 120 doubles which led the Southland and represented the 34th-highest total in all of NCAA Division I baseball.
"Caleb has been a very active coach for us for two years and moving him up is only a matter of formality," Cardenas said. "He is going to be a great asset to us on the field and on the recruiting trail."
During the 2017 campaign, SFA posted a sixth-place finish in the Southland Conference standings and advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament for the second-straight season. Along the way, the 'Jacks scored three wins against teams who were ranked in the top 20 of Baseball America's final 2017 poll.
-SFA-
Following three seasons as the Lumberjacks' top assistant and recruiting coordinator, Matt Collins will depart Nacogdoches for Monroe, La., where he will take over as an assistant on head coach Mike Federico's staff at Louisiana-Monroe.
With Collins heading east to Louisiana, Michael Haynes has been elevated to the position of recruiting coordinator to go along with his current title of assistant coach. Replacing Haynes as the assistant recruiting coordinator is Caleb Clowers who will also be elevated to an assistant coach after serving in a volunteer role at SFA since the start of the 2016 season.
"Over the last three seasons, Matt has done an incredible job of bringing in some great players to SFA," Cardenas stated. "I know he will do a great job for his alma mater."
Some of those players Collins brought to Nacogdoches include back-to-back Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year recipients Zac Michener (2016) and Josh Evans (2017). In all, four of Collins' pupils earned All-Southland Conference First Team accolades through his three-year stint in Nacogdoches and he helped the 'Jacks advance to the Southland Conference Tournament in the last two seasons.
A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Haynes just wrapped up his fifth year on Cardenas' staff as an assistant coach and assistant recruiting coordinator. Tasked with overseeing the 'Jacks' infielders, Haynes helped SFA set new program records for fielding percentage (.974) and fewest errors (54) in 2017. On the national scene, SFA's 2017 fielding percentage was the 68th highest in all of NCAA Division I baseball and the squad's 55 double players turned ranked 20th in the land.
"I am extremely excited that Michael is taking over as the recruiting coordinator," continued Cardenas. "He worked well with Matt and we expect great things with the program's recruiting under his guidance."
For the past two seasons, Clowers' role as the 'Jacks' volunteer assistant coach meant he oversaw multiple aspects of the program. He teamed with Collins and Haynes to help the 'Jacks become of of the best offensive teams both in the Southland Conference and the nation. SFA's team batting average of .298 in 2016 was the second-best among the 13 teams in the Southland Conference and the 36th highest nationally. In terms of extra-base power, SFA bashed 120 doubles which led the Southland and represented the 34th-highest total in all of NCAA Division I baseball.
"Caleb has been a very active coach for us for two years and moving him up is only a matter of formality," Cardenas said. "He is going to be a great asset to us on the field and on the recruiting trail."
During the 2017 campaign, SFA posted a sixth-place finish in the Southland Conference standings and advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament for the second-straight season. Along the way, the 'Jacks scored three wins against teams who were ranked in the top 20 of Baseball America's final 2017 poll.
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