SEWANEE, Tenn. – After an extensive search, the Sewanee
Athletics Department has named David Jenkins as the new baseball
coach Athletic Director Mark Webb announced Tuesday.
"Coach Jenkins is ideally qualified to serve as Sewanee’s
next head baseball coach,” said Webb. “He’s been
an assistant with one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the
country. He has proven experience as an outstanding recruiter, and
I’m confident our baseball program will thrive under his
leadership.”
Jenkins comes to Sewanee from Shenandoah University, where he
served as an assistant coach since 2008.
At Shenandoah, Jenkins helped lead the Hornets into the NCAA
Tournament five out of the past six seasons.
While Jenkins was an assistant, Shenandoah was also the No. 1 seed
in last season’s ODAC Tournament and Demorest NCAA Regional.
The nationally-ranked Hornets finished 2014 with a 33-11 record and
final No. 16 ranking in the D3baseball.com poll.
During his time, Shenandoah complied an overall record of 202-61
and finished with multiple top-five wins and regional
championships.
Individually, Shenandoah boasted 27 all-conference selections,
including three-conference player of the year winners. That
included 2014 ODAC Player of the Year and two-time All-American,
Michael Paul.
"First, I would like to thank Mark Webb, who has given me such an
amazing opportunity to be the next head baseball coach at
Sewanee,” said Jenkins. “I am extremely honored and
humbled. I would also like to thank everyone involved in the
process from the coaches to the administration. I had such a great
feeling about Sewanee when I arrived. I immediately fell in love
with the campus, the people, and the tradition.”
Prior to his time in Winchester, Va., Jenkins served as the
assistant coach at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.V.
As a player, Jenkins was a four-year starter and left the program
holding school records for most games played, 164, and started,
163.
A three-time Virginia State Sports Information Directors All-State
selection, Jenkins earned All-USA South honors after his freshman,
junior, and senior campaigns.
"I will forever be thankful for the family at Shenandoah,”
said Jenkins. “I have known coach Kevin Anderson for almost
15 years and I consider him one of my greatest friends. He is one
of the most influential people in my life and knows the game inside
out. He is a great baseball coach, but more importantly, he is an
even better person, who pushes you to reach your full potential on
and off the field.”
Jenkins received his bachelor’s degree from Shenandoah in
2007 and earned a master’s degree from California University
of Pennsylvania in 2012.
“I'm very excited to begin the next chapter in my life at
Sewanee,” said Jenkins. “I cannot wait to get down the
Domain, meet the student-athletes, and get to work.”