LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Former Spalding Alum and Assistant Coach Matt Downs has been named Head Baseball Coach at Spalding University. Downs will assume the responsibilities previously held by Jeremy Sheetinger, who has chosen to pursue another professional opportunity."I am thrilled to come back to my alma mater and lead a baseball program that I feel so passionate about," stated Downs, who served as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Spalding from 2013-14. "I am beyond excited to build upon the recent successes we have had at SU and look forward to moving the program forward. We will work diligently to put Spalding U Baseball on the national map!"
Downs makes his return trip back to Spalding after a one year stint as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at NCAA Division III Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Downs' impact on the program was evident by lowering the Colonel pitching staff's walks per nine innings from 4.55 in 2014 to 3.38 in the 2015 season, as well as, raising their marks from 5.75 strikeouts per nine innings in 2014 to a remarkable 7.04 clip in 2015, highlighted by junior right-handed pitcher Rob Caudill, who led the Colonels with an impressive 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Downs also guided three Colonels, including Caudill, to their selection on the 2015 All-Southern Athletic Association teams.
His impact on the recruiting front was felt on the Centre campus, highlighted by 13 new players in this year's class, with seven from the state of Kentucky. Downs' class also boasts three players who earned All-State nods during their senior campaigns.
Downs also made an early impact during his two-year tenure with the Spalding U Baseball program, helping the Golden Eagles set a Division III record with 33 wins in 2013, guiding a pitching staff that year ranked 13th nationally in NCAA Division III in strikeouts (320) and 17th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.8). In 2014, Downs saw the Eagle hurlers to new heights, finishing fourth nationally in strikeout to walk ratio (3.08), leading the SLIAC in strikeouts and strikeouts per game.
A Louisville, Ky. native and Southern High School graduate, Downs was a four-year member of the Spalding Baseball team from 2009-2012. His career is highlighted by two appearances in the United Small College Athletic Association (USCAA) World Series, with the Eagles finishing fourth in 2011 and culminating with a National Championship in 2012.
"Spalding is a special place for me personally, but also for our alumni and current student-athletes," stated Downs. "There are a great deal of positive things happening here and I am so fortunate for this opportunity. We are ready to get to work this fall and look forward to great 2016 season!"
Downs will take over for Jeremy Sheetinger, who served as the Head Coach from 2013-15. Sheets has accepted an opportunity to come on board with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), serving as the College Division Liaison for NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior College programs. This appointment will relocate Sheetinger and his family to the main national office for the ABCA in Greensboro, NC.
"I am thrilled to embark on this new opportunity with the ABCA, an association that I am so passionate about," stated Sheets, who amassed 86 wins over the last three seasons as Head Coach. "I am forever grateful for the work put in by our players over these last few seasons and excited to see where Coach Downs and his new staff can take our program. He is more than ready for his opportunity and I will be pulling for the Eagles wherever I am in life."
Downs makes his return trip back to Spalding after a one year stint as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at NCAA Division III Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Downs' impact on the program was evident by lowering the Colonel pitching staff's walks per nine innings from 4.55 in 2014 to 3.38 in the 2015 season, as well as, raising their marks from 5.75 strikeouts per nine innings in 2014 to a remarkable 7.04 clip in 2015, highlighted by junior right-handed pitcher Rob Caudill, who led the Colonels with an impressive 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Downs also guided three Colonels, including Caudill, to their selection on the 2015 All-Southern Athletic Association teams.
His impact on the recruiting front was felt on the Centre campus, highlighted by 13 new players in this year's class, with seven from the state of Kentucky. Downs' class also boasts three players who earned All-State nods during their senior campaigns.
Downs also made an early impact during his two-year tenure with the Spalding U Baseball program, helping the Golden Eagles set a Division III record with 33 wins in 2013, guiding a pitching staff that year ranked 13th nationally in NCAA Division III in strikeouts (320) and 17th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.8). In 2014, Downs saw the Eagle hurlers to new heights, finishing fourth nationally in strikeout to walk ratio (3.08), leading the SLIAC in strikeouts and strikeouts per game.
A Louisville, Ky. native and Southern High School graduate, Downs was a four-year member of the Spalding Baseball team from 2009-2012. His career is highlighted by two appearances in the United Small College Athletic Association (USCAA) World Series, with the Eagles finishing fourth in 2011 and culminating with a National Championship in 2012.
"Spalding is a special place for me personally, but also for our alumni and current student-athletes," stated Downs. "There are a great deal of positive things happening here and I am so fortunate for this opportunity. We are ready to get to work this fall and look forward to great 2016 season!"
Downs will take over for Jeremy Sheetinger, who served as the Head Coach from 2013-15. Sheets has accepted an opportunity to come on board with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), serving as the College Division Liaison for NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior College programs. This appointment will relocate Sheetinger and his family to the main national office for the ABCA in Greensboro, NC.
"I am thrilled to embark on this new opportunity with the ABCA, an association that I am so passionate about," stated Sheets, who amassed 86 wins over the last three seasons as Head Coach. "I am forever grateful for the work put in by our players over these last few seasons and excited to see where Coach Downs and his new staff can take our program. He is more than ready for his opportunity and I will be pulling for the Eagles wherever I am in life."