Newcomer Colin O’Connell will join the SAU Baseball staff for the upcoming 2016 season, bringing with him an impressive litany of coaching and playing experience.
O’Connell comes on as the Primary Assistant Coach and will work predominately with pitchers and catchers; an area where he has excelled at various stops in his career. Colin is no stranger to the program however, as a player (2010 graduate) he was part of Cougar teams that won three conference titles and made two NAIA World Series appearances, including one in 2007 where the team finished as the national runner-up. His class would go down as the winningest class in program history, putting together back-to-back 40-win seasons, and a remarkable 36-game winning streak in 2007. Individually, O’Connell is one of the most decorated players in Cougar history, having been honored twice as an NCCAA All-American.
His impressive playing career has only been surpassed by what can be called an outstanding coaching career, where he has been a part of winning teams at every stop. For the last 4 years O’Connell worked on staff with the Indiana Eastlake Chargers, an elite baseball academy for some of the top highs school prospects in the Midwest, where he served as the pitching instructor and assistant coach. The work included extensive player development and also collaboration with collegiate coaches and MLB scouts. The organization sends numerous players to high level collegiate baseball programs each year.
O’Connell’s coaching pedigree also includes a 2 years stint as the head coach of the NFWB Cobras out of Farmington Hills, Michigan. Colin has also volunteered as a pitching instructor at Head Coach Ryan Marken’s Next Level Baseball Academy, where the pair expose youth to elite developmental training, getting them in front of multiple collegiate players and coaches.
In addition to an impressive coaching resume, O’Connell has also worked as an educator and an Athletic Director at Holly Academy for the last 5 years.
O’Connell earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Spring Arbor University, during his time as a student athlete.
“We couldn’t possibly be more excited to have Coach O’Connell joining the staff. His expertise and ability to develop pitchers and catchers is at the highest level. He also very much embodies the values we espouse as a University. Using baseball as a platform to equip young men, glorify God, and help young people become excellent in many critical areas of their lives. We are a much better team for having him on our staff.” – Head SAU Baseball Coach Ryan Marken
