Central Methodist College Men's Baseball

Breland had five players named to the All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Baseball Teams. In 2014 the Eagles ranked 20th in the NAIA in home runs per game (0.574) and 33rd in fielding percentage (0.962). Breland, a former Central Methodist baseball player, has been an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with the program since 2007. He has assisted in the NAIA national ratings and conducted winter baseball camps. Breland is a member of the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and MSHAA Umpire Association. Breland was a four-year player (2002-06) for the Eagles and was an All-Heart of America Athletic Conference selection from 2002-05 at catcher and in 2006 as an outfielder. Breland was also named All-Region first team as a senior. He helped guide the 2004 squad to a 33-15 mark, the most wins in a season by any Central Methodist team. Breland still owns the school's single-season record for most at-bats (203 in 2004) and career records for most hits (241) and at-bats (646). Breland obtained his Bachelors degree in Physical Education in 2006 and a Master's degree in Education in 2008. A native of Waynesville, Mo., Breland attended Waynesville High School. Nate and his wife, Brenda, have one daughter, Hadley Gray, 1 Michael "Rob" Ehlers II enters his second season as Central Methodist's assistant baseball coach in 2016. He is the infield coach and recruiting coordinator as well as head junior varsity coach. Ehlers, a former graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator with the program, most recently served as a Special Education Teacher for Gwinnett County (Ga.) School District. Ehlers was an assistant baseball coach for 6-4-3DP Cougars in 2011 of the Sunbelt Collegiate League (SCL). He was tasked with recruiting student-athletes from around the southeast, communicating with all University coaches to ensure all pitch counts were followed and developing and organizing all pitching rotations. In 2010, Ehlers was an assistant coach with the Sunbelt Collegiate League's Atlanta Astros and helped lead the squad to a divisional title. He also was an assistant for Southern Polytechnic State (Ga.), which was ranked as high as second in the nation and reached the championship game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. Ehlers spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a graduate assistant with Central Methodist.  As a player, Ehlers began his playing career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Mount Mercy (Iowa) where he earned a Bachelor's degree in 2000. A native of Denison, Iowa, Ehlers graduated from Denison-Schleswig High School. Rob is married to his wife, Leta.  Dustin Ray enters his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Central Methodist baseball team in 2016-17. Ray was a catcher and outfielder with the Eagles for four seasons from 2010-13. He helped guide Central Methodist to the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) regular season and tournament titles in 2013 and the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Championship.  Matt LaMothe, 26, is currently the pitching coach at Central Methodist University. LaMothe played two years of college baseball at Oakland University, near Detroit, before transferring to Georgia College and State University, where he was named the Peach Belt Conference Tournament MVP in 2013 when he helped lead GCSU to a conference championship. LaMothe played one year of professional baseball in the independent Frontier League before deciding to pursue a career in coaching. He also spent two summers playing for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League while at GCSU. He is going into his second summer season with the Asheboro Copperheads in the Coastal Plains League. Matt LaMothe is from Troy, Michigan. ©2016 Central Methodist University. All rights reserved. 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248

Ehlers, a former graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator with the program, most recently served as a Special Education Teacher for Gwinnett County (Ga.) School District. Ehlers was an assistant baseball coach for 6-4-3DP Cougars in 2011 of the Sunbelt Collegiate League (SCL). He was tasked with recruiting student-athletes from around the southeast, communicating with all University coaches to ensure all pitch counts were followed and developing and organizing all pitching rotations. In 2010, Ehlers was an assistant coach with the Sunbelt Collegiate League's Atlanta Astros and helped lead the squad to a divisional title. He also was an assistant for Southern Polytechnic State (Ga.), which was ranked as high as second in the nation and reached the championship game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. Ehlers spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a graduate assistant with Central Methodist.  As a player, Ehlers began his playing career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Mount Mercy (Iowa) where he earned a Bachelor's degree in 2000. A native of Denison, Iowa, Ehlers graduated from Denison-Schleswig High School. Rob is married to his wife, Leta.  Dustin Ray enters his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Central Methodist baseball team in 2016-17. Ray was a catcher and outfielder with the Eagles for four seasons from 2010-13. He helped guide Central Methodist to the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) regular season and tournament titles in 2013 and the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Championship.  Matt LaMothe, 26, is currently the pitching coach at Central Methodist University. LaMothe played two years of college baseball at Oakland University, near Detroit, before transferring to Georgia College and State University, where he was named the Peach Belt Conference Tournament MVP in 2013 when he helped lead GCSU to a conference championship. LaMothe played one year of professional baseball in the independent Frontier League before deciding to pursue a career in coaching. He also spent two summers playing for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League while at GCSU. He is going into his second summer season with the Asheboro Copperheads in the Coastal Plains League. Matt LaMothe is from Troy, Michigan. ©2016 Central Methodist University. All rights reserved. 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248

Head Baseball Coach Nate Breland announced the hiring of Kenny Otero as the new assistant baseball coach in July 2024.  "I am excited to add Kenny to the staff," said Coach Breland. "He will bring new ideas and new recruiting lines to our program. It is always exciting to bring back a loyal alumnus who was a big part of the best team in program history. I am excited to have him on campus and begin to spread his wings."  Kenny is a 2021 graduate of Central Methodist, where he played two seasons with the Eagles. His first season with CMU was the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. He played as both a two-way pitcher and outfielder.  In 2021, Otero was a part of Central's Avista NAIA World Series team that finished as the national runner-up, the best finish of any team in program history.  Before Central, he had stops at NCAA Division I Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Illinois. While at Frontier CC, Otero was an All-Region IV selection. He graduated from Lake Worth High School in Florida and is a native of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.  Upon graduation from Central, Otero played one year professionally in the Double-A League in Puerto Rico. He has also been a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles, helping players with mechanics and training regimens.