Elon University Men's Baseball

Kennedy and the Elon University Phoenix as the skipper begins his 20th season as head coach.   His previous 19 Elon teams have collected 17 winning records and 15 campaigns of 30 or more victories, all while consistently playing against many of the countrys finest programs.  His 2006 squad set a school record with 45 victories while the 2008 team captured the programs first NCAA Division I league tournament title. Kennedys program won four Southern Conference regular-season crowns as well as two league tournament titles. With each victory tallied, Kennedy adds to his record for the most wins by an Elon baseball coach that he set in 2003. In his 19 seasons, Kennedy has guided the Phoenix to 629 victories. In the last 17 seasons, Elon has had 26 victories over opponents ranked in the top-25.  In his tenure, Kennedy has led his program to 53 victories over Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Kennedy guided Elon in to its first season of play in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2015. The Phoenix finished the year with a 13-11 league mark, finishing fourth in its first season in the CAA. Along the way, Elon claimed two victories over 22nd-ranked UNCW.  At the end of the year, Elon placed four players on the All-CAA squads and had one player named to the leagues all-rookie team while two players collected all-state accolades. Outfielder Ryan Cooper became just the seventh Elon player to earn ABCA all-region honors. During the 2014 season, Kennedy scored his 600th career victory when the Phoenix claimed a 12-2 victory over Wofford on April 12. The squad boasted the 2014 SoCon Player of the Year in Casey Jones who also earned All-America honors from three organizations. Senior pitcher Ryan Pennell also was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2013 squad claimed the programs ninth consecutive top-three SoCon finish, as the maroon and gold tied-for second in the regular season. Kennedys Phoenix then put togehter a run through the SoCon Tournament, winning five straight games after dropping its tournament opener, to win the league title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In NCAA Regional play in Charlottesville, Va., the Phoenix notched one of many firsts under Kennedy as the team advanced to its first-ever regional final. That team finished with a mark of 34-30 overall and 18-11 in SoCon play. It marked the 14th consecutive season with at least 30 victories for the program. Three Elon players collected All-SoCon honors, including league player of the year Ryan Kinsella who finished the year ranking second nationally in both home runs and RBI. Kinsella would also earn All-America distinction from three organizations and became the programs first ABCA all-region selection since 2009. Following the 2013 campaign, five Elon players were chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, giving the program a total of 24 MLB draft picks in the past five years. In 2012, Kennedy led his Phoenix to yet another top-three finish in the SoCon as Elon went 33-26 overall and 20-10 in league action.  At the conclusion of the season, two Elon players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Two Phoenix standouts were also recognized with All-Southern Conference accolades. During the 2011 season, Kennedy collected his 500th career victory as his Phoenix shutout league rival Georgia Southern 9-0 on April 24. The squad won the programs fourth SoCon regular-season crown by churning out 23 league victories. Overall, the team posted a 36-21 record.   Following the year, four Elon players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and a fifth signed a free agent contract.  Four members of the squad were also recognized with all-league accolades, including John Brebbia who was chosen as the SoCon Pitcher of the Year.  Infielder Sebastian Gomez was honored as a member of the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team. In 2010, Elon earned its third consecutive berth in the NCAA Regionals, appearing in the Atlanta Regional for the second straight year. The Phoenix posted a 38-24 overall record. Included in Elons 6-1 mark against the ACC were two victories over fifth-ranked Clemson and decision over 20th-rated North Carolina.   At the conclusion of the season, six Elon players were chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and another signed a free agent contract. A total of six Phoenix players also were named to either the all-conference or all-freshman teams. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Kennedy was selected to serve as the pitching coach for USA Baseballs National Team (Collegiate) during the summer. With USA Baseball, Kennedy was reunited with his mentor Rick Jones, a former head coach at both Elon and Tulane.   Under Kennedys guidance, Team USAs pitching staff recorded a 2.16 ERA in the squads 24 games that summer. In 212.2 innings, the staff surrendered 51 earned runs on just 118 hits. The pitchers also fanned 282 hitters and held opponents to a .164 batting average. Under Kennedy, Team USA threw the first-ever no-hitter against international competition. The squad captured the 2009 World Baseball Challenge title. In 2009, the Phoenix took home the regular-season SoCon title for the second straight year and third time in four years. Kennedys squad finished the SoCon season with a 22-3 record and went 41-18 overall. Elon earned a berth as the number two seed into the Atlanta Regional of the 2009 NCAA College Baseball World Series. The team also collected the programs first top-25 finish at the Division I level, ranking 24th in the final Baseball America poll. Elon also checked in at 27th in the last National Collegiate Baseball Writers Asscociation top-30 poll and was among the squads receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top-25.   The 2009 season delivered numerous accolades as Kennedy was chosen as the leagues coach of the year for the third time in his career while junior infielder Chase Austin was honored as the SoCons Co-Player of the Year.  Seven different players earned all-league distinction. The program also had an Elon-record seven players chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Two players were chosen as All-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Kennedys 2008 team claimed its second Southern Conference regular-season title in three years after posting a 19-8 league mark and a 44-18 overall record. The team also won its first-ever SoCon Tournament title, cruising through the leagues showcase to earn its third NCAA Regional bid.  During the 2008 season, the Phoenix defeated fourth-ranked North Carolina by a 2-0 score the programs 18th victory over a top-25 foe since the beginning of the 1999 season. With a good season came the expected accolades as Kennedy was named the Southern Conferences Coach of the Year by both his peers and the leagues media. Elon also boasted the leagues pitcher of the year in Steven Hensley, the leagues freshman of the year in Thomas Girdwood and five players who collected all-league accolades. Hensley was also honored as an All-American, the first for Elon at the NCAA Division I level, while Girdwood was named a freshman All-American. In 2007, the 32-29 Phoenix finished third in the Southern Conference with a 15-12 league mark. The 2007 campaign saw Elon pick up three victories over teams ranked in the top-25 No. 11 Miami, No. 17 Clemson and No. 24 College of Charleston. Elon set a new attendance mark during the 2007 season as well, drawing 1,811 fans to witness the Phoenix host the No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. It was the second time during the season that Elon set a new attendance mark. Earlier in the year, 1,421 fans turned out to watch the Phoenix take on top-ranked South Carolina at Latham Park, the first time that a No. 1-ranked team had ever visited Elon in any sport at the NCAA Division I level. The 2007 squad also featured two players that earned all-conference accolades. In 2006, Kennedy led his team to its first-ever SoCon regular-season title with a 21-6 league record. The team also collected its second NCAA Division I Tournament berth in five seasons, participating in the Clemson Regional as the number two seed. In the regionals opening game, the Phoenix knocked off third-seeded Mississippi State by a 5-4 margin for the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in any sport at Elon. Kennedy also led his team to its first-ever NCAA Division I national ranking as the Phoenix appeared at No. 25 in Baseball Americas poll on May 22. The 2006 squad also earned a win over a top-25 team, defeating No. 14 South Carolina.  For his efforts, Kennedy was honored as the 2006 SoCon Coach of the Year while five Phoenix players earned all-conference recognition. Elon also boasted the 2006 SoCon Freshman of the Year in Hensley. In 2005, the skipper paced his Phoenix to a 32-25 overall record and an 18-12 Southern Conference mark, good enough to tie for third place in the 11-team league. Two members of that squad earned All-Southern Conference distinction.    The 2005 Phoenix squad claimed wins over a pair of nationally-ranked opponents No. 6 North Carolina and No. 22 Coastal Carolina (twice) as well as SEC member Auburn. In 2004, Elons first year in the Southern Conference, Kennedy led his Phoenix to a 31-28 overall record and a 17-13 conference mark to finish fourth in the league. Four different players were honored with all-conference accolades.   The 2003 campaign was one for the record books. On the heels of the universitys first-ever at-large bid to an NCAA Division I tournament in any sport, Kennedy, a 1991 Elon graduate, made his mark by putting his name at the top of the list of Elons all-time winningest coaches. With a 19-4 victory over Liberty, Kennedy set the record for most wins by an Elon baseball coach, claiming his 197th victory at the helm of the program. Making that feat even more impressive is that it was accomplished while Elon completed the transition from the NCAA Division II ranks to its current NCAA Division I classification. With an overall record of 34-23-2 (12-7 in the Big South, tying for second place), Kennedys 2003 club matched its 34 wins from the previous season in which the Phoenix advanced to the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament. For the fifth consecutive year, Kennedy guided his squad to a triumph over a nationally-ranked top-20 opponent. With victories over No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 14 Clemson and No. 22 North Carolina, the Phoenix defeated three top-25 teams for the second consecutive season.  In Elons historic 100th season of baseball celebrated in 2002, Kennedys squad compiled a record of 34-23, including a 13-8 mark in the Big South Conference, good enough for second place in the league. In just its third official season of Division I baseball, the Phoenix received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and competed in the Clemson Regional. In Elons run to the regional, the Phoenix posted impressive victories over No. 1 Clemson, No. 10 Wake Forest and No. 20 East Carolina. The Phoenix fell one out shy of recording a three-game sweep at defending national champion Miami that season.  With the 2002 teams trip to the NCAA Regional, Kennedy has been a part of championship play at each level of Elons baseball success. As a catcher, he helped lead Elon to the 1989 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. In 1997, Kennedy, in his first campaign at the helm, coached Elon to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Alabama.  His 2001 club amassed a  30-27 record, including a 12-9 conference slate to place fourth in the Big South. Kennedy guided his team to an impressive 17-8 mark at home, including a three-game sweep of Maryland. The Phoenix finished with a 6-4 record against ACC competition that year. The 2000 squad amassed a 33-25 record while starting as many as seven freshman and sophomore position players. Despite the youth movement, the team was more than competitive as proven by a 7-5 win at No. 5 South Carolina, which later spent more time ranked No. 1 than any other team that season.   In 1999, Elon beat then-No. 1 and eventual national champion Miami. In 1998, Kennedy posted a winning 26-22 ledger during his second season as head coach and the institutions first during its two-year transition to the NCAA Division I level.  In 1997, Kennedy guided his first Elon club to a 34-16 slate, a South Atlantic Conference regular-season title, a berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship game and a final ranking of 14th in the country.   For his efforts, Kennedy was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year. In the South Central Regional, Elon suffered an opening-round loss to Central Oklahoma, but rebounded to capture two-straight victories before battling within three outs of qualifying for the Division II College World Series, falling 7-5 to Central Oklahoma in the final. For the former Elon catcher, it was a fitting start to a coaching career at his alma mater. After serving the program as a volunteer and graduate assistant coach for four seasons, Kennedy was named to the head coach post on Sept. 12, 1996. In the 17 seasons (1997, 2000-15) that Elon players have been eligible for postseason honors, Kennedy has coached 38 first-team all-conference honorees, 43 second-teamers, one third-team pick, 28 conference all-tournament selections, 13 all-region players, three all-region tournament picks, 22 all-state honorees, three league players of the year, two league pitchers of the year, two league freshmen of the year, three freshman All-Americans and two academic All-Americans.  In his full tenure at Elon, 49 players have gone on to play pro baseball.     A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Kennedy was a two-time honorable mention All-American catcher for Elon from 1988-1990. He experienced 102 victories during his career, as Elon posted a .756 winning percentage his last two years. The career .311 hitter batted .321 with seven homers and 36 RBI during Elons 1990 NAIA District 26 championship season. He also collected 15 doubles that year and was named first-team All-South Atlantic Conference, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-American. He earned all-conference, all-district, all-area and honorable mention All-American honors during the 1989 season, hitting .289 with 32 RBI as Elon finished 36-9.  For his career, Kennedy appeared in 115 games, batting .311 with 26 doubles, 13 home runs and 78 RBI. Kennedy signed with the Oakland Athletics organization as a ninth-round selection in the 1990 amateur draft, making stops in Scottsdale, Ariz., Medford, Ore. and Modesto, Calif. Prior to becoming head coach, Kennedy spent four seasons as Elons pitching coach. The pitching staff finished among the countrys top-20 NCAA-II teams in ERA four years sixth in 1993, third in 1994, 18th in 1996 and fifth in 1997. Active in his profession, Kennedy is a frequent speaker and clinician at various schools and camps throughout the region.  He and his wife, Liz, make their home in Burlington and have a daughter, Blair, and a son, Ryan.   Mike Kennedy Head Baseball Coach Twitter: elonbaseball Winning baseball continues to be the tradition for Mike Kennedy and the Elon University Phoenix as the skipper begins his 20th season as head coach.   His previous 19 Elon teams have collected 17 winning records and 15 campaigns of 30 or more victories, all while consistently playing against many of the countrys finest programs.  His 2006 squad set a school record with 45 victories while the 2008 team captured the programs first NCAA Division I league tournament title. Kennedys program won four Southern Conference regular-season crowns as well as two league tournament titles. With each victory tallied, Kennedy adds to his record for the most wins by an Elon baseball coach that he set in 2003. In his 19 seasons, Kennedy has guided the Phoenix to 629 victories. In the last 17 seasons, Elon has had 26 victories over opponents ranked in the top-25.  In his tenure, Kennedy has led his program to 53 victories over Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Kennedy guided Elon in to its first season of play in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2015. The Phoenix finished the year with a 13-11 league mark, finishing fourth in its first season in the CAA. Along the way, Elon claimed two victories over 22nd-ranked UNCW.  At the end of the year, Elon placed four players on the All-CAA squads and had one player named to the leagues all-rookie team while two players collected all-state accolades. Outfielder Ryan Cooper became just the seventh Elon player to earn ABCA all-region honors. During the 2014 season, Kennedy scored his 600th career victory when the Phoenix claimed a 12-2 victory over Wofford on April 12. The squad boasted the 2014 SoCon Player of the Year in Casey Jones who also earned All-America honors from three organizations. Senior pitcher Ryan Pennell also was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2013 squad claimed the programs ninth consecutive top-three SoCon finish, as the maroon and gold tied-for second in the regular season. Kennedys Phoenix then put togehter a run through the SoCon Tournament, winning five straight games after dropping its tournament opener, to win the league title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In NCAA Regional play in Charlottesville, Va., the Phoenix notched one of many firsts under Kennedy as the team advanced to its first-ever regional final. That team finished with a mark of 34-30 overall and 18-11 in SoCon play. It marked the 14th consecutive season with at least 30 victories for the program. Three Elon players collected All-SoCon honors, including league player of the year Ryan Kinsella who finished the year ranking second nationally in both home runs and RBI. Kinsella would also earn All-America distinction from three organizations and became the programs first ABCA all-region selection since 2009. Following the 2013 campaign, five Elon players were chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, giving the program a total of 24 MLB draft picks in the past five years. In 2012, Kennedy led his Phoenix to yet another top-three finish in the SoCon as Elon went 33-26 overall and 20-10 in league action.  At the conclusion of the season, two Elon players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Two Phoenix standouts were also recognized with All-Southern Conference accolades. During the 2011 season, Kennedy collected his 500th career victory as his Phoenix shutout league rival Georgia Southern 9-0 on April 24. The squad won the programs fourth SoCon regular-season crown by churning out 23 league victories. Overall, the team posted a 36-21 record.   Following the year, four Elon players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and a fifth signed a free agent contract.  Four members of the squad were also recognized with all-league accolades, including John Brebbia who was chosen as the SoCon Pitcher of the Year.  Infielder Sebastian Gomez was honored as a member of the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team. In 2010, Elon earned its third consecutive berth in the NCAA Regionals, appearing in the Atlanta Regional for the second straight year. The Phoenix posted a 38-24 overall record. Included in Elons 6-1 mark against the ACC were two victories over fifth-ranked Clemson and decision over 20th-rated North Carolina.   At the conclusion of the season, six Elon players were chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and another signed a free agent contract. A total of six Phoenix players also were named to either the all-conference or all-freshman teams. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Kennedy was selected to serve as the pitching coach for USA Baseballs National Team (Collegiate) during the summer. With USA Baseball, Kennedy was reunited with his mentor Rick Jones, a former head coach at both Elon and Tulane.   Under Kennedys guidance, Team USAs pitching staff recorded a 2.16 ERA in the squads 24 games that summer. In 212.2 innings, the staff surrendered 51 earned runs on just 118 hits. The pitchers also fanned 282 hitters and held opponents to a .164 batting average. Under Kennedy, Team USA threw the first-ever no-hitter against international competition. The squad captured the 2009 World Baseball Challenge title. In 2009, the Phoenix took home the regular-season SoCon title for the second straight year and third time in four years. Kennedys squad finished the SoCon season with a 22-3 record and went 41-18 overall. Elon earned a berth as the number two seed into the Atlanta Regional of the 2009 NCAA College Baseball World Series. The team also collected the programs first top-25 finish at the Division I level, ranking 24th in the final Baseball America poll. Elon also checked in at 27th in the last National Collegiate Baseball Writers Asscociation top-30 poll and was among the squads receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top-25.   The 2009 season delivered numerous accolades as Kennedy was chosen as the leagues coach of the year for the third time in his career while junior infielder Chase Austin was honored as the SoCons Co-Player of the Year.  Seven different players earned all-league distinction. The program also had an Elon-record seven players chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Two players were chosen as All-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Kennedys 2008 team claimed its second Southern Conference regular-season title in three years after posting a 19-8 league mark and a 44-18 overall record. The team also won its first-ever SoCon Tournament title, cruising through the leagues showcase to earn its third NCAA Regional bid.  During the 2008 season, the Phoenix defeated fourth-ranked North Carolina by a 2-0 score the programs 18th victory over a top-25 foe since the beginning of the 1999 season. With a good season came the expected accolades as Kennedy was named the Southern Conferences Coach of the Year by both his peers and the leagues media. Elon also boasted the leagues pitcher of the year in Steven Hensley, the leagues freshman of the year in Thomas Girdwood and five players who collected all-league accolades. Hensley was also honored as an All-American, the first for Elon at the NCAA Division I level, while Girdwood was named a freshman All-American. In 2007, the 32-29 Phoenix finished third in the Southern Conference with a 15-12 league mark. The 2007 campaign saw Elon pick up three victories over teams ranked in the top-25 No. 11 Miami, No. 17 Clemson and No. 24 College of Charleston. Elon set a new attendance mark during the 2007 season as well, drawing 1,811 fans to witness the Phoenix host the No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. It was the second time during the season that Elon set a new attendance mark. Earlier in the year, 1,421 fans turned out to watch the Phoenix take on top-ranked South Carolina at Latham Park, the first time that a No. 1-ranked team had ever visited Elon in any sport at the NCAA Division I level. The 2007 squad also featured two players that earned all-conference accolades. In 2006, Kennedy led his team to its first-ever SoCon regular-season title with a 21-6 league record. The team also collected its second NCAA Division I Tournament berth in five seasons, participating in the Clemson Regional as the number two seed. In the regionals opening game, the Phoenix knocked off third-seeded Mississippi State by a 5-4 margin for the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in any sport at Elon. Kennedy also led his team to its first-ever NCAA Division I national ranking as the Phoenix appeared at No. 25 in Baseball Americas poll on May 22. The 2006 squad also earned a win over a top-25 team, defeating No. 14 South Carolina.  For his efforts, Kennedy was honored as the 2006 SoCon Coach of the Year while five Phoenix players earned all-conference recognition. Elon also boasted the 2006 SoCon Freshman of the Year in Hensley. In 2005, the skipper paced his Phoenix to a 32-25 overall record and an 18-12 Southern Conference mark, good enough to tie for third place in the 11-team league. Two members of that squad earned All-Southern Conference distinction.    The 2005 Phoenix squad claimed wins over a pair of nationally-ranked opponents No. 6 North Carolina and No. 22 Coastal Carolina (twice) as well as SEC member Auburn. In 2004, Elons first year in the Southern Conference, Kennedy led his Phoenix to a 31-28 overall record and a 17-13 conference mark to finish fourth in the league. Four different players were honored with all-conference accolades.   The 2003 campaign was one for the record books. On the heels of the universitys first-ever at-large bid to an NCAA Division I tournament in any sport, Kennedy, a 1991 Elon graduate, made his mark by putting his name at the top of the list of Elons all-time winningest coaches. With a 19-4 victory over Liberty, Kennedy set the record for most wins by an Elon baseball coach, claiming his 197th victory at the helm of the program. Making that feat even more impressive is that it was accomplished while Elon completed the transition from the NCAA Division II ranks to its current NCAA Division I classification. With an overall record of 34-23-2 (12-7 in the Big South, tying for second place), Kennedys 2003 club matched its 34 wins from the previous season in which the Phoenix advanced to the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Tournament. For the fifth consecutive year, Kennedy guided his squad to a triumph over a nationally-ranked top-20 opponent. With victories over No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 14 Clemson and No. 22 North Carolina, the Phoenix defeated three top-25 teams for the second consecutive season.  In Elons historic 100th season of baseball celebrated in 2002, Kennedys squad compiled a record of 34-23, including a 13-8 mark in the Big South Conference, good enough for second place in the league. In just its third official season of Division I baseball, the Phoenix received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and competed in the Clemson Regional. In Elons run to the regional, the Phoenix posted impressive victories over No. 1 Clemson, No. 10 Wake Forest and No. 20 East Carolina. The Phoenix fell one out shy of recording a three-game sweep at defending national champion Miami that season.  With the 2002 teams trip to the NCAA Regional, Kennedy has been a part of championship play at each level of Elons baseball success. As a catcher, he helped lead Elon to the 1989 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. In 1997, Kennedy, in his first campaign at the helm, coached Elon to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Alabama.  His 2001 club amassed a  30-27 record, including a 12-9 conference slate to place fourth in the Big South. Kennedy guided his team to an impressive 17-8 mark at home, including a three-game sweep of Maryland. The Phoenix finished with a 6-4 record against ACC competition that year. The 2000 squad amassed a 33-25 record while starting as many as seven freshman and sophomore position players. Despite the youth movement, the team was more than competitive as proven by a 7-5 win at No. 5 South Carolina, which later spent more time ranked No. 1 than any other team that season.   In 1999, Elon beat then-No. 1 and eventual national champion Miami. In 1998, Kennedy posted a winning 26-22 ledger during his second season as head coach and the institutions first during its two-year transition to the NCAA Division I level.  In 1997, Kennedy guided his first Elon club to a 34-16 slate, a South Atlantic Conference regular-season title, a berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship game and a final ranking of 14th in the country.   For his efforts, Kennedy was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year. In the South Central Regional, Elon suffered an opening-round loss to Central Oklahoma, but rebounded to capture two-straight victories before battling within three outs of qualifying for the Division II College World Series, falling 7-5 to Central Oklahoma in the final. For the former Elon catcher, it was a fitting start to a coaching career at his alma mater. After serving the program as a volunteer and graduate assistant coach for four seasons, Kennedy was named to the head coach post on Sept. 12, 1996. In the 17 seasons (1997, 2000-15) that Elon players have been eligible for postseason honors, Kennedy has coached 38 first-team all-conference honorees, 43 second-teamers, one third-team pick, 28 conference all-tournament selections, 13 all-region players, three all-region tournament picks, 22 all-state honorees, three league players of the year, two league pitchers of the year, two league freshmen of the year, three freshman All-Americans and two academic All-Americans.  In his full tenure at Elon, 49 players have gone on to play pro baseball.     A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Kennedy was a two-time honorable mention All-American catcher for Elon from 1988-1990. He experienced 102 victories during his career, as Elon posted a .756 winning percentage his last two years. The career .311 hitter batted .321 with seven homers and 36 RBI during Elons 1990 NAIA District 26 championship season. He also collected 15 doubles that year and was named first-team All-South Atlantic Conference, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-American. He earned all-conference, all-district, all-area and honorable mention All-American honors during the 1989 season, hitting .289 with 32 RBI as Elon finished 36-9.  For his career, Kennedy appeared in 115 games, batting .311 with 26 doubles, 13 home runs and 78 RBI. Kennedy signed with the Oakland Athletics organization as a ninth-round selection in the 1990 amateur draft, making stops in Scottsdale, Ariz., Medford, Ore. and Modesto, Calif. Prior to becoming head coach, Kennedy spent four seasons as Elons pitching coach. The pitching staff finished among the countrys top-20 NCAA-II teams in ERA four years sixth in 1993, third in 1994, 18th in 1996 and fifth in 1997. Active in his profession, Kennedy is a frequent speaker and clinician at various schools and camps throughout the region.  He and his wife, Liz, make their home in Burlington and have a daughter, Blair, and a son, Ryan.  

Huffstetler, a 1999 team MVP and 2001 graduate of Appalachian State University, begins his 13th year on the Phoenix baseball staff after serving as an assistant coach at Appalachian State for two seasons. Huffstetler was promoted to associate head coach for the 2016 season. He will be working with the Phoenix infielders and hitters. In Huffstetlers tenure at Elon, the program has had 35 players earn either first or second team all-conference accolades. The team has also boasted two SoCon Freshman of the Year award winners, two SoCon Pitcher of the Year honorees and three SoCon Player of the Year recipients.   The Phoenix has gone 418-292 (.589) since Huffstetlers arrival for the 2004 season. During that span, Elon has won 40+ games three times, including a school-record 45 victories in 2006. Huffstetler has helped Elon capture four regular-season Southern Conference titles, two SoCon Tournament crowns as well as five bids to NCAA Regional play. In 2013, the Phoenix won its second SoCon Tournament title and advanced to NCAA Regional play, where it reached the regional finals. Elon won its fourth SoCon regular-season crown in 2011 with a 23-7 league mark. In 2009, the Phoenix took home the regular-season SoCon title for the second straight year and third time in four years. Elon finished the SoCon season with a 22-3 record and went 41-18 overall. Elon earned a berth as the number two seed into the Atlanta Regional of NCAA Tournament play. The team also collected the programs first top-25 finish at the Division I level, ranking 24th in the final Baseball America poll. In 2006, Huffstetler was a part of Elons first-ever Southern Conference regular-season title with a 21-6 league record. The team also collected its second NCAA Division I Tournament berth in five seasons, participating in the Clemson Regional as the number two seed. In the regionals opening game, the Phoenix knocked off third-seeded Mississippi State by a 5-4 margin for the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in any sport at Elon.  As head coach of the Coastal Plain Leagues Thomasville Hi-Toms, Huffstetler guided the Hi-Toms to consecutive playoff appearances in 2003 and 2004. In 2002, Huffstetler was an assistant coach for the Hi-Toms. In 2003, his squad compiled a 32-16 regular season, tying the league record for wins and winning percentage.  As manager of the Hi-Toms in 2004, he coached the team to the West Division title with a 26-24 overall record. In the summer of 2005, Huffstetler led the Mankato Moondogs to their best-ever finish and a team-record 32 wins. Huffstetler and his wife, Rikki, have three daughters, Reese, Rylee and Reagan. Robbie Huffstetler Associate Head Baseball Coach Robbie Huffstetler, a 1999 team MVP and 2001 graduate of Appalachian State University, begins his 13th year on the Phoenix baseball staff after serving as an assistant coach at Appalachian State for two seasons. Huffstetler was promoted to associate head coach for the 2016 season. He will be working with the Phoenix infielders and hitters. In Huffstetlers tenure at Elon, the program has had 35 players earn either first or second team all-conference accolades. The team has also boasted two SoCon Freshman of the Year award winners, two SoCon Pitcher of the Year honorees and three SoCon Player of the Year recipients.   The Phoenix has gone 418-292 (.589) since Huffstetlers arrival for the 2004 season. During that span, Elon has won 40+ games three times, including a school-record 45 victories in 2006. Huffstetler has helped Elon capture four regular-season Southern Conference titles, two SoCon Tournament crowns as well as five bids to NCAA Regional play. In 2013, the Phoenix won its second SoCon Tournament title and advanced to NCAA Regional play, where it reached the regional finals. Elon won its fourth SoCon regular-season crown in 2011 with a 23-7 league mark. In 2009, the Phoenix took home the regular-season SoCon title for the second straight year and third time in four years. Elon finished the SoCon season with a 22-3 record and went 41-18 overall. Elon earned a berth as the number two seed into the Atlanta Regional of NCAA Tournament play. The team also collected the programs first top-25 finish at the Division I level, ranking 24th in the final Baseball America poll. In 2006, Huffstetler was a part of Elons first-ever Southern Conference regular-season title with a 21-6 league record. The team also collected its second NCAA Division I Tournament berth in five seasons, participating in the Clemson Regional as the number two seed. In the regionals opening game, the Phoenix knocked off third-seeded Mississippi State by a 5-4 margin for the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in any sport at Elon.  As head coach of the Coastal Plain Leagues Thomasville Hi-Toms, Huffstetler guided the Hi-Toms to consecutive playoff appearances in 2003 and 2004. In 2002, Huffstetler was an assistant coach for the Hi-Toms. In 2003, his squad compiled a 32-16 regular season, tying the league record for wins and winning percentage.  As manager of the Hi-Toms in 2004, he coached the team to the West Division title with a 26-24 overall record. In the summer of 2005, Huffstetler led the Mankato Moondogs to their best-ever finish and a team-record 32 wins. Huffstetler and his wife, Rikki, have three daughters, Reese, Rylee and Reagan.