Harding University Men's Baseball

At Harding Dr. Patrick McGaha is in his 21st year as the head coach of the Harding baseball team. He has a 583-431 record in his first 20 seasons and has led the Bisons to 14 conference tournament appearances and three NCAA Tournament berths. McGaha is the longest tenured coach in the Great American Conference and ranks in the top 25 in career victories among active NCAA Division II coaches. McGaha is the longest tenured coach in baseball program history surpassing Dick Johnson who led the program for 19 seasons (1970 -1988). McGaha has coached more games (1,014) and has more wins (583) than any other Harding baseball coach. He became the winningest baseball coach in program history in 2016 when his Bisons defeated St. Edward's 5-1 on Jan. 30. During his time at Harding, McGaha's student-athletes have received 81 all-conference, 15 all-region, and five all-America honors. Additionally, McGaha's players have earned 152 academic all-conference, 22 CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-District and five CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America awards. Harding is one of only five D-II schools to earn the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award all 10 years it has been awarded, and Harding has claimed nine of the 12 all-time GAC Baseball Sportsmanship Awards. In addition, McGaha's players have earned three GAC Freshman of the Year honors, two GAC Newcomer of the Year honors, three GAC Pitcher of the Year honors, three Region Pitcher of the Year honors, two GAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, 11 GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors and six GAC Elite Scholar Athlete honors. In 2025, Dr. McGaha led the Bisons to a historic season that culminated in the program’s first-ever Great American Conference (GAC) Tournament championship. The team finished with an impressive 41-19 overall record, capped by a dominant 11-0 victory over Henderson State in the GAC title game—a win that notably marked the 700th victory of McGaha’s collegiate coaching career. Following the conference championship, Harding made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Central Region Tournament, where they advanced to the regional finals. The squad finished the year ranked No. 30 nationally in the final ABCA poll, powered by a school-record 76 home runs and consensus All-American honors for pitcher Maddox Long. The 2024 Bisons achieved tremendous success, boasting a remarkable 37-19 record, the second-most wins in school history and their third consecutive 30-win season while securing a share of the Great American Conference regular season championship with an impressive 23-10 record. Additionally, for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2011, the Bisons advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Their excellence was not limited to the field. This team demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, earning the GAC Sportsmanship Award. They also excelled in the classroom, receiving the American Baseball Coaches Association Team All-Academic Award. Individual accolades abounded, with six Bisons earning All-GAC honors, including All-American Maddox Long receiving GAC Pitcher of the Year honors. And in a testament to the team's commitment to academic excellence, 19 players were recognized as Academic All-GAC. McGaha's 2023 team went 33-19 overall, one season after the Bisons were 32-19 and set a school record with 21 conference wins. In 2020, the Bisons were off to a promising 18-6 start to the season before COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the season. McGaha picked up his 400th victory at Harding with a 5-2 win against Mississippi College in the opening series of the season. In 2019, McGaha earned his 500th career collegiate coaching victory, had his fourth 30-win season at Harding and led the Bisons to the championship game of the Great American Conference Tournament. In 2015, Harding's Jerry Moore Field received the ABCA College Field Maintenance Award for NCAA Division II. Over the last 11 seasons, McGaha's teams have been outstanding defensively not fielding below a .969 fielding percentage while placing in the top 25 in Division II in fielding percentage 10 of those seasons, in the top 10 four times and leading Division II with a .977 percentage in 2015. Additionally, the Bisons have led the GAC in fielding percentage six of the past 11 seasons. Two of the past four seasons Bison players have won the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award - following the 2021 season, senior Connor Kelly was recognized as the best shortstop in all of NCAA Division II and following the 2023 season, redshirt freshman Logan Lacey was recognized as the best third baseman in all of NCAA Division II. In 2011, McGaha led Harding to its best season in program history. Harding set a school wins record with a 42-14 mark. The Bisons won their first Gulf South Conference West Division title and their first conference championship in baseball since 1984. Following the regular season, Harding received its first-ever at-large bid into the NCAA II Baseball Tournament. The Bisons beat Tampa in their first game at the national tournament and finished the season ranked 24th nationally. McGaha won the 2011 GSC West Division Coach of the Year award. In 2009, Harding recorded its fourth 30-win season and second under McGaha, going 32-25 and collecting its first GSC Tournament victory since 2002. At 12-9 in GSC West play, Harding also had its first winning season in conference action since going 14-9 in 2002. In 2007, McGaha’s Bisons tied a school record with 34 wins. The squad finished 8-13 in Gulf South Conference West Division action and was in the playoff hunt until the final game of the season.  Prior to Harding Prior to his return to Harding, McGaha spent four seasons at College of the Ozarks, where McGaha revitalized the baseball program which went 11-39 prior to his arrival in 2002. In 2005, he directed the Bobcats to a school-record 37 victories, a championship in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The championship and tournament appearance were both firsts for College of the Ozarks. McGaha compiled a 119-96-1 record at Ozarks, achieving consecutive 30-win seasons for only the second time in school history. Before his stay at Ozarks, McGaha spent one year at Pepperdine University. From 1993-97, he coached at Central Arkansas Christian in North Little Rock, Ark., winning a pair of state championships in 1994 and 1995. Playing Career McGaha lettered four seasons as an infielder on the Bison baseball squad under coaches Dick Johnson and Steve Smith. Education McGaha earned his bachelor’s degree from Harding in Physical Education in December of 1991. He received his master’s degree in Education at Harding in 1995 and earned a Ph.D. in Sports Pedagogy from Florida State University in 2000. McGaha is married to the former Sarah Folkerts, a 1993 Harding graduate. The couple has two sons, Connor and Ryan. McGaha's Coaching Record 702-527-1 in his 24-year collegiate coaching career 583-431 in 20 seasons at Harding McGaha's Harding Coaching Record Year Overall Record Pct. Conf. Record Pct. Finish 2006 21-28 .429 6-17 .261 8th 2007 34-22 .607 8-13 .381 5th 2008 27-23 .540 9-10 .474 4th 2009 32-25 .561 12-9 .571 3rd 2010 25-24 .510 9-11 .450 5th 2011 42-14 .750 14-5 .737 1st 2012 24-25 .490 7-17 .292 9th 2013 29-22 .569 16-14 .533 6th 2014 28-24 .538 16-14 .533 t-4th 2015 27-25 .519 17-10 .630 3rd 2016 24-28 .462 15-18 .455 t-6th 2017 23-29 .442 14-19 .424 7th 2018 29-21 .580 18-15 .545 7th 2019 34-21 .618 19-14 .576 6th 2020 18-6 .750 8-4 .667 --- 2021 23-18 .561 18-15 .545 6th 2022 32-19 .627 21-12 .636 3rd 2023 33-19 .635 17-16 .515 7th 2024 37-19 .661 23-10 .697 t-1st 2025 41-19 .683 21-12 .636 t-3rd* Total 583-431 .575 288-256 .529 * - GAC Tournament champions

McGaha is in his 12th year as the head coach of the Harding baseball team. He has a 313-260 record in his first 11 seasons and has led the Bisons to seven conference tournament appearances and its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He became the winningest baseball coach in program history in 2016 when his Bisons defeated St. Edward's 5-1 in the second game of the series. In his time at Harding, McGaha's student-athletes have received 38 all-conference, six all-region, and two all-America honors. Additionally, McGaha's players have 48 academic all-conference, six CoSIDA Academic All-District and three CoSIDA Academic All-America awards. The 2016 team received the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award. In 2015, Harding's Jerry Moore Field received the ABCA College Field Maintenance Award for NCAA Division II. In 2016, McGaha's Bisons reached their fourth straight Great American Conference Tournament. The 2015 team led NCAA Division II with a .977 fielding percentage. The 2014 team also posted impressive defensive numbers, setting a school record with 56 doubles plays turned. In 2011, McGaha led Harding to its best season in program history. Harding set a school wins record with a 42-14 mark. The Bisons won their first Gulf South Conference West Division title and their first conference championship in baseball since 1984. Following the regular season, Harding received its first-ever at-large bid into the NCAA II Baseball Tournament. The Bisons won their first game at the national tournament and finished the season ranked 24th nationally. McGaha won the 2011 GSC West Division Coach of the Year award. In 2009, Harding recorded its fourth 30-win season and second under McGaha, going 32-25 and collecting its first GSC Tournament victory since 2002. At 12-9 in GSC West play, Harding also had its first winning season in conference action since going 14-9 in 2002. In 2007, McGahas Bisons tied a school record with 34 wins. The squad finished 8-13 in Gulf South Conference West Division action and was in the playoff hunt until the final game of the season. McGahas top hurler, senior Justin Phillips, signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals following the season. Prior to Harding Prior to coming back to Harding, McGaha spent four seasons at College of the Ozarks, where McGaha revitalized the baseball program which went 11-39 prior to his arrival in 2002. In 2005, he directed the Bobcats to a school-record 37 victories, a championship in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The championship and tournament appearance were both firsts for College of the Ozarks. McGaha compiled a 119-95 record at Ozarks, achieving consecutive 30-win seasons for only the second time in school history. Before his stay at Ozarks, McGaha spent one year at Pepperdine University. From 1993-97, he coached at Central Arkansas Christian in North Little Rock, Ark., winning a pair of state championships in 1994 and 1995. Playing Career McGaha lettered four seasons as an infielder on the Bison baseball squad under coaches Dick Johnson and Steve Smith. Education McGaha earned his bachelors degree from Harding in Physical Education in December of 1991. He received his masters degree in Education at Harding in 1995 and earned a Ph.D. in Sports Pedagogy from Florida State University in 2000. McGaha is married to the former Sarah Folkerts, a 1993 Harding graduate. The couple has two sons, Connor and Ryan. McGaha's Coaching Record 408-327 in his 14-year collegiate coaching career 289-232 in nine seasons at Harding McGaha's Harding Coaching Record At Harding Dr. Patrick McGaha is in his 12th year as the head coach of the Harding baseball team. He has a 313-260 record in his first 11 seasons and has led the Bisons to seven conference tournament appearances and its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He became the winningest baseball coach in program history in 2016 when his Bisons defeated St. Edward's 5-1 in the second game of the series. In his time at Harding, McGaha's student-athletes have received 38 all-conference, six all-region, and two all-America honors. Additionally, McGaha's players have 48 academic all-conference, six CoSIDA Academic All-District and three CoSIDA Academic All-America awards. The 2016 team received the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award. In 2015, Harding's Jerry Moore Field received the ABCA College Field Maintenance Award for NCAA Division II. In 2016, McGaha's Bisons reached their fourth straight Great American Conference Tournament. The 2015 team led NCAA Division II with a .977 fielding percentage. The 2014 team also posted impressive defensive numbers, setting a school record with 56 doubles plays turned.

At Harding Zach Beasley became Harding's assistant baseball coach in 2020. Beasley was Harding's graduate assistant during the 2019 season. Harding has a 55-37 record in his time with the Bisons and reached two GAC tournaments. Playing Career Beasley, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, played four seasons at Harding from 2015-18 and had a .282 career batting average with 72 runs, 29 doubles and 80 RBI in 182 career games. Education Beasley is a 2017 Harding graduate. He received his master's degree from Harding in 2019. Family Beasley is married to the former Lauren Pryor, a 2017 Harding graduate.