Duke Associate Head Coach Josh Jordan has been named the ABCA/
Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year. He will be presented the award alongside the Assistant Coaches of the Year from NCAA Div. II, III, NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, II & III and High School Div. I, II and III at the 75th annual ABCA Convention in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 4, 2019!
See Also:
Baseball America Feature Article
Jordan joined Duke as the program's recruiting coordinator in 2012 after being hired by Duke head coach Chris Pollard. The two had previously spent six seasons in the dugout together at Appalachian State University. Jordan was promoted to his current position, Associate Head Coach, in 2015 but continues to play a leading role in the Blue Devils' recruiting.
In his first six seasons at Duke, Jordan has helped turned the Blue Devils into a national powerhouse. After landing the program's second-ever Top 25 recruiting class in 2016, Jordan and the Blue Devils snapped a 55-year NCAA Tournament drought. He brought in another nationally recognized class this year coming off a 2018 campaign in which Duke finished with a school record 45 victories and its first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance.
In addition to his recruiting efforts, Jordan also works with Duke's catching core & outfielders on the field and plays an integral role in the Blue Devils' hitting and base running efforts. During Jordan's six seasons, 25 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including seven in the June 2018 draft. Of the 25 players drafted, six have been top-10 round selections including outfielders Griffin Conine (2018, 2nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays) and Jimmy Herron (2018, 3rd round by the Chicago Cubs).
In addition to Duke & Appalachian State, Jordan spent time at Young Harris College (GA) and Fort Hays State (KS). In six seasons at ASU, Jordan helped the Mountaineers reach at least 30 wins in every season including a 41-win effort in 2012 where Appalachian State reached the NCAA Tournament. He also helped develop 17 players into MLB Draft picks out of Appalachian State. At Young Harris College, Jordan helped the Mountain Lions to a runner-up finish at the 2006 NJCAA Region XVII Tournament. While at Young Harris, Jordan worked with current Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon.
Coaching expertise, recruiting, loyalty to the program and respect for the players and the game are some of the many criteria examined when reviewing the candidates for ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year. Beginning this year, ABCA & Baseball America will recognize a National Assistant Coach of the Year in 11 divisions: NCAA Div. I, II & III, NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, II & III, Pacific Association Division & High School Divisions I, II & III. The additional 10 Assistant Coaches of the Year will be announced later this fall!
Past ABCA/Baseball America
NCAA Div. I Assistant Coaches of the Year
2017 - J-Bob Thomas, Texas Tech
2016 - Rob Walton, Oklahoma State
2015 - Brad Bohannon, Kentucky
2014 - Butch Thompson, Mississippi State
2013 - Chris Lemonis & Roger Williams, Louisville
2012 - Mike Birkbeck, Kent State
2011 - Chad Holbrook, South Carolina
2010 - Derek Johnson, Vanderbilt
2009 - Kevin McMullen, Virginia
2008 - Rob Fornasiere, Minnesota
2007 - Fritz Hamburg, Army
2006 - Mitch Thompson, Baylor
2005 - Bob Wojick, Eastern Connecticut State
2004 - Dave Serrano, Cal State Fullerton
2003 - Jim Lawler, Texas A&M
2002 - Jim Toman, South Carolina
2001 - Brian O'Connor, Notre Dame
2000 - Tim Corbin, Clemson
1999 - Dean Stotz, Stanford