The American Baseball Coaches Association announced today that Lee University (Tenn.) head baseball coach Mark Brew is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious ABCA/Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award. Brew will be presented the award during the 2024 ABCA Convention, which is scheduled for January 4-7 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
The American Baseball Coaches Association believes that the highest calling of a baseball coach is to teach life’s lessons and model the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect and personal responsibility. The ABCA Ethics in Coaching Award honors individuals who embody the ABCA Code of Ethics. In 2017, the award was named in honor of ABCA Board Member, Hall of Fame inductee and former Executive Director Dave Keilitz.
Following 10 seasons as an assistant coach for Flames under ABCA Hall of Fame coach Dave Altopp, Brew took over the Lee baseball program in 2007. Now in his 18th season as the program’s head coach, Brew has guided his teams to a combined 671-289-2 (.698) record.
The Flames advanced to the NAIA World Series in each of Brew’s first seven seasons as head coach while reaching the 50-win mark each season. From 2008-2013, Brew earned six-consecutive ABCA/Diamond Sports NAIA Region Coach of the Year honors and was named the 2008 NAIA National Coach of the Year after leading the Flames to a 63-win season and a runner-up finish at the NAIA World Series.
After transitioning to NCAA Div. II and the Gulf South Conference in 2014, Brew guided Lee to a Gulf South Regular Season title in 2021 while earning conference Coach of the Year honors. In 2022, the Flames took home the Gulf South Tournament title and advanced to their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Brew has coached 33 Flames players who have been drafted or signed MLB contracts, including two that have played in the Major Leagues (Lance Zawadzki and Brandon Cunniff). Additionally, 40 of his former players have signed Independent Professional contracts.
A 30-year member of the ABCA, Brew currently serves on the ABCA’s College Playing Rules Committee and its NCAA Competition Committee.