Baseball
Monday, June 5, 2006
Trevecca's Jeff Forehand resigns
Trevecca Nazarene University head baseball coach Jeff Forehand has announced his resignation to accept the same position with Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. Lipscomb is a NCAA Division-I program that plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Forehand has led the Trevecca program for the last six seasons and has returned the winning tradition to the Trojan program.
Prior to Forehand's arrival in 2001, TNU had witnessed just one winning season since 1994. Forehand's first year saw a record of 15-40. The steady climb up the standings started in 2002 when Forehand led the Trojans to a third place conference finish and the most wins (28-29) in a season since the 1991 campaign. The 2003 season saw a repeat third place conference finish, and a 35-20 record. In 2004, his fourth season Forehand's Trojans posted the most wins in school history with a 44-17 record. The Trojans equaled the highest national ranking of any sport in school history when they were ranked fourth. Forehand was selected the 2004 TranSouth Athletic Conference, and NAIA Region XI Coach of the Year for his efforts. The 2005 campaign saw another record-breaking win total as the Trojans went 47-16, won the TranSouth regular season, and tournament titles, and made the Region XI tournament for the first time since region play began in 1997. Forehand was again selected as the TranSouth Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
In his final season Forehand led the Trojans to their deepest postseason finish since the NAIA started region play. Trevecca advanced to the NAIA Region XI Championship Game before falling to National Runner-up Cumberland. The team finished with a 42-20 record and were second (13-5) in the TranSouth regular season race. Forehand surpassed the 200 win mark in 2006 as well and finishes his Trevecca career with a 211-142-1 record and was 61-59 in TranSouth play.
In his comments about Forehand's resignation, Trevecca president Dr. Dan Boone noted that Trevecca is losing a great Christian leader and friend. He added, "Trevecca has just completed the finest year in our athletic history. It comes as no surprise that our great coaches are being sought by other universities. Trevecca loves Coach Jeff Forehand. I count him a personal friend and will miss his fiery leadership. He has given hundreds of young men a winning experience in a Christian environment. We wish him the best." The search for Jeff Forehand's successor has already begun according to Dr. Boone, who said, "Trevecca will immediately focus on doing what we always do - selecting great leaders to shape the next generation of student-athletes."
Trevecca athletic director Alan Smith said, "I'm a fan of Jeff Forehand, since the day he stepped on our campus he has been working to build a program that we can all be proud of. He has given us six incredible years. We wish him the best and will follow his career with great interest from this point on. Jeff led his player on the field, in life lessons and showed them what it is to be a man of God. We'll miss him and his family."
Smith says the next baseball coach will have an established program: "Our next coach will inherit a program that has earned respect not only in the TranSouth Athletic Conference but nationally in the NAIA. There's a roster full of great young men waiting for their next coach, and we will provide them with another great leader."
Over the last five years Forehand was a 196-102-1 record (TranSouth 54-36) and posted a 133-53-1 record (TranSouth 36-16) over the last three years.
When it comes to average wins at Trevecca, Forehand has no equal. Forehand averaged 35.2 wins person season during his career. Elliot Johnson averaged 30 wins during his 11 seasons. Ryan Gray averaged 21.75, Dave Altopp 19.8, and Bill Green averaged 18.3 wins per season. During Green's tenure the number of games scheduled were significantly lower. Forehand averaged 39.2 wins over the last five years and 44.3 wins in the last three years.
Forehand finishes his career as the second winningest coach in Trevecca history. Only former Trojans head coach and current Olivet Nazarene coach Elliot Johnson (330-152-7) has more wins at the helm of the Trojan program than Jeff Forehand.
Jeff Forehand (6 years) 211-142-1 Overall, (61-59 Conference)
Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2005) Region (2004, 2005)
2001 15-40, 3-21
2002 28-29, 11-12
2003 35-20, 11-10
2004 44-17-1, 12-7
2005 47-16, 11-4 Conference Champ
2006 42-20, 13-5 Region Tournament Finals
Trevecca has produced 11 thirty win seasons. Forehand led Trevecca to 30 or more wins in four different seasons. Elliot Johnson coached six 30 win teams during his 11 year career. Bill Green, Trevecca's first coach lead Trevecca to the first 30 win season in 1976. There have been four 40 win seasons at Trevecca and Forehand led three of those campaigns including this years 42 win total. The 2006 season is the fourth-consecutive season with 30 wins, only Elliot Johnson's run of five straight 30 win season from 1986 through 1990 surpass the current streak. Forehand led Trevecca to a record three consecutive 40 win seasons.
Overall, Forehand coached ten All-Americans, ten Region XI first team selections, 26 TranSouth first and second team selections, and has five players in professional baseball in just six years.
In 2001 Mario Campos was named TranSouth Player of the Year and Region XI first team and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. In 2002 current assistant coach Chris Collins and teammate Terrance McClain were TranSouth first team, Region XI first team, and Honorable Mention All-Americans. Keith Black was a two-time TranSouth first team pitcher and was joined on the first team by designated hitter Kyle Felts in 2003. In 2004 Brad Coon, Todd Dunlap, B.J. Jenkins and Colby Rainey were all selected TranSouth first team. Dunlap, Jenkins, and Coon were selected Region XI first team, and Honorable Mention All-American. In the 2004 MLB Draft B.J. Jenkins was the first pick of the 28th round by the San Diego Padres. In 2005 Craig Ballentine, Todd Dunlap, and Barrett Brown earned TranSouth first team honors. Brad Coon was named conference player of the year and Dunlap joined him on the Region XI first team. Coon was a 1st team All-American selection and drafted in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2006 Trevecca's Eric Van Slyke was named NAIA All-American first team and Maurice Cole was selected NAIA honorable mention All-American. Making the Region XI team were Eric Van Slyke and Maurice Cole. In the TranSouth Eric Van Slyke and Maurice Cole were named to the first team, Chris Lowe, Barrett Brown, and Dylan Lynch were named to the second team.
Coach Forehand made strides for the program off the field as well. His passion for players and their success has yielded tremendous results in the classroom. The team GPA has risen by half a point, and 22 players have earned their degrees since 2000. Forehand lead efforts for a $15,000 locker room renovation; as well as $25,000 worth of improvements and renovations to Jackson Field.
Prior to arriving at Trevecca, Forehand led Goodpasture Christian School to three state baseball titles (1999 Division II, 1997 Class A, 1995 Class A) during his eight years as head coach. He was selected State Coach of the Year three times. Prior to his days at Goodpasture, Forehand was an assistant coach with his legendary father, Fred Forehand, at Montgomery Bell Academy from 1990-92. Forehand played his college baseball at Belmont University under legendary coach Dave Whitten from 1986-89. A graduate of Belmont University, Forehand earned his masters of education at Tennessee State University in 1995.
Forehand has led the Trevecca program for the last six seasons and has returned the winning tradition to the Trojan program.
Prior to Forehand's arrival in 2001, TNU had witnessed just one winning season since 1994. Forehand's first year saw a record of 15-40. The steady climb up the standings started in 2002 when Forehand led the Trojans to a third place conference finish and the most wins (28-29) in a season since the 1991 campaign. The 2003 season saw a repeat third place conference finish, and a 35-20 record. In 2004, his fourth season Forehand's Trojans posted the most wins in school history with a 44-17 record. The Trojans equaled the highest national ranking of any sport in school history when they were ranked fourth. Forehand was selected the 2004 TranSouth Athletic Conference, and NAIA Region XI Coach of the Year for his efforts. The 2005 campaign saw another record-breaking win total as the Trojans went 47-16, won the TranSouth regular season, and tournament titles, and made the Region XI tournament for the first time since region play began in 1997. Forehand was again selected as the TranSouth Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
In his final season Forehand led the Trojans to their deepest postseason finish since the NAIA started region play. Trevecca advanced to the NAIA Region XI Championship Game before falling to National Runner-up Cumberland. The team finished with a 42-20 record and were second (13-5) in the TranSouth regular season race. Forehand surpassed the 200 win mark in 2006 as well and finishes his Trevecca career with a 211-142-1 record and was 61-59 in TranSouth play.
In his comments about Forehand's resignation, Trevecca president Dr. Dan Boone noted that Trevecca is losing a great Christian leader and friend. He added, "Trevecca has just completed the finest year in our athletic history. It comes as no surprise that our great coaches are being sought by other universities. Trevecca loves Coach Jeff Forehand. I count him a personal friend and will miss his fiery leadership. He has given hundreds of young men a winning experience in a Christian environment. We wish him the best." The search for Jeff Forehand's successor has already begun according to Dr. Boone, who said, "Trevecca will immediately focus on doing what we always do - selecting great leaders to shape the next generation of student-athletes."
Trevecca athletic director Alan Smith said, "I'm a fan of Jeff Forehand, since the day he stepped on our campus he has been working to build a program that we can all be proud of. He has given us six incredible years. We wish him the best and will follow his career with great interest from this point on. Jeff led his player on the field, in life lessons and showed them what it is to be a man of God. We'll miss him and his family."
Smith says the next baseball coach will have an established program: "Our next coach will inherit a program that has earned respect not only in the TranSouth Athletic Conference but nationally in the NAIA. There's a roster full of great young men waiting for their next coach, and we will provide them with another great leader."
Over the last five years Forehand was a 196-102-1 record (TranSouth 54-36) and posted a 133-53-1 record (TranSouth 36-16) over the last three years.
When it comes to average wins at Trevecca, Forehand has no equal. Forehand averaged 35.2 wins person season during his career. Elliot Johnson averaged 30 wins during his 11 seasons. Ryan Gray averaged 21.75, Dave Altopp 19.8, and Bill Green averaged 18.3 wins per season. During Green's tenure the number of games scheduled were significantly lower. Forehand averaged 39.2 wins over the last five years and 44.3 wins in the last three years.
Forehand finishes his career as the second winningest coach in Trevecca history. Only former Trojans head coach and current Olivet Nazarene coach Elliot Johnson (330-152-7) has more wins at the helm of the Trojan program than Jeff Forehand.
Jeff Forehand (6 years) 211-142-1 Overall, (61-59 Conference)
Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2005) Region (2004, 2005)
2001 15-40, 3-21
2002 28-29, 11-12
2003 35-20, 11-10
2004 44-17-1, 12-7
2005 47-16, 11-4 Conference Champ
2006 42-20, 13-5 Region Tournament Finals
Trevecca has produced 11 thirty win seasons. Forehand led Trevecca to 30 or more wins in four different seasons. Elliot Johnson coached six 30 win teams during his 11 year career. Bill Green, Trevecca's first coach lead Trevecca to the first 30 win season in 1976. There have been four 40 win seasons at Trevecca and Forehand led three of those campaigns including this years 42 win total. The 2006 season is the fourth-consecutive season with 30 wins, only Elliot Johnson's run of five straight 30 win season from 1986 through 1990 surpass the current streak. Forehand led Trevecca to a record three consecutive 40 win seasons.
Overall, Forehand coached ten All-Americans, ten Region XI first team selections, 26 TranSouth first and second team selections, and has five players in professional baseball in just six years.
In 2001 Mario Campos was named TranSouth Player of the Year and Region XI first team and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. In 2002 current assistant coach Chris Collins and teammate Terrance McClain were TranSouth first team, Region XI first team, and Honorable Mention All-Americans. Keith Black was a two-time TranSouth first team pitcher and was joined on the first team by designated hitter Kyle Felts in 2003. In 2004 Brad Coon, Todd Dunlap, B.J. Jenkins and Colby Rainey were all selected TranSouth first team. Dunlap, Jenkins, and Coon were selected Region XI first team, and Honorable Mention All-American. In the 2004 MLB Draft B.J. Jenkins was the first pick of the 28th round by the San Diego Padres. In 2005 Craig Ballentine, Todd Dunlap, and Barrett Brown earned TranSouth first team honors. Brad Coon was named conference player of the year and Dunlap joined him on the Region XI first team. Coon was a 1st team All-American selection and drafted in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2006 Trevecca's Eric Van Slyke was named NAIA All-American first team and Maurice Cole was selected NAIA honorable mention All-American. Making the Region XI team were Eric Van Slyke and Maurice Cole. In the TranSouth Eric Van Slyke and Maurice Cole were named to the first team, Chris Lowe, Barrett Brown, and Dylan Lynch were named to the second team.
Coach Forehand made strides for the program off the field as well. His passion for players and their success has yielded tremendous results in the classroom. The team GPA has risen by half a point, and 22 players have earned their degrees since 2000. Forehand lead efforts for a $15,000 locker room renovation; as well as $25,000 worth of improvements and renovations to Jackson Field.
Prior to arriving at Trevecca, Forehand led Goodpasture Christian School to three state baseball titles (1999 Division II, 1997 Class A, 1995 Class A) during his eight years as head coach. He was selected State Coach of the Year three times. Prior to his days at Goodpasture, Forehand was an assistant coach with his legendary father, Fred Forehand, at Montgomery Bell Academy from 1990-92. Forehand played his college baseball at Belmont University under legendary coach Dave Whitten from 1986-89. A graduate of Belmont University, Forehand earned his masters of education at Tennessee State University in 1995.
