title: ASUN Conference baseball awards
text: # ASUN Conference baseball awards
  
  At the end of each regular season, the Atlantic Sun Conference, branded since the 2016–17 school year as the ASUN Conference, names major award winners in baseball. Currently, it names a Coach, Pitcher, Player, Freshman, and Defensive Player of the Year. The Coach of the Year award, which dates to 1979, is the oldest. The others—Player (1982), Freshman (2001), Pitcher (2004), and Defensive Player (2014)—were added later. Through the 2001 season, the then-existing awards were known as the major awards of the Trans America Athletic Conference, the ASUN's former name.
  
  Through the end of the 2019 season, Stetson has won 29 major awards, the most of any school in the conference.
  
  On six occasions, a team has won swept the major awards given out in a season: Mercer in 1983, Georgia Southern in 1986 and 1987, Stetson in 1989, Florida International in 1995, and Florida Atlantic in 1999. All six instances came before 2001, when only the Coach and Player of the Year awards existed.
  
  Four individuals have won more than one of the awards. Mercer's Craig Gibson was named Player of the Year in 1985 and Coach of the Year in 2013; Mercer's Chesny Young was named Freshman of the Year in 2012 and Player of the Year in 2013; Jacksonville's Michael Baumann was Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in 2015; and Florida Gulf Coast's Jake Noll was Freshman of the Year in 2014 and Player of the Year in 2016.
  
  ## Coach of the Year
  
  The conference's Coach of the Year award is presented annually to the conference's most outstanding baseball coach, as chosen by a vote of ASUN coaches taken at the end of the regular season. From 1979–1981 and 1987–1992, the award was given automatically to the coach of the TAAC's tournament champion, rather than chosen by the league's coaches.
  
  The award was first presented in 1979. From 1979–2001, it was known as the Trans America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award, until the conference switched to its current name for the 2002 season.
  
  With the exception of 2012, the award has been given to the coach of the league's regular season champion in each season since 2004. In 2012, USC Upstate's Matt Fincher was given the award after his team, picked to finish last, finished second in the ASUN.
  
  Stetson's Pete Dunn, who has coached in the conference since 1986, has won the award six times, the most of any coach. He is one of three coaches to win the award in three straight years (1988–1990), along with Georgia Southern's Jack Stallings (1985–1987) and Florida Gulf Coast's Dave Tollett (2008–2010).
  
  ### Winners by season
  
  Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first given out in 1979.
  
  | Season | Coach | School | Conf. (Rk.) | Overall |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1979 | Barry Myers | Mercer | N/A | 38–16 |
  | 1980 | Jack Stallings | Georgia Southern | N/A | 38–21–1 |
  | 1981 | Barry Myers (2) | Mercer | 3–4 (2nd, East) | 39–12–1 |
  | 1982 | Larry Martindale | Hardin–Simmons | 7–5 (T-1st, West) | 23–32 |
  | 1983 | Barry Myers (3) | Mercer | N/A (4th) | 29–26–1 |
  | 1984 | Mike Knight | Nicholls State | 18–5 (1st, West) | 38–21 |
  | 1985 | Jack Stallings (2) | Georgia Southern | 14–3 (1st, East) | 41–23 |
  | 1986 | Jack Stallings (3) | Georgia Southern | 12–6 (1st, East) | 36–23 |
  | 1987 | Jack Stallings (4) | Georgia Southern | 13–5 (1st, East) | 33–30 |
  | 1988 | Pete Dunn | Stetson | 9–8 (2nd, East) | 35–25 |
  | 1989 | Pete Dunn (2) | Stetson | 13–5 (1st, East) | 38–23 |
  | 1990 | Pete Dunn (3) | Stetson | 10–8 (2nd, East) | 33–31 |
  | 1991 | Danny Price | Florida International | 11–7 (2nd, East) | 43–23 |
  | 1992 | Greg Marten | Southeastern Louisiana | 12–4 (T-1st, West) | 38–22 |
  | 1993 | Greg Marten (2) | Southeastern Louisiana | 19–5 (1st, West) | 38–17 |
  | 1994 | Barry Myers (4) | Mercer | 15–9 (T-1st, West) | 32–24 |
  | 1995 | Danny Price (2) | Florida International | 27–3 (1st) | 50–11 |
  | 1996 | Pete Dunn (4) | Stetson | 12–6 (1st, South) | 42–23 |
  | 1997 | Rudy Abbott | Jacksonville State | 14–4 (1st, West) | 39–13 |
  | 1998 | Danny Price (3) | Florida International | 15–5 (1st, South) | 41–24 |
  | 1999 | Kevin Cooney | Florida Atlantic | 26–4 (1st) | 54–9 |
  | 2000 | Chip Smith | Campbell | 12–15 (6th) | 31–25 |
  | 2001 | Jay Bergman | UCF | 22–5 (1st) | 51–14 |
  | 2002 | Jay Bergman (2) | UCF | 23–7 (1st) | 41–22 |
  | 2003 | Dave Jarvis | Belmont | 19–14 (T-3rd) | 29–23 |
  | 2004 | Jay Bergman (3) | UCF | 24–6 (1st) | 47–18 |
  | 2005 | Bobby Pierce | Troy | 23–7 (1st) | 37–21 |
  | 2006 | Terry Alexander | Jacksonville | 23–7 (1st) | 43–19 |
  | 2007 | Pete Dunn (5) | Stetson | 21–6 (1st) | 42–21 |
  | 2008 | Dave Tollett | Florida Gulf Coast | 25–8 (1st) | 38–15 |
  | 2009 | Dave Tollett (2) | Florida Gulf Coast | 23–7 (1st) | 36–18 |
  | 2010 | Dave Tollett (3) | Florida Gulf Coast | 25–5 (1st) | 38–20 |
  | 2011 | Pete Dunn (6) | Stetson | 23–7 (1st) | 43–20 |
  | 2012 | Matt Fincher | USC Upstate | 16–10 (2nd) | 33–20 |
  | 2013 | Craig Gibson | Mercer | 20–7 (1st) | 43–18 |
  | 2014 | Dave Tollett (4) | Florida Gulf Coast | 19–8 (1st) | 39–22 |
  | 2015 | Smoke Laval | North Florida | 16–5 (1st) | 45–16 |
  | 2016 | Mike Sansing | Kennesaw State | 17–4 (1st) | 29–27 |
  | 2017 | Chris Hayes | Jacksonville | 16–5 (1st) | 36–24 |
  | 2018 | Steve Trimper | Stetson | 15–3 (1st) | 48–11 |
  | 2019 | Dave Tollett (5) | Florida Gulf Coast | 16–7 (1st) | 34–21 |
  
  ### Winners by school
  
  The following is a table of the schools whose coaches have won the award, along with the first season each school played baseball in the conference, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
  
  Because NCAA baseball is a spring sport, the first year of ASUN competition falls in the calendar year after each school formally joined the conference.
  
  | School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
  | - | - | - |
  | Stetson (1986) | 7 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2018 |
  | Florida Gulf Coast (2008) | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2019 |
  | Mercer (1979) | 5 | 1979, 1981, 1983, 1994, 2013 |
  | Georgia Southern (1979) | 4 | 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987 |
  | Florida International (1991) | 3 | 1991, 1995, 1998 |
  | UCF (1993) | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2004 |
  | Jacksonville (1999) | 2 | 2006, 2017 |
  | Southeastern Louisiana (1992) | 2 | 1992, 1993 |
  | Belmont (2002) | 1 | 2003 |
  | Campbell (1995) | 1 | 2000 |
  | Florida Atlantic (1994) | 1 | 1999 |
  | Hardin–Simmons (1979) | 1 | 1982 |
  | Jacksonville State (1996) | 1 | 1997 |
  | Kennesaw State (2006) | 1 | 2016 |
  | Nicholls State (1983) | 1 | 1984 |
  | North Florida (2006) | 1 | 2015 |
  | Troy (1998) | 1 | 2005 |
  | USC Upstate (2008) | 1 | 2012 |
  
  * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 In this season, the award was automatically given to the coach of the TAAC's tournament champion.
  * 1 2 In this season, the TAAC consisted only of a postseason tournament.
  * ↑ Records unavailable.
  * ↑ Following the 2014, Mercer left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 1991 season, Georgia Southern left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 1998 season, Florida International left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 2005 season, UCF left to join Conference USA.
  * ↑ Following the 1997 season, Southeastern Louisiana left to join the Southland Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 2012 season, Belmont left to join the Ohio Valley Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 2011 season, Campbell left to join the Big South Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 2006 season, Florida Atlantic left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 1990 season, Hardin–Simmons left to join the Division III Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
  * ↑ Following the 2003 season, Jacksonville State left to join the Ohio Valley Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 1984 season, Nicholls State left to join the Gulf Star Conference.
  * ↑ Following the 2005 season, Troy left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  
  ## Pitcher of the Year
  
  The conference's Pitcher of the Year award is given annually to the best pitcher in the ASUN, as chosen by a vote of the conference's coaches at the end of the regular season. The award was first presented in 2004, prior to which pitchers were eligible for the Player of the Year Award.
  
  Five of the award's winners—Florida Gulf Coast's Richard Bleier and Chris Sale, Kennesaw State's Chad Jenkins, Stetson's Corey Kluber, and UCF's Matt Fox—have gone on to pitch in Major League Baseball.
  
  ### Winners by season
  
  Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first awarded in 2004.
  
  | Season | Pitcher | School |
  | - | - | - |
  | 2004 | Matt Fox | UCF |
  | 2005 | Brent Adcock | Troy |
  | 2006 | Matt Dobbins | Jacksonville |
  | 2007 | Corey Kluber | Stetson |
  | 2008 | Richard Bleier | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2009 | Chad Jenkins | Kennesaw State |
  | 2010 | Chris Sale | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2011 | Kurt Schluter | Stetson |
  | 2012 | Ricky Knapp | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2013 | Kerry Doane | East Tennessee State |
  | 2014 | Michael Murray | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2015 | Michael Baumann | Jacksonville |
  | 2016 | Brady Puckett | Lipscomb |
  | 2017 | Logan Gilbert | Stetson |
  | 2018 | Logan Gilbert (2) | Stetson |
  | 2019 | Brad Deppermann | North Florida |
  
  ### Winners by school
  
  The following is a table of the schools whose pitchers have won the award, along with the year each school first played ASUN baseball, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
  
  | School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
  | - | - | - |
  | Florida Gulf Coast (2008) | 4 | 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 |
  | Stetson (1986) | 4 | 2007, 2011, 2017, 2018 |
  | Jacksonville (1999) | 2 | 2006, 2015 |
  | East Tennessee State (2006) | 1 | 2013 |
  | Kennesaw State (2006) | 1 | 2009 |
  | Lipscomb (2004) | 1 | 2016 |
  | North Florida (2006) | 1 | 2019 |
  | Troy (1997) | 1 | 2005 |
  | UCF (1993) | 1 | 2004 |
  
  * ↑ After the 2014 season, East Tennessee State left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, Troy left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, UCF left to join Conference USA.
  
  ## Player of the Year
  
  The conference's Player of the Year award is given annually to the best position player in the ASUN, as chosen by a vote of the conference's head coaches at the end of each regular season. It was first awarded in 1982. Until 2004, when the Pitcher of the Year award was instituted, both pitchers and position players were eligible. Before the conference was renamed, the award was known as the Trans America Athletic Conference Player of the Year award from 1982 to 2001.
  
  Two players, both from Stetson, have won the award twice: shortstop Wes Weger in 1991 and 1992 and catcher Chris Westervelt in 2002 and 2004.
  
  Five of the award's winners—Florida Gulf Coast's Jake Noll, Georgia Southern's Todd Greene, Jacksonville's Daniel Murphy, and Stetson's George Tsamis and Kevin Nicholson—have gone on to appear in Major League Baseball.
  
  ### Winners by season
  
  Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first awarded in 1982.
  
  | Season | Player | Pos. | School |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1982 | Frank Millerd | OF | Mercer |
  | 1983 | Jack Pool | 3B | Mercer |
  | 1984 | Ben Abner | OF | Georgia Southern |
  | 1985 | Craig Gibson | 1B | Mercer |
  | 1986 | Craig Cooper | 1B | Georgia Southern |
  | 1987 | Keith Richardson | P | Georgia Southern |
  | 1988 | Jeff Shireman | SS | Georgia Southern |
  | 1989 | George Tsamis | P | Stetson |
  | 1990 | Todd Greene | OF | Georgia Southern |
  | 1991 | Wes Weger | SS | Stetson |
  | 1992 | Wes Weger | SS | Stetson |
  | 1993 | Aaron Iatarola | OF | Stetson |
  | 1994 | Chuck Beale | P | Stetson |
  | 1995 | Evan Thomas | P | Florida International |
  | 1996 | Jason Glover | OF | Georgia State |
  | 1997 | Kevin Nicholson | SS | Stetson |
  | 1998 | Sammy Serrano | C | Stetson |
  | 1999 | Todd Moser | P | Florida Atlantic |
  | 2000 | Frank Corr | OF | Stetson |
  | 2001 | Justin Pope | P | UCF |
  | 2002 | Chris Westervelt | C | Stetson |
  | 2003 | Chad Hauseman | C | Jacksonville |
  | 2004 | Chris Westervelt | C | Stetson |
  | 2005 | Adam Godwin | OF | Troy |
  | 2006 | Daniel Murphy | 3B | Jacksonville |
  | 2007 | Pete Clifford | OF | Jacksonville |
  | 2008 | Jason Peacock | 1B | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2009 | Jeremy Cruz | OF | Stetson |
  | 2010 | Paul Hoilman | 1B | East Tennessee State |
  | 2011 | Adam Brett Walker | 1B | Jacksonville |
  | 2012 | Gaither Bumgardner | OF | USC Upstate |
  | 2013 | Chesny Young | 3B | Mercer |
  | 2014 | Max Pentecost | C | Kennesaw State |
  | 2015 | Donnie Dewees | OF | North Florida |
  | 2016 | Jake Noll | 2B | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2017 | Nick Rivera | DH | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2018 | Brooks Wilson | P/DH | Stetson |
  | 2019 | Jonathan Embry | C | Liberty |
  
  ### Winners by school
  
  The following is a table of the schools whose players have won the award, along with the season each school first played ASUN baseball, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
  
  | School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
  | - | - | - |
  | Stetson (1986) | 12 | 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2018 |
  | Georgia Southern (1980) | 5 | 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 |
  | Jacksonville (1999) | 4 | 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011 |
  | Mercer (1979) | 4 | 1982, 1983, 1985, 2013 |
  | Florida Gulf Coast (2008) | 3 | 2008, 2016, 2017 |
  | East Tennessee State (2006) | 1 | 2010 |
  | Florida Atlantic (1994) | 1 | 1999 |
  | Florida International (1991) | 1 | 1995 |
  | Georgia State (1984) | 1 | 1996 |
  | Kennesaw State (2006) | 1 | 2014 |
  | Liberty (2019) | 1 | 2019 |
  | North Florida (2006) | 1 | 2015 |
  | Troy (1998) | 1 | 2005 |
  | UCF (1993) | 1 | 2001 |
  | USC Upstate (2008) | 1 | 2012 |
  
  * ↑ After the 1992 season, Georgia Southern left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2014 season, Mercer left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2014 season, East Tennessee State left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2006 season, Florida Atlantic left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ After the 1998 season, Florida International left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, Georgia State left to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, Troy left to join the Sun Belt Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, UCF left to join Conference USA.
  
  ## Freshman of the Year
  
  The conference's Freshman of the Year award is given annually to the best freshman in the ASUN, as chosen by a vote of the conference's head coaches at the end of each regular season. It was first awarded in 2001. Since the ASUN did not change its name from the TAAC until after that season, the award was known as the Trans America Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year for one season.
  
  Three of the award's recipients—Florida Gulf Coast's Jake Noll, Lipscomb's Rex Brothers, and Stetson's Chris Johnson—went on to play in Major League Baseball.
  
  ### Winners by season
  
  Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first awarded in 2001.
  
  | Season | Player | Pos. | School |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 2001 | Brian Zenchyk | IF | Stetson |
  | 2002 | Dee Brown | OF | UCF |
  | 2003 | Gordie Gronkowski | 1B | Jacksonville |
  | 2004 | Braedyn Pruitt | 3B | Stetson |
  | 2005 | Chris Johnson | 1B | Stetson |
  | 2006 | Derek Wiley | IF | Belmont |
  | 2007 | Rex Brothers | P | Lipscomb |
  | 2008 | Robert Crews | 3B | Stetson |
  | 2009 | Dylan Craig | OF | Belmont |
  | 2010 | Dan Gulbransen | OF | Jacksonville |
  | 2011 | Alex Bacon | OF | North Florida |
  | 2012 | Chesny Young | 3B | Mercer |
  | 2013 | Patrick Mazeika | 1B | Stetson |
  | 2014 | Jake Noll | 2B | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2015 | Michael Baumann | P | Jacksonville |
  | 2016 | Devon Ortiz | UT | USC Upstate |
  | 2017 | Richie Garcia | 3B | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2018 | Christian Proffitt | SS | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2019 | Daniel Paret | P | Stetson |
  
  ### Winners by school
  
  The following is a table of the schools whose freshmen have won the award, along with the season each school first played ASUN baseball, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
  
  | School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
  | - | - | - |
  | Stetson (1986) | 6 | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2019 |
  | Florida Gulf Coast (2008) | 3 | 2014, 2017, 2018 |
  | Jacksonville (1999) | 3 | 2003, 2010, 2015 |
  | Belmont (2002) | 2 | 2006, 2009 |
  | Lipscomb (2004) | 1 | 2007 |
  | Mercer (1979) | 1 | 2012 |
  | North Florida (2006) | 1 | 2011 |
  | UCF (1993) | 1 | 2002 |
  | USC Upstate (2008) | 1 | 2016 |
  
  * ↑ After the 2012 season, Belmont left to join the Ohio Valley Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2014 season, Mercer left to join the Southern Conference.
  * ↑ After the 2005 season, UCF left to join Conference USA.
  
  ## Defensive Player of the Year
  
  The conference began issuing the Defensive Player of the Year Award following the 2014 season.
  
  ### Winners by season
  
  Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first presented in 2014.
  
  | Season | Player | Pos. | School |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 2014 | Michael Massi | SS | Mercer |
  | 2015 | Grant Massey | SS | Lipscomb |
  | 2016 | Kyle Brooks | SS | North Florida |
  | 2017 | Michael Gigliotti | OF | Lipscomb |
  | 2017 | Grant Williams | INF | Kennesaw State |
  | 2018 | Gage Morey | OF | Florida Gulf Coast |
  | 2019 | Dakota Julylia | SS | Jacksonville |
  
  ### Winners by school
  
  The following is a table of the schools whose players have won the award, along with the year in which each school first played ASUN baseball, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
  
  | School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
  | - | - | - |
  | Lipscomb (2004) | 2 | 2015, 2017 |
  | Florida Gulf Coast (2008) | 1 | 2018 |
  | Jacksonville (1999) | 1 | 2019 |
  | Kennesaw State (2006) | 1 | 2017 |
  | Mercer (1979) | 1 | 2014 |
  | North Florida (2006) | 1 | 2016 |
  