NAIA programs

ITs- I think probably the best NAIA program in KY is University of the Cumberlands. Used to be called Cumberland College. A very strong coach that was very successful at JUCO and then at Cumberland. The school is in a beautiful, but rural setting. Very good academics, but not known to be extreme on those expectations (average students can perform well). A balanced baseball/academic expectation. However, roster carries around 45 kids!

http://www.cumberlandcollege.edu/athletics/baseball/

Some other strong NAIAs (from baseball viewpoint) in KY are Campbellsville University, Spalding University, and Union. Don't know details about those though.

Oklahoma City University.

http://www.okcu.edu/athletics/baseball/

Head coach named NAIA coach of the year; national champs; good school; lots of players sent to the pros; neat city.

Also Lubbock Christian University. http://www.lcu.edu

dont forget about lewis-clark state... national powerhouse started year ranked one in country in preseason poll and every year they come up to our area they beat teams like UW and WSU a lot of the time

Very nice suggestion about Loyola of New Orleans. You will not find a better and more motivated young coach than Doc Beeman. Have known him for almost 7 years and it has been a real pleasure to watch him succeed at every level of his progression. Doc is a very talented baseball person but an even better people person. As a college baseball player, you could not ask for a better person to be your coach.
Took the liberty of attaching a link to their new recruiting class.

http://wolfpack.loyno.edu/news.php?action=view&id=721

You might take a Gander at the web site of Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego. Very comeptitive baseball, gets guys drafted, is so successful that they keep losing coaching staffs to bigger schools but still seem to keep on rolling - 37-14 this year, good academics, quality environment as it is a faith based school, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific and the bonus is you can hit a home run into the ocean I'm told.



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TARatko, congratulations to you and your son for being recruited by Doc and for selecting Loyola. Have seen how hard Doc works behind the scenes to help his players with summer wood bat leagues and even beyond college when possible. Imagine he will also try and duplicate what happened last Spring when they played some mid-week games in Tulane stadium. I also know Doc will have his players take it easy when they play next years home and home with Trinity U in San Antonio since that is where he graduated and also got his start in coaching.

Thanks for all the responses. Loyola has been sending a lot of mail. I'll have to look into it a little more. Checking out the Point Loma Nazarene site now....

University of St Francis in Illinois is a very good baseball program. The school graduates approximately 92% of it's seniors. Student teacher ratio of about 12:1. Also this year Coach Gordie Gellispie has returned as the head coach. Coach Gellispie is the winnining baseball coach in college history! They also play their home games at Jackhammer Stadium which is a top notch minor league stadium.

Check out Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Embry-Riddle Baseball

My son went to Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA. He was very pleased with his choice. If you want any information on this school please send me a PM.

Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL

2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 -- CCAC Championships
2002, 2003 -- NAIA Region VII Championships
2002 -- NAIA Heartland Super Regional Championship
2002, 2003 -- NAIA World Series
2000 -- NCCAA National Championship

Excellent academics and standards of conduct.

Close to Chicago!



Olivet Nazarene