Atlantic Sun 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, Freshman, Pitcher, and Defensive Player —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, along with Georgia Southern's Jack Stallings and Florida Gulf Coast's Dave Tollett.

Winners by season

Below is a table of the award's winners since it was first given out in 1979.
SeasonCoachSchoolConf. Overall
1979Barry MyersMercerN/A38–16
1980Jack StallingsGeorgia SouthernN/A38–21–1
1981Barry Myers Mercer3–4 39–12–1
1982Larry MartindaleHardin–Simmons7–5 23–32
1983Barry Myers MercerN/A 29–26–1
1984Mike KnightNicholls State18–5 38–21
1985Jack Stallings Georgia Southern14–3 41–23
1986Jack Stallings Georgia Southern12–6 36–23
1987Jack Stallings Georgia Southern13–5 33–30
1988Pete DunnStetson9–8 35–25
1989Pete Dunn Stetson13–5 38–23
1990Pete Dunn Stetson10–8 33–31
1991Danny PriceFlorida International11–7 43–23
1992Greg MartenSoutheastern Louisiana12–4 38–22
1993Greg Marten Southeastern Louisiana19–5 38–17
1994Barry Myers Mercer15–9 32–24
1995Danny Price Florida International27–3 50–11
1996Pete Dunn Stetson12–6 42–23
1997Rudy AbbottJacksonville State14–4 39–13
1998Danny Price Florida International15–5 41–24
1999Kevin CooneyFlorida Atlantic26–4 54–9
2000Chip SmithCampbell12–15 31–25
2001Jay BergmanUCF22–5 51–14
2002Jay Bergman UCF23–7 41–22
2003Dave JarvisBelmont19–14 29–23
2004Jay Bergman UCF24–6 47–18
2005Bobby PierceTroy23–7 37–21
2006Terry AlexanderJacksonville23–7 43–19
2007Pete Dunn Stetson21–6 42–21
2008Dave TollettFlorida Gulf Coast25–8 38–15
2009Dave Tollett Florida Gulf Coast23–7 36–18
2010Dave Tollett Florida Gulf Coast25–5 38–20
2011Pete Dunn Stetson23–7 43–20
2012Matt FincherUSC Upstate16–10 33–20
2013Craig GibsonMercer20–7 43–18
2014Dave Tollett Florida Gulf Coast19–8 39–22
2015Smoke LavalNorth Florida16–5 45–16
2016Mike SansingKennesaw State17–4 29–27
2017Chris HayesJacksonville16–5 36–24
2018Steve TrimperStetson15–3 48–11
2019Dave Tollett Florida Gulf Coast16–7 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 AwardsSeasons
Stetson 71988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2018
Florida Gulf Coast 52008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2019
Mercer 51979, 1981, 1983, 1994, 2013
Georgia Southern 41980, 1985, 1986, 1987
Florida International 31991, 1995, 1998
UCF 32001, 2002, 2004
Jacksonville 22006, 2017
Southeastern Louisiana 21992, 1993
Belmont 12003
Campbell 12000
Florida Atlantic 11999
Hardin–Simmons 11982
Jacksonville State 11997
Kennesaw State 12016
Nicholls State 11984
North Florida 12015
Troy 12005
USC Upstate 12012

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.
SeasonPitcherSchool
2004Matt FoxUCF
2005Brent AdcockTroy
2006Matt DobbinsJacksonville
2007Corey KluberStetson
2008Richard BleierFlorida Gulf Coast
2009Chad JenkinsKennesaw State
2010Chris SaleFlorida Gulf Coast
2011Kurt SchluterStetson
2012Ricky KnappFlorida Gulf Coast
2013Kerry DoaneEast Tennessee State
2014Michael MurrayFlorida Gulf Coast
2015Michael BaumannJacksonville
2016Brady PuckettLipscomb
2017Logan GilbertStetson
2018Logan Gilbert Stetson
2019Brad DeppermannNorth 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 AwardsSeasons
Florida Gulf Coast 42008, 2010, 2012, 2014
Stetson 42007, 2011, 2017, 2018
Jacksonville 22006, 2015
East Tennessee State 12013
Kennesaw State 12009
Lipscomb 12016
North Florida 12019
Troy 12005
UCF 12004

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.
SeasonPlayerPos.School
1982Frank MillerdOFMercer
1983Jack Pool3BMercer
1984Ben AbnerOFGeorgia Southern
1985Craig Gibson1BMercer
1986Craig Cooper1BGeorgia Southern
1987Keith RichardsonPGeorgia Southern
1988Jeff ShiremanSSGeorgia Southern
1989George TsamisPStetson
1990Todd GreeneOFGeorgia Southern
1991Wes WegerSSStetson
1992Wes WegerSSStetson
1993Aaron IatarolaOFStetson
1994Chuck BealePStetson
1995Evan ThomasPFlorida International
1996Jason GloverOFGeorgia State
1997Kevin NicholsonSSStetson
1998Sammy SerranoCStetson
1999Todd MoserPFlorida Atlantic
2000Frank CorrOFStetson
2001Justin PopePUCF
2002Chris WesterveltCStetson
2003Chad HausemanCJacksonville
2004Chris WesterveltCStetson
2005Adam GodwinOFTroy
2006Daniel Murphy3BJacksonville
2007Pete CliffordOFJacksonville
2008Jason Peacock1BFlorida Gulf Coast
2009Jeremy CruzOFStetson
2010Paul Hoilman1BEast Tennessee State
2011Adam Brett Walker1BJacksonville
2012Gaither BumgardnerOFUSC Upstate
2013Chesny Young3BMercer
2014Max PentecostCKennesaw State
2015Donnie DeweesOFNorth Florida
2016Jake Noll2BFlorida Gulf Coast
2017Nick RiveraDHFlorida Gulf Coast
2018Brooks WilsonP/DHStetson
2019Jonathan EmbryCLiberty

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 AwardsSeasons
Stetson 121989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2018
Georgia Southern 51984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990
Jacksonville 42003, 2006, 2007, 2011
Mercer 41982, 1983, 1985, 2013
Florida Gulf Coast 32008, 2016, 2017
East Tennessee State 12010
Florida Atlantic 11999
Florida International 11995
Georgia State 11996
Kennesaw State 12014
Liberty 12019
North Florida 12015
Troy 12005
UCF 12001
USC Upstate 12012

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.
SeasonPlayerPos.School
2001Brian ZenchykIFStetson
2002Dee BrownOFUCF
2003Gordie Gronkowski1BJacksonville
2004Braedyn Pruitt3BStetson
2005Chris Johnson1BStetson
2006Derek WileyIFBelmont
2007Rex BrothersPLipscomb
2008Robert Crews3BStetson
2009Dylan CraigOFBelmont
2010Dan GulbransenOFJacksonville
2011Alex BaconOFNorth Florida
2012Chesny Young3BMercer
2013Patrick Mazeika1BStetson
2014Jake Noll2BFlorida Gulf Coast
2015Michael BaumannPJacksonville
2016Devon OrtizUTUSC Upstate
2017Richie Garcia3BFlorida Gulf Coast
2018Christian ProffittSSFlorida Gulf Coast
2019Daniel ParetPStetson

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 AwardsSeasons
Stetson 62001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2019
Florida Gulf Coast 32014, 2017, 2018
Jacksonville 32003, 2010, 2015
Belmont 22006, 2009
Lipscomb 12007
Mercer 12012
North Florida 12011
UCF 12002
USC Upstate 12016

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.
SeasonPlayerPos.School
2014Michael MassiSSMercer
2015Grant MasseySSLipscomb
2016Kyle BrooksSSNorth Florida
2017Michael GigliottiOFLipscomb
2017Grant WilliamsINFKennesaw State
2018Gage MoreyOFFlorida Gulf Coast
2019Dakota JulyliaSSJacksonville

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 AwardsSeasons
Lipscomb 22015, 2017
Florida Gulf Coast 12018
Jacksonville 12019
Kennesaw State 12017
Mercer 12014
North Florida 12016