By: Aury St. Germain
KENNESAW,Ga.- Former Gordon State College Head Coach Travis McClanahan will join Kennesaw State baseball as its pitching coach, head coach
Mike Sansing announced today.
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"We are tremendously excited to add Coach McClanahan to our staff," Sansing said. "We were looking for someone to continue with a progressive approach for our pitching staff. His development of pitchers over the past 18 seasons has been very impressive. His head coaching experience is a positive for our program and his relationships that his has developed in this region will help us continue to bring the best student-athletes to our program."
McClanahan joins the staff from Gordon State College, where he completed 18 seasons as the head coach of the Highlanders. Under McClanahan, the Highlanders had nine 30-plus win seasons, including four 40-plus win seasons and a 50-win season in 2019. During his tenure, the Highlanders finished third or better in the GCAA (Region XVII) nine times while earning their way into the Top-25 regular season national rankings in six seasons. In 2012, the Highlanders finishing third in the Junior College World Series, the most successful season in school history.
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"I am so excited about coming to Kennesaw State and working for Coach Sansing. He is one of the best men in baseball and I am thankful to have the opportunity to work under him," said McClanahan. "Coming from the junior college level, I am excited about developing relationships and working with players for four years. I am lucky to be doing it at Kennesaw State, one of the premier programs in the southeast."
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McClanahan began his coaching career at Hiwassee College (2001, 2002) in Madisonville, TN where he led the Tigers to the Region XII championship tournament both seasons. 2001 was the first trip to the postseason for the Tigers in over 15 seasons. McClanahan's teams only missed playing in the post season three of his 18 seasons as a head coach.Â
In 1999, McClanahan earned his B.S. in Health and Physical Education and in 2000, he earned his M.A. in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tenn. While at Tennessee Tech, he worked with the baseball program and was a graduate assistant in the Health and Physical Education department. He also earned his A.S. from Cleveland State Community College in 1996.
McClanahan was born in Cleveland, TN on July 10, 1974 and resides in Forsyth, Ga. with his two daughters, Taylor and Emma.
Accomplishments at Gordon State College:
- 2007 Region XVII Coach of the Year
- 2007, 2012 Georgia Dugout Club Coach of the Year
- 2012 East Central District Coach of the Year
- 140+ Former players to 4-year institutions and/or professional baseball
- 70+ Players earning All-Conference Awards
- 6 NJCAA All-Americans
- 16 Academic-All Americans
- 100+ players making the Dean's List (3.5 GPA)
- Won 50+ games in 2019
- Mentored 15th round draft pick Adam Leverett
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