North Carolina Central University baseball head coach Jim Koerner has been named as the Director of Player Development for USA Baseball, the organization announced on Tuesday, April 13. Koerner will start with USA Baseball following the 2021 college baseball season.
Koerner will also serve as the Field Coordinator at the Prospect Development Pipeline League, the premier development and showcase experience for high school draft prospects from Major League Baseball and USA Baseball, and the primary identification event for the 18U National Team. Additionally, he will assist with player and staff identification for all 10 clubs in the Appalachian League and serve as a roving instructor during the season.
“I am honored to accept this position with USA Baseball,” said Koerner. “This organization represents a standard of excellence that is unmatched in the amateur baseball world and one that I am excited to be a part of going forward. I want to thank everyone involved in the process that helped make this opportunity possible and I am excited to get started!”
Koerner has led the NCCU baseball program as its head coach since the 2012 season, and has helped to pilot the program to over 170 wins. The Eagles won over 20 games in three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018, and that included a program-record 28 wins in 2018.
NCCU has also seen two players selected in the Major League Baseball draft while Koerner has been with the program as Andrew Vernon was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 28th round in 2016, and Corey Joyce was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round in 2019. The Eagles have also had 31 All-MEAC selections during the same time span, three MEAC Rookies of the Year, and two MEAC Players of the Year.
Koerner has worked with USA Baseball on three occasions in the past, most recently with the 16U National Team durint the 16U National Team Championships in 2019. Before that, he coached with the Collegiate National Team during the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series, and Team USA swept all five games in 2018. Later that summer, he served as manager of the Stars Team with the 14U (Under-14) National Development Program during a week of highly developed on-field and off-field National Team instruction and education.
“We could not be more thrilled to have Jim joining USA Baseball as our Director of Player Development,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “His passion for our game and for developing young athletes is inspiring, and the knowledge he has gained over two decades of coaching will be an invaluable asset to all of the players and coaches that come through our programs. From our national teams to the Prospect Development Pipeline League, the new MLB Draft Combine, and the Appalachian League, Jim will be integral in ensuring all of our athletes grow both on and off the field.”
To view the full release, visit USABaseball.com.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and is committed to serving, protecting and supporting the game of baseball and its 15.6 million participants. Founded in 1978, USA Baseball fields six national teams annually and is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). On the diamond, USA Baseball is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the reigning World Baseball Classic champion, and its national teams have won 62 gold medals in international competition. Off the field, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL and the Prospect Development Pipeline. For more information on the organization, its national teams and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.