John Baggs Head Coach - 17th Season Contact: jbaggs@css.edu In his years at St. Scholastica, John Baggs has established a program that continues to draw attention at both the national and local level. Under Baggs, St. Scholastica baseball has become synonymous with success while producing some of the most exciting moments in CSS athletics history. In 1998, Baggs became the winningest coach ever at St. Scholastica in any sport. Baggs was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up playing baseball in Hanover Park. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1989 with a B.A. in Journalism and English. Hired at St. Scholastica in 1991 when he was 24 years old, he was the youngest Head Coach in the country at the time. Coach Baggs      Following a 33-10 season in 1996, Baggs was selected to coach Team USA II, an NCAA all-star team that won the International Series '96 in Apeldoorn, Holland. The next summer he was chosen to coach Team America, and led that team to a first place trophy in Solingen, Germany. He has a 27-3 record coaching USA teams internationally. Baggs won Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year awards in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and was voted UMAC Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Coach Baggs is credited with turning the CSS baseball team into a nationally-ranked program; the Saints won just 34 games in the five years prior to his arrival in Duluth -- they have won 182 in the last five years. He directed the Saints to a Top 20 NAIA national ranking in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, and NCAA Top 20 national rankings in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Earning high honors after leading the Saints to a 41-11 record and NAIA Regional Championship in 2000, Baggs was named ABCA Regional Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the NAIA National Coach of the Year award. He was again voted the ABCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2003. Baggs, an accomplished guest speaker, has given coaching clinics in dozens of communities. A former third-baseman, he was also an effective pitcher in a closer's role. He coaches both pitchers and hitters in the CSS system. Coach Baggs is described by his players as a "demanding player's coach." "Excelling in the classroom and on the baseball field can be demanding," Baggs said. "So we want our student-athletes to enjoy what they are working toward in both areas. I want them to really enjoy the college experience, but at the same time to be highly successful academically and on the baseball field."   Coach Anderson    Tim Anderson Assistant Coach - 16th Season Tim Anderson, a Two Harbors, Minnesota native, is in his 16th year as an assistant under Coach Baggs. "TA" was inducted into the St. Scholastica Hall-of-Fame in 1999. He was an honorable mention All-Region pitcher for the Saints in 1992, and also started at second base. He earned four varsity letters at CSS after winning four baseball letters at Two Harbors High School. Anderson has coached 73 all-conference or all-region hitters during his coaching career at CSS.   TA graduated from St. Scholastica Summa cum Laude in 1992, earning academic All-American honors his senior season. He scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning of St. Scholastica's 9-8 victory over Winona State in the 1992 NAIA playoffs. After completing his playing career under Coach Baggs in '92, Anderson joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach the following season. He became Baggs' top assistant in '94 and quickly became one of the region's most respected baseball coaches. Anderson's duties include hitting instruction, video tape analysis, outfield play, offensive approach, and recruiting. Baggs on Anderson: "TA has been with me since my first day on campus, first as a player and then as an assistant coach. He knew what i wanted to accomplish here from the beginning, and there is no way we could have been this successful without him. He is the best assistant coach I've ever worked with. We have a successful system and a great friendship." Coach Anderson is described by his players as a "highly knowledgeable hands-on coach." "While helping this program grow to a successful level has been satisfying for me, our program is much more than just winning," Anderson said. "Teaching our players how to be successful and responsible on and off the field and watching them grow into quality individuals we can be proud of is the best part. I consider all of the players and alumni to be friends, and I'm proud to be affiliated with them and the baseball program at Scholastica."   Corey Kemp Assistant Coach - 7th Season Corey Kemp is in his sixth season as an assistant coach at St. Scholastica. "CK" began his outstanding pitching career at Cherry High School where he led his team to the Class A State Championship in '97. He completed his high school pitching career with a 21-4 record over three years of varsity baseball including a 10-0 mark his senior year. This winning tradition continued with the Saints as Kemp became one of the greatest and most dedicated players in CSS baseball history. In the UMAC Tournament his junior season, he surpassed Ben Sickler (20 wins) to become the Saints all-time winningest picther and finished his career with 29 wins. Kemp is also the career leader in virtually every pitching category including innings picthed (233), ERA (2.28), strikeouts (258), and appearances (51). Coach Kemp      Kemp's ability didn't go unnoticed, as he was named UMAC Pitcher of the Year in '00 and an All-American following his senior season. Baggs on CK: "Corey has a complete understanding of our pitching philosophy, our pitching approach, and our pitching mechanics. Having a former All-American working with our pitching staff is obviously nice for us, but more importantly, CK is a classy person with great character, and so he's the perfect person for our pitchers to model on the field and off."   Coach Harriman    Justin Harriman Assistant Coach - 3rd Season Justin Harriman, an International Falls, MN native, is in his second year as an assistant at St. Scholastica. Justin, a former power hitting catcher for the Saints, was the first player in the program's history to be selected as a first-team All-American following his senior season in 2000. Justin ranks in the top five for six offensive statistical categories at St. Scholastica. His 178 RBI and 56 doubles rank first. He also holds the teams record for longest hitting streak, recording a hit in 42 straight contests.   Following his graduation and a few years away from Duluth, Harriman returned and joined the coaching staff in 2006. His duties include working with the catchers and hitters. Baggs on Harriman: "Justin brings something to our coaching staff that we have not had in the past; a catchers perspective. He has the ability to work with our catchers to not only improve their physical skills, but also to help out with the mental aspects of calling a game from behind the plate. His work and drills have paid off as both our catchers were selected by the team as Gold Glove winners this past season."   Joe Wicklund Assistant Coach - 2nd Season Joe Wicklund, in his first season coaching with the Saints, is a former team captain who led the team to a NAIA Regional Championship in 2000. While in a Saints uniform as a player, Joe was a great leader and exemplified all the quality characteristics of a great captain. "Wick" earned the win in game one of the 2000 Super Regional with a strong pitching effort against Bellevue University. Coach Wicklund      Wicklund's responsibilities as a coach will be as a pitching instructor and recruiter. Joe's leadership, attitude, and love for the Saints baseball program along with his job as a St. Scholastica admissions counselor make him a valuable asset in the area of recruiting. Baggs on Wicklund: "Wick's passion shines through in every thing that he does. Whether it be at practice, in a team meeting, on the recruiting trail, or at a game, he brings a positive attitude and is fun for everyone to be around. He is a hard worker who is dedicated to our program and we are very excited to have him on our staff."   Coach Berrisford    Tom Berrisford Assistant Coach - 2nd Season Tommy Berrisford enters his first season as an assistant coach for the Saints. A 1998 Duluth East graduate, “TB” led the Grey Hounds to the State Tournament his senior year. He was selected to the Pioneer Press All State Team and also chosen as the Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year. While starting at third base his entire freshman season, Tommy helped the Saints advance to the Midwest Regional of the Division III National Tournament. He was named the Saints Rookie of the Year following the conclusion of that season.   Tommy was a captain for the Saints during his senior season of 2002. He helped lead the Saints to 145 wins during his four years as at St. Scholastica and was named to the Academic All American Team twice. Tommy’s coaching responsibilities for the 2008 Saints will include coaching the infielders and defensive positioning during games.