Baseball Coaching Staff
MIKE CLEMENT
Assistant Coach
Mike Clement is in his eighth season at Ole Miss, serving as the team’s hitting coach and third base coach. Clement joined the Rebels’ coaching staff prior to the 2015 season after spending two years at Kansas State University.
Under Clement, the Rebel offense has been established as one of the nation's best. Ole Miss finished third in the nation with 656 hits and fifth in runs scored with 478. Freshman Jacob Gonzalez finished sixth nationally in hits and fifth in runs scored, leading all true freshman in both categories en route to D1Baseball Freshman of the Year honors. Gonzalez also earned All-America honors, becoming just the second freshman in program history to do so. Justin Bench led the nation in hit by pitch en route to All-SEC honors. Hayden Dunhurst also cleaned up on the awards trail, earning the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award at catcher, in addition to All-SEC, SEC All-Defense and SEC All-Newcomer honors.
No team hit more home runs than Clement’s Ole Miss squad during the shortened 2020 season. Ten different Rebels combined to hit 37 home runs—six more than any other team in the country. Ole Miss also finished top 20 nationally in slugging percentage (3rd), runs per game (3rd), runs scored (5th) and walks drawn (7th) and on-base percentage (16th). Third baseman Tyler Keenan led the SEC and finished second nationally in RBIs with 33 on his way to First Team All-America honors. The eventual 4th Round MLB Draft Pick finished eighth in the nation and second in the SEC with seven home runs. Shortstop Anthony Servideo was selected in the third round and was a Second Team All-American after finishing fourth in the country in runs scored, ninth in on-base percentage and second in walks drawn.
In 2019, Ole Miss finished in the top 25 nationally in hits, walks, runs scored and home runs. The 2019 squad set program records for walks drawn (351), fielding percentage (.978) and stolen bases (93). Four players hit .310 or better on the year, and four players hit double-digit home runs: freshman Kevin Graham (10), Cole Zabowski (12), Thomas Dillard (14) and Tyler Keenan (15). Grae Kessinger had a spectacular year, earning First Team All-American and Brooks Wallace Award honors while hitting a team-best .330 with 18 doubles, seven home runs, 50 RBIs and 67 runs scored, the fourth-most in program history. Cooper Johnson was tremendous behind the plate as well, drawing Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team nods.
The 2018 season was undoubtedly Clement’s best year to date at Ole Miss. The Rebels, under the guidance of their hitting coach, shattered a slew of school records, topped the conference in a number of batting categories and used an expansive offensive arsenal to give the SEC it’s only .300 team average at the plate in 2018. Eight of the starting nine players on this past year’s team had batting averages over .300 by the end of the year, good for an even .300 average for the season. A relentless lineup carried the Rebels to a record 48 wins, and opposing pitchers found no weak spot in any spot throughout the Ole Miss batting order. The Rebels ranked in the SEC’s top five in almost every major offensive category, including hits, batting average, runs scored, on base percentage and doubles.
One of the SEC’s leading bats emerged in Ryan Olenek during the 2018 campaign, and under Clement’s tutelage, the junior outfielder’s production surged. Olenek at one point held the SEC’s longest active hitting streak at 23 games, and topped a number of offensive categories for the Rebels. His .350 batting average led the pack by a good deal, and his 83 hits were the highest on the team. The right fielder also led the Rebels in doubles and had eight fewer strikeouts than any of his teammates.
Comparing the offensive numbers from 2017 to 2018 shows truly how remarkable the Rebel batting order turnaround was over the year. Clement helped raise the batting average .050 points, the slugging percentage .095 points, on-base percentage .053 points, and added 132 runs, 114 hits, 24 doubles, 24 home runs, 128 RBI and 210 total bases just over the course of one season, from the 2017 campaign to last year.
In Clement's third season, the 2017 Rebels finished in the top quarter of the SEC in doubles and home runs during conference play. Hitting 53 doubles and 26 homers throughout 30 conference games, Ole Miss ranked fourth in both categories. One of the Rebels' most consistent hitters was second baseman Tate Blackman, who continued the momentum from his sophomore campaign to hit over .300 again in 2017. In his final season as a Rebel, Blackman cracked the top 15 in the SEC in slugging percentage (.525) and on base percentage (.420). During the summer, he was taken in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox.
For the third consecutive season, Clement helped an Ole Miss catcher improve dramatically at the plate. After Henri Lartigue led all SEC catchers in batting average in 2016, Nick Fortes used his bat to squeze into the everyday lineup in 2017. With Clement advising Fortes and his approach, the sophomore hit .319 to lead the Rebels at the dish. A year later, with Fortes again behind the plate, the Rebel catcher was one of the team’s leading bats, consistently hitting third with a .319 average for the second consecutive year. He was also one of the biggest home run threats in 2018, recording 11 home runs which was second only to Thomas Dillard’s 13.
During the 2016 campaign, Clement’s guidance led to breakout seasons from a trio of Rebels. J.B. Woodman turned in an All-American season, hitting .323 with 54 RBI and 14 homers to become the first Rebel to lead the Southeastern Conference in home runs since 1977. After spending the 2015 campaign as a backup catcher, Lartigue saw his draft stock rise due to his production at the plate; the switch-hitting catcher posted a team-high .353 batting average for the Red and Blue, a mark that was best among all SEC catchers and ranked ninth among conference hitters that led to first team All-SEC accolades. Woodman and Lartigue’s offensive success led to them getting drafted in the second and seventh round, respectively, in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Following a disappointing freshman season, Blackman bounced back in 2016 with the help of Clement. Hitting at a .322 clip and leading the conference in sacrifice flies, Blackman earned second team All-SEC honors. The steady offense at the dish helped the Rebels go 43-19 in 2016, earning a NCAA Tournament bid as a host site for regional play. Ole Miss became just one of 11 teams to host a NCAA Regional for the seventh time in the last 13 years.
During his first year as the Rebels’ hitting coach, Clement helped lead the Rebels to the postseason after facing the nation’s toughest schedule during the regular season. Ole Miss broke out the bats in big games to go 7-6 against top-10 teams, including 5-4 versus teams ranked No. 1 in the country. Clement worked with youthful Ole Miss bats while also continuing to develop the production of Rebels with experience in the lineup. With the assistance of Clement’s instruction, junior college transfer Connor Cloyd earned his way into a starting role, hitting .369 over 38 games played in 2015. Freshman Will Golsan and sophomore Colby Bortles, two new starters in the Ole Miss infield, found success at the plate throughout the season as well. Golsan hit at a .290 clip in his first collegiate season, and Bortles proved he could produce in the middle of the order with a .281 average and 47 RBI.
Transitioning into his sophomore season, shortstop Errol Robinson maintained his production under Clement with a team-high 62 hits and a .297 average. In his first season at Ole Miss, Clement also saw Ole Miss senior slugger Sikes Orvis etch his name in the program record book. Orvis belted 16 home runs in his final season as a Rebel, the seventh-most in Ole Miss history, and added 17 doubles to help knock in a team-best 53 runs.
In two years as hitting coach at K-State, Clement made an immediate impact on the Wildcat offense, raising it to not only among the Big 12 Conference's best, but also near the top of the national leaderboard.
Named the K-State hitting coach in July of 2012, Clement led the Wildcat offense to the nation's second-best batting average in 2013 while the team went on to capture the Big 12 title, host and win its first NCAA Regional, and come within one victory of the program making its first trip to the College World Series. In addition to a high national ranking in batting average, the Wildcats were also ranked in the top 10 nationally in six other categories, finishing fifth in hits (705), triples (28) and sacrifice flies (40), eighth in triples per game (0.44) and on-base percentage (.406), and 10th in hit-by-pitch (96). The Wildcats paced the Big 12 in each of those categories in addition to RBI (368) and steals (99).
In 2014, the Wildcats were second among Big 12 teams in OBP (.385), third in runs per game (5.8), and fourth in team batting average (.283). Nationally, K-State was 25th in OBP and tied for 18th in stolen bases.
Clement, a veteran coach with 11 years of experience at the Division I level and strong recruiting ties in the state of Texas, tutored a pair of All-Americans, seven All-Big 12 performers, and four MLB draft picks who went on to play professionally. Ross Kivett, the Big 12's Player of the Year in 2013, was one of seven hitters in Clement's first year that earned All-Big 12 honors, a group that included six first team selections. Kivett joined fellow All-Big 12 First Team selection Jared King as the two Wildcats who also garnered All-American accolades in 2013. King went on to be selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets, which was the first time he had been drafted.
Kivett was also drafted in 2013, in the 10th round by the Cleveland Indians, but he elected to return for his senior season. The outfielder and second baseman received All-Big 12 honors once again while he was one of three hitters under Clement's direction taken in the 2014 MLB Draft. Kivett was selected in the sixth round by the Detroit Tigers - the fourth hitter drafted in the sixth round or higher who had worked with Clement since 2006 - and Mitch Meyer and Austin Fisher were taken in the seventh and 13th round, respectively. In 10 years at the Division I level, Clement has had 26 players get selected in the MLB Draft.
Prior to coming to K-State, Clement was on the staff at Texas A&M for three years after spending the previous four seasons at UTSA, including the final three as the team's hitting coach. In addition to helping the Wildcats reach the Super Regional round in 2013, Clement was a member of three other postseason teams, including a trip to the 2011 College World Series.
Texas A&M advanced to postseason play each year Clement was a part of the coaching staff. He helped guide the Aggies to both the Big 12 conference regular-season and postseason championship titles in 2011 on their way to a College World Series appearance. In 2010, Texas A&M won the Big 12 Championship and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Coral Gables Regional, while the Aggies hosted a NCAA Regional in 2012.
Clement helped direct an Aggie offense in 2012 that led the Big 12 and ranked fourth nationally with 129 steals. Also, Clement coached the Texas A&M infielders that saw its 2011 squad decrease its errors by 23 from the previous year and finish in the top 25 nationally with a .975 fielding percentage.
During his time at UTSA from 2006-09, Clement helped the Roadrunners accumulate a 144-81 overall record - including an impressive 84-40 mark in Southland Conference play - win two Southland Conference regular season titles, tutor 16 hitters that earned All-Southland Conference honors and set 30 offensive school records. Additionally, UTSA saw its team batting average jump 32 points from .285 the year before he took over the offense to .317 during his final season, a mark that still stands as the school record.
In his final year as the hitting coach in San Antonio, Clement steered an offense that rewrote the record books as he helped the Roadrunners win a school-record 39 games. Along the way, UTSA set new highs in five offensive categories, including home runs, hits and batting average. UTSA finished in the top 25 nationally in triples (11th; 25), slugging percentage (20th; .532) and home runs (21st; 89), while the 2009 squad also stole 79 bases to rank third in school history, the most since a school-record 92 in 1999.
Clement tutored just the second All-American in UTSA history in Michael Rockett. The outfielder, who was a four-time All-Southland Conference performer, was drafted in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by Detroit.
Prior to his stint at UTSA, Clement served as an assistant for one year at Kirkwood Junior College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and then spent one year at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He was also an assistant coach for the Orleans Cardinals in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in the summers of 2005 and 2006, winning a Cape Cod Championship in 2005.
A former college catcher, Clement played two seasons at Kirkwood, helping the Eagles compile a 91-25 record. He finished his college career at Morningside, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education/secondary education in 2002. Following college, the Marshalltown, Iowa, native played professionally one season for the Canton Coyotes of the Frontier League.
Clement comes from a baseball background as his father, Brad, was a legendary head coach at Marshalltown (Iowa) High School, helping the Bobcats win three state championships before being inducted into the Iowa High School Hall of Fame. Clement's younger brother, Jeff, was drafted in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners. The eight-year veteran spent time in the majors with Seattle and Pittsburgh before retiring prior to the start of the 2014 season.
Clement is married to the former Amanda Rosenberg of Kingwood, Texas. They have one son, Cooper.
CARL LAFFERTY
Assistant Coach
Carl Lafferty has spent 16 seasons as a full-time assistant coach at Ole Miss, including 12 as the team's recruiting coordinator, making him the longest-tenured assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference.
Since the 2010 season, Lafferty has served as the Rebels' recruiting coordinator, bringing in nationally ranked recruiting classes year after year. Twelve of his recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 25, including seven in the top 10 and five in the top five nationwide. Lafferty's 2016 class was ranked No. 1 in national recruiting rankings conducted by Baseball America and D1Baseball.com. The top ranking became the first No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the history of Ole Miss Athletics.
Lafferty's first class was ranked No. 8 by Baseball America, a group that led the Rebels to Omaha in 2014 for the first time since 1972. In 2011, Lafferty helped haul in the first top-five recruiting class of the Bianco era; the class was ranked third nationally by Collegiate Baseball and fifth by Baseball America. Ole Miss followed with another top-five recruiting class in 2012, and the 2013 class ranked eighth to give the Rebels four straight top-10 classes.
Lafferty's success in putting together some of the nation's best classes has not gone unnoticed by his peers. In a 2016 survey conducted by D1Baseball.com, Division I baseball coaches named Lafferty as the fourth-best recruiting coordinator in the country.
More recently, his 17th-ranked recruiting class in 2017 helped produce a number of freshman who immediately contributed to one of the best years in program history in 2018. Freshmen Jordan Fowler and Tyler Keenan both made impacts and fulfilled major roles that went noticed around the country as both earned Freshman All-American status. Both Keenan and junior-college transfer Jacob Adams of the 2017 recruiting class stepped right up for starting roles in their inaugural seasons as Rebels and helped produce a record 48 wins. Fowler, who made nine starts in his first year, was the owner of Ole Miss’s lowest ERA and highest number of wins as a starter, coming in at 7-0 with a 3.20 ERA to help him catch an All-American nod.
The 2018 class, also ranked in the top 25 nationally, produced another pair of freshman All-Americans in Doug Nikhazy and Kevin Graham. Graham was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after clubbing 10 home runs and slugging .507. Nikhazy was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and a Freshman All-American by Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball following an oustanding season on the mound. Nikhazy struck out 86, an Ole Miss freshman record, going 9-3 with a 3.31 ERA and grabbed two SEC Freshman of the Week nods along the way. Nikhazy's excellent freshman campaign earned him a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team for the summer.
The story was no different in 2019, as Ole Miss welcomed the No. 2 class in the country to Oxford, highlighted by four prospects who were taken in the MLB Draft but chose instead to play for the Rebels. The 2019 group includes four of Perfect Game’s top 50 prospects—the only class in the country of its kind.
Even after bringing in one of the nation’s best classes in 2020, Lafferty brought in another heralded group for 2021. The class ranked No. 15 in D1Baseball’s newcomer breakdowns, in addition to a No. 18 ranking from Collegiate Baseball and a No. 21 ranking by Baseball America. Once again, Lafferty restocked the 2022 national champions' roster with another nationally lauded class, coming in at No. 4 in Perfect Game's rankings and No. 9 by Baseball America.
Pitchers to the Pros
In his time as a Rebel coach, Lafferty has developed 40 pitchers who have gone on to the professional ranks. Three Rebel hurlers were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft as Derek Diamond and Dylan DeLucia were selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Guardians, respectively, while Brandon Johnson was chosen in the ninth round by the Kansas City Royals. Additionally, Drew McDaniel signed a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox. That came hot on the heels of the 2021 draft in which all three Rebel draft picks were pitchers. Gunnar Hoglund was the 19th overall selection of the draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, while Doug Nikhazy had his name called in the second round by the Guardians. Taylor Broadway was the third Rebel pitcher to be drafted in 2021, going in the sixth round to the White Sox.
In 2018, his impressive weekend rotation all departed in the 2018 MLB Draft, as Ryan Rolison, Brady Feigl, and James McArthur all heard the names called after a trio of tremendous years on the mound. Rolison was the first name off the board after the southpaw was selected in the first round of the draft by the Colorado Rockies after a 10-4 season as the Rebel ace and Friday night starter. Feigl was next, heading in the fifth round to the Oakland Athletics, before McArthur continued the trend of Friday-Saturday-Sunday by being selected in the 12th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Closer Parker Caracci was also selected in the 2018 Draft after a remarkable breakout season, but elected to return to Oxford for his junior season.
Caracci was drafted 16 rounds higher in 2019, again by the Blue Jays, one of four Rebel pitchers to be drafted. Ole Miss' Friday night starter, Will Ethridge, led the way, going in the fifth round to the Rockies. Caracci went in the 21st round, and Zack Phillips (Round 27 - Royals) and Houston Roth (Round 29 - Baltimore Orioles) rounded out the group of four Rebel arms headed to the professional ranks.
Not only did Lafferty’s efforts translate to the MLB Draft, but the Rebels continued on an excellent 2017 pitching staff with an equally strong class in 2018. Rolison and Feigl spearheaded an intense 1-2 punch on Friday and Saturday, combining to go 18-9 on the year, but the year’s best story was the closer, Caracci, and his ability to stifle opposing batters at the end of games in his first year on the mound. The Rebel closer went 5-2 with 10 saves in 29 appearances last year, striking out an absurd 73 opposing batters in just 48.0 innings of work. Caracci was virtually unhittable as he ran up the gun in the mid to high-90s, and opponents managed just a .221 batting average against him.
Starting lefty David Parkinson was one of the more recent Ole Miss pitchers playing professionally after learning from Lafferty. After coming to Oxford as a junior college transfer, Parkinson worked with Lafferty to earn a spot in the weekend rotation midway through the 2016 season. One season later, he was the only Rebel to start in the rotation all 14 weekends of the season. The two strong seasons at Ole Miss allowed Parkinson's stock to rise as he was taken in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, the first Rebel off the board.
Wyatt Short and Chad Smith were 2016 MLB Draft selections coached by Lafferty. Short, an All-SEC closer in 2015, was chosen by the Chicago Cubs and made 15 appearances without allowing an earned run to begin his professional career. Under the tutelage of Lafferty, Scott Weathersby worked his way up to a 10th round selection in the 2015 MLB Draft. Brady Bramlett (22nd round – Oakland) and Christian Trent (24th round – Milwaukee) were also drafted, with Bramlett deciding to return to the Rebels as the team's ace for the 2016 season.
In 2014, Lafferty helped guide Ole Miss to the College World Series for the first time since 1972. Following the memorable run to Omaha, nine Rebels were drafted including five pitchers who learned from Lafferty: Chris Ellis (3rd round – Los Angeles Angels), Josh Laxer (9th round – Detroit), Hawtin Buchanan (20th round – Seattle), Aaron Greenwood (28th round – Houston) and Christian Trent (29th round – Los Angeles Dodgers).
The assistant coach continued to add to the list of professional pitchers following the 2013 campaign when four of the five drafted players were pitchers, including third-round pick Mike Mayers, fifth-round pick Bobby Wahl as well as seniors Tanner Bailey and Brett Huber. Mayers made his MLB debut three years later, earning the start for the Cardinals on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
The number of pitchers to go on to the professional ranks after playing under Lafferty grew following the 2012 season when Dylan Chavez (14th round – Boston) and R.J. Hively (19th round – Arizona) were both selected in the MLB Draft.
He added to his list of players to go on and play professional ball in 2011 with the selection of four pitchers and a catcher in the MLB Draft. David Goforth (7th round – Milwaukee), Austin Wright (8th round – Philadelphia), Miles Hamblin (12th round – Houston), Matt Crouse (24th round – Detroit) and Matt Tracy (24th round – New York Yankees) were all drafted and signed to play professionally.
Lafferty developed top pitching talent for the Rebels in 2010, guiding a pair of arms to All-America status. Junior southpaw Drew Pomeranz was named an All-America selection while right-hander Brett Huber was named a Freshman All-America selection. Both pitchers also garnered All-SEC honors. Pomeranz also went on to be named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, the first in the history of the award for Ole Miss. A finalist for the National Pitcher of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award, Pomeranz was taken by the Cleveland Indians with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, becoming the highest drafted player in school history. He was one of four pitchers under Lafferty’s tutelage to be drafted in 2010.
The trend continued in 2009 as the Rebels saw 11 players drafted, eight of whom worked under the direction of Lafferty. Six pitchers and two catchers were drafted in the 2009 season, including pitchers Scott Bittle (4th round - St. Louis), Nathan Baker (5th round - Pittsburgh), Brett Bukvich (18th round - Florida), Phillip Irwin (21st round - Pittsburgh), Aaron Barrett (27th round - Texas), Chris Corrigan (30th round - St. Louis), and catchers Brett Basham (50th round - San Diego) and Kyle Henson (39th round - San Francisco). The former catcher was also responsible for helping the Rebels claim the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship.
In his first season as a full-time assistant, Lafferty tutored several players who went on to be drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft, including three pitchers taken in the first 75 picks - Lance Lynn (39), Cody Satterwhite (67) and Scott Bittle (75). Bittle earned first team All-America honors. Lafferty also worked with catcher Brett Basham, who earned SEC All-Defensive team honors and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round. Basham led the SEC in runners caught stealing and led all catchers in runners picked off. Lynn went on to help the St. Louis Cardinals claim the 2011 World Series in his rookie season in the Major Leagues.
Upon moving to a full-time position in 2008, Lafferty continued to work with the catchers, but also assumed duties assisting head coach Mike Bianco with the pitching staff before assuming duties as recruiting coordinator prior to the 2010 season.
In his first year back working on the field as a volunteer assistant in 2007, Lafferty worked with the outfielders and catchers, and assisted with the hitters. Lafferty also served as the first base coach. In his time working with the outfielders, Lafferty helped develop Jordan Henry, the 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year selection and a Freshman All-America selection. He also worked with his brother, Justin, a ninth-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
To the Pros and Back
Lafferty returned to Ole Miss in 2004 to complete his degree after having spent several years playing professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Lafferty earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from the University of Mississippi in 2004.
He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 20th round of the 2001 MLB Draft. After a short stint with the Marlins, Lafferty signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The catcher played two seasons (2002-03) with the Peoria Chiefs, a single-A affiliate of the Cardinals, and also played with the high-A affiliate, the Palm Beach Cardinals.
A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he played for the Rebels from 1998-2001, finishing his career in the first year of the Bianco era. A four-time letterwinner, Lafferty hit .307 for his career with 104 RBI. He also notched 42 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs.
As a senior, Lafferty was named to the All-SEC second team, becoming the school's 92nd All-SEC honoree in program history. Lafferty also served as team captain that season.
Lafferty is married to the former Lauren Nelson of Baldwyn, Mississippi. The couple has three children, William Carl Lafferty IV, and twins, Henry and Drew.
CHRIS CLEARY
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Chris Cleary was promoted to Volunteer Assistant Coach of the Ole Miss baseball program in July 2020. A former assistant coach at Creighton and Butler, Cleary joined the Rebel baseball staff in August 2018 as the Coordinator of Operations (External Affairs).
Cleary graduated from Menlo College in Atherton, California, with a degree in sport management in 2012. He played four seasons for the Oaks as a pitcher and middle infielder. A dean’s list student off the field, Cleary also led Menlo to a conference title in 2012.
A native of Fresno, California, Cleary joined the Menlo baseball program as the outfield coach for the 2013 season, where he helped lead the program to a record 34 wins and an appearance in the Cascade Conference Championship game. Under Cleary’s guidance, the Oaks ranked in the top five nationally in fielding percentage (.970). He was later elevated to pitching coach in 2013. During his time at Menlo, Cleary coached two MLB draftees, five All-Cascade Conference players, an NAIA All-American, and conference player of the year.
Cleary transitioned to Butler University in 2014, where he served as an assistant coach, working with infielders and assisting with hitters. In Cleary’s second year in the program, the Bulldogs set a program record in fielding percentage with a .970 mark.
In the fall of 2016, Cleary joined the staff at Creighton, where he served as the volunteer assistant coach and as a staff administrator. With Cleary in the fold, the Bluejays improved their record from 24-25 in 2017 to 34-16 in 2018. In 2018, Creighton collected three first team All-Big East nods, one All-American and four MLB draftees, the program’s most since 2006.