LINDSBORG, Kan.-Jeremy Cantrell has been named head baseball coach at Bethany College.

            Cantrell most recently was an assistant baseball coach at Barton County Community College, Great Bend, Kan., where he assisted in all aspects of recruiting, handled in-game responsibilities and instructed outfielders.

            "Bethany is excited to welcome Jeremy Cantrell back to our baseball program. Jeremy brings with him the dedication, passion and experience to make Bethany baseball teams successful, and to make a difference in the lives and education of our student-athletes," said Athletic Director Jon Daniels.

            Cantrell holds a bachelor's in chemistry education from Bethany College, where he was an active student-athlete in baseball from 1997 to 2000. He was named an all-conference pitcher three times, and in 2000, was a captain of Bethany's Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship-winning baseball team.

            He also holds a master's of education in exercise science from Louisiana State University - Shreveport.

            Cantrell has worked at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif., and at Centenary College, Shreveport, La.

            He was assistant baseball coach at Centenary College from 2002 to 2004. While there, he participated in team community service and fundraising, and fulfilled the responsibilities of a pitching coach. His pitchers in 2003 set a school record for strikeouts in the season and in a single game.

            Cantrell also has experience coaching summer league teams, including the Wichita Wheat Kings, Wenatchee AppleSox and Brewster Whitecaps. Players from his teams have been drafted into Major League Baseball, and two of his former players currently play in the major league. He has been a camp instructor at the University of Arizona, Penn State University and the University of Kansas.

            "Bethany College has provided me a great opportunity," said Cantrell. "I'm looking forward to taking full advantage of it." He added that his goal for the team will be to build on the Bethany baseball program's tradition of success.

            Bethany College competes in 15 intercollegiate sports in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Since 1902, Bethany has won 138 conference championships.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.