Baseball | 6/16/2015 2:00:00 PM

Columbia, Mo. – Columbia College Athletic Director Bob Burchard officially announced today the appointment of Darren Munns as head coach of the Cougar baseball team.  Columbia College announced the re-instatement of baseball during the fall of 2014 in a media luncheon.  Munns will spend the 2015-16 academic year recruiting and preparing for the team's first competition in 2016-17.

"I am excited about becoming the head baseball coach at Columbia College," stated Munns. "I would like to thank Dr. Scott Dalrymple and Bob Burchard for this great opportunity. Columba College Athletics has a proud and successful tradition that speaks for itself. Cougar Baseball has great potential and I look forward to re-starting the program." 
 
Darren comes to Columbia from fellow American Midwest Conference (AMC) institution, William Woods University. Munns served as the head coach of the Owls since 2005.  In his ten seasons he has put together a record of 333-183, averaging just over 33 wins per season, and has finished in the top three of the AMC standings each year. Darren led William Woods to five consecutive AMC Postseason tournament championship games and seven total in his tenure. The Owls have earned four NAIA National Championships appearances under his guidance and have been equally as successful in the classroom, claiming NAIA Scholar Team accolades three consecutive years.
 
"Darren has a proven record of building winning teams, playing exciting baseball and placing education first for student athletes and will be a major asset for Columbia College," said Bill Johnston, Columbia College Board of Trustee and Search Committee member.  "He will bring a competitive approach to playing baseball along with a strong desire to succeed and win."

Prior to his time at William Woods, Munns enjoyed back-to-back record setting seasons in his two years at Harris-Stowe State University, culminating with 34 wins in the spring of 2005. Harris-Stowe made a 23-game improvement from 2004 to 2005 under coach Munns. 2005 also marked the first time in school history that the Hornets appeared in the AMC Tournament. His first recruiting class produced four First Team AMC All-Conference players, one of whom made First Team All-American.

Before taking the helm at Harris-Stowe, Munns served as Assistant Coach at Central Methodist College (1999-2001) in The Heart of America Athletic Conference. While at Central Methodist, he served as hitting, infield, and third base coach. The 2000 team broke numerous offensive records, appeared in the conference championship game, and qualified for the NAIA Regional Tournament.

Immediately before joining Central Methodist, Munns served as Associate Head Coach at Drexel University (1991-1998), in Philadelphia. His primary duty at Drexel was serving as recruiting coordinator, and pitching coach. During his tenure, Drexel had their strongest recruiting classes in school history, including three freshmen All-Americans.
 
"Through the interview process it became clearly evident Darren is the right choice to lead the Cougar baseball team," said Burchard. "He is a person of integrity, character, and experience.  Darren is a positive and likeable person who will fit right in with the values and mission of our institution."

Darren, a native of Mexico, Missouri, received his undergraduate degree in physical education from Missouri Western State College (1991) in St. Joseph. He received his master's degree in athletic/activities administration from William Woods University in the fall of 2009. Darren and his wife Sarah reside in Columbia and are expecting their first child this summer
 
Baseball is a long awaited sport to be brought back to the College.  Following the institution turning co-ed in the 1970's, baseball was a premier sport for the College. The team competed for roughly ten years from 1972-82 and was led by five different coaches during its time.  Similar to now, the College did not have a field on campus and competed and practiced at the American Legion Field in Columbia. The College will work with the City of Columbia for practice and competition space.
 
In the fall of 2012 the Cougar athletic department doubled its sport offerings, from five varsity NAIA Championship sports to ten.  By the academic year 2016-17 the Cougars will offer 15 varsity NAIA Championship sports with the addition of baseball and full indoor and outdoor, men's and women's track and field. Currently the Cougar athletic department consists of 140 student-athletes competing in 10 varsity sports.  The new sports will likely bring the department around 100 new student-athletes over the next two years and will give Columbia College the chance to fully compete in all sports sponsored by the American Midwest Conference.