Liberty adds UVA alum Tyler Cannon to baseball staff

Liberty Flames baseball coach Scott Jackson has announced the addition of Tyler Cannon as an assistant coach. Cannon will assist in all aspects of the Liberty baseball program, while focusing on the team’s infielders and hitters.

Cannon joins the Liberty coaching staff after two years as an assistant coach at Army. Before his time at West Point, Cannon served as a student assistant coach at his alma mater Virginia, helping the Cavalilers finish as the 2014 National Runner-up.

This past season, Cannon, a shortstop during his collegiate days, helped play a key role in the development of 2016 Patroit League first team shorstop Kris Linder. After two seasons at second base, Linder had a breakthrough season in 2016 for the Black Knights, leading the team with a .315 batting average and 53 hits. He also posted a .430 on base percentage, starting 46 of Army’s 48 games.

In 2014 on the staff of his former Head Coach Brian O’Connor at his alma mater Virginia, the Cavaliers posted a 53-16 overall record and a 22-8 mark in ACC play. In addition, Virginia had a stellar 34-4 mark at home.

The Cavaliers hosted the NCAA Charlottesville Regional and Super Regional, before advancing to Omaha for the College World Series.

A four-year letterwinner at Virginia, Cannon played in a school-record 244 games, starting 238. He started on four NCAA Tournament teams and was the shortstop for the 2009 Cavailiers squad which captured the ACC Championship and advance to the program’s first College World Series. Cannon was named to the 2009 All-College World Series Team.

Cannon hit .303 during his time in Charlottesville. He collected 276 hits, which his tied for the second most in school history. The infielder also holds school records with 62 career doubles and 910 at bats. In addition, the former shortstop ranks third in program history with 12 triples and 185 runs scored, fifth with 380 total bases and eighth with 49 stolen bases and 107 walks.

Cannon was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft on two occasions. In 2009, he was the 41^st round selection of Pittsburgh Pirates, before returning to Virginia for his senior year. The following year, Cannon was chosen in the 12^th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He played three seasons in the Indians’ farm system, reaching Double-A in 2011. He retired in 2013.

Cannon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia in 2014. The Pigeon Forge, Tenn., native is married. He and his wife Allison have two daughters, Brooklyn and Savannah.