Scott Hearn has been named the first men’s baseball coach at Mary Baldwin University, with an eye toward the program’s opening season in 2020.
Hearn views his position as head of Mary Baldwin’s first men’s baseball program as a coach’s dream. It is his opportunity to build a program the right way from the ground up.
Born in Delmar, Del., Hearn graduated from Bridgewater College in 2003 after a stellar baseball career that left him the Eagles’ all-time leader in hits, extra base hits, RBIs, doubles, and total bases. After obtaining a master’s degree in sport management from Liberty University and a year spent as volunteer baseball coach for Old Dominion University, he returned to his alma mater as assistant baseball coach and assistant athletic director for NCAA compliance.
The job of head coach at MBU, however, was one he couldn’t refuse.
“It’s an exciting time for Mary Baldwin athletics,” he said. “I felt that enthusiasm the moment I stepped on campus. The first question to me was, ‘What do you need to succeed?’ That’s a rare statement for a coach to hear.”
Adding to Hearn’s excitement is the agreement made between the university and Staunton for John Moxie Stadium to serve as MBU’s home field. “This is a baseball town,” he said. “There is already a great fan base here for the Staunton Braves, and we want to tap into that.”
Hearn’s immediate goal is to enter the 2020 season as competitive as possible. He plans to recruit heavily from area high schools in search of players who can not only hit and throw, but add to the burgeoning culture surrounding MBU athletics.
“These guys come to college at an impressionable age,” he said. “My job is to show them how to live as an adult with this newfound freedom. You have to show up every day, hit the weights, and keep your grades high. You have to work.”
“Coach Hearn brings a wealth of experience that combines knowledge of the Virginia baseball scene with a holistic understanding of Division III athletics,” said MBU Director of Athletics Jonas Worth. “His network of local and national recruiting areas really stands out, not to mention his technical and tactical knowledge of baseball. Above all, his background in compliance, student affairs and all aspects of higher education will make him a standout in our department from day one. We can’t wait for him to start collaborating with all members of the Mary Baldwin community.”
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