Chris Barney named baseball coach at VU

Chris Barney [Order this photo]

Chris Barney had been Vincennes University's interim baseball coach since accepting the position during the summer of 2008. His selection comes after VU advanced deep into the 2009 NJCAA Region XII Baseball Tournament, en route to a 35-20 Spring 2009 record.

Since Barney began working with the team, the program sent more than 10 players on to continue their diamond careers at four-year programs and signed just as many high school recruits for next season.

"We are pleased to have Chris Barney as Vincennes University's head baseball coach," White said. "He brings a wealth of experience to this position, which we believe will certainly lend itself to building on the program's previous successes. In addition to knowing the game so well, Coach Barney is a staunch advocate of student-athletes working hard in the academic setting, right along with continuously looking to become better players."

University of Evansville Baseball Coach Wes Carroll is one of the many former players Barney helped develop. Carroll concurred with White on Barney's ability to turn out well-rounded individuals.

"As a former player of his, I know what great ability Coach Barney has in developing talent and creating a dynamic roster," Carroll said. "I look forward to recruiting his players in the years to come because I know the types of people he will be producing at Vincennes."

A "baseball lifer," Barney has amassed an impressive collegiate and professional coaching resume' over the past two decades, including 13 years as an assistant and the recruiting coordinator at the University of Southern Indiana where he became acquainted with the Blazer Baseball program and legendary VU Coach Jerry Blemker.

"This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm excited to continue to be a part of Vincennes University Baseball and its strong tradition," Barney said.

"But that baseball history can't be rested upon. I want to assure everyone with VU, our fans, alumni and the community that I will work tirelessly to provide a great collegiate experience for our players and those who come to watch us play.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity and the confidence and faith that the Vincennes University administration has placed in me to continue on as the head baseball coach," he added.

Barney's previous head coaching duties included heading up the Quincy Gems and Springfield Rifles of the Central Illinois League. After starting his career as an assistant with his alma mater Tennessee Wesleyan in 1989, Barney has also been an assistant coach with the Mid-West Sliders of the Frontier League and at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. In addition, he has been on the staffs of the New England Collegiate League's Vermont Mountaineers and St. John's River College in Palatka, Fla.

The Florida native is also an owner of the Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League. That league includes the former Central Illinois Collegiate League that helped develop a long list of Major League Baseball stars.