Billy Godwin enters his fourth season as the head baseball coach at East Carolina University. After officially taking over the reigns of the Pirate ship on Oct. 28, 2005, Godwin has guided the Pirates to a 115-70 (.622 winning percentage) three-year record which includes wins over nationally-ranked Cal State Fullerton, Houston, Michigan, N.C. State, Pepperdine, Rice, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Tulane, UCF and UNC-Wilmington. In just three short seasons, Godwin has guided the Pirates to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances where they earned a pair of No. 2 seeds (2007 Chapel Hill and 2008 Conway), as well as producing consecutive 40-plus win campaigns. His 2008 squad recorded 42 wins and reached the NCAA Regional finals for the first time since the 2004 season when ECU finished with 51 wins and participated in the Super Regional. Godwin has had 16 players earn All-Conference USA honors placing six on the first-team, seven on the second-team and four on the All-Freshman squad; three have been selected to nine all-america teams (Jake Smith-2006, Corey Kemp-2008 and Seth Maness-2008), while Justin Bristow (Newcomer), Corey Kemp (Player) and Seth Maness (Freshman) were named 2008 C-USA Players-of-the-Year. Overall, 10 Pirates to play for Godwin over the last three years have been drafted by Major League Baseball organizations, including a pair of top eight round selections in Justin Bristow (fifth in 2008) and Shane Mathews (eighth in 2007). Currently 10 of his players are playing professional baseball: Justin Bristow (Chicago Cubs), T.J. Hose (Arizona Diamondbacks), Corey Kemp (Milwaukee Brewers), Shane Mathews (Baltimore Orioles), Dale Mollenhauer (Chicago White Sox), Jason Neitz (San Francisco Giants), Josh Ruhlman (Kansas City Royals), Dustin Sasser (Chicago Cubs), Jake Smith (Oakland Athletics) and Adam Witter (San Francisco Giants). Godwin's 2008 club (42-21) produced one of the most productive offensive seasons in C-USA history (all games) leading the league in nine categories including average (.317), hits (702), RBI (464), runs (498), slugging percentage (.499) and on-base percentage (.408). For the second consecutive season the Pirates ranked first in home runs belting 89 to follow-up on its 2007 league leading 68. The 2007 season was highlighted by the Pirates (40-23) return trip to NCAA Regional play, as well as a second-place finish in both the Conference USA regular season and C-USA Tournament Championship. ECU also made a return appearance in the national polls where they spent nine weeks ranked in the top 30 with its highest rank at No. 19 by Baseball America on March 26. In 2006, senior catcher Jake Smith walked away with the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which is given annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher. Smith, a second-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA, led the squad in seven offensive categories including average, hits, doubles, RBI, total bases and slugging percentage, while ranking second in home runs with 13. During Godwin's three-year stint, the Pirates have continuously ranked among the league leaders (all games) in average, runs scored, total bases, slugging percentage, hits, triples, RBI, home runs (leader in '07), sac flies, stolen bases, ERA, runs allowed, opposing batting average, saves and runners picked off. Godwin arrived at ECU as an assistant coach June 9, 2005 after six seasons as head coach of Louisburg (N.C.) College. At Louisburg, he posted an impressive 262-85 (.755) overall record. During the 2005 season, Godwin guided the Hurricanes to Region X regular season and tournament titles on his way to earning Region X Coach-of-the-Year honors. The 2005 Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 49-13 record and stood sixth nationally in the NJCAA Division I final regular season poll. In 2004, the Hurricanes went 40-18 and claimed the top seed at the Region X Tournament before finishing the campaign as a regional finalist. After taking the helm at Louisburg College in the fall of 1999, Godwin kept the Hurricanes in the national spotlight by averaging 43 wins per season. The Hurricanes finished with a school-record 51-11 mark in 2002 and made their 10th trip to the College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. During his tenure at Louisburg, Godwin earned Region X and Eastern District Coach-of-the-Year honors, received the North Carolina College Coach-of-the-Year award in 2002, and saw 10 players sign professional contracts, including Major Leaguer Josh Rupe (Texas Rangers). Godwin, who was the interim coach from Oct. 10-28, replaced Randy Mazey, who had served as the Pirates' head coach from 2003- 2005. After starring in baseball at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, N.C., Godwin signed an athletic scholarship to pitch at Atlantic Christian College in 1982. He captured 19 wins during his career with the Bulldogs, helping to lead them to two District 26 regular season crowns. He was named team captain in his senior year and won the Kiwanis Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete in 1986. While at Atlantic Christian, he played for Dave Jauss, who has served as a coach at the Major League level and is currently on the Baltimore Orioles coaching staff. Godwin spent two seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1989 and 1990, working under the direction of current UNC-Chapel Hill Head Coach Mike Fox. His efforts helped guide the Bishops to the 1989 Division III National Championship and a third-place finish a year later. In 1991, Godwin was named athletic director and head baseball coach at Enfield (N.C.) Academy where he guided the Patriots to a 131-57 overall record, with five consecutive conference championships, four straight Final Four appearances and a state title in 1994. Prior to joining the Louisburg College athletic staff, Godwin served as athletic director and head baseball coach at Cary (N.C.) Academy. Godwin earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Atlantic Christian in 1986 before following with a master's degree in education from East Carolina University in 1995. He is married to the former Sharon Smith of Rocky Mount, N.C., and the couple has one daughter (Mallory). |
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