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Head Coach: Doug Bletcher

Doug Bletcher is entering his second season as the head baseball coach of Lindenwood University and has high expectations for this upcoming season.

Last year, the Lions won another HAAC title and finished with a 40-22-1 record; 23-5 record in conference. The 2008 team helped Bletcher earn his seventh HAAC title and tenth NAIA regional tournament appearance in just twelve years of coaching in the HAAC. Furthermore, this past season raised Bletcher’s head coaching record to 399-205-2 (.658).

"Last year’s team was very good, and we were able to have a successful

year due to their talent and leadership," said Bletcher. "However, we are not satisfied with conference championships. We fully expect to compete for a World Series championship on a yearly basis."

Before Lindenwood, Bletcher was the head coach at Culver-Stockton from 1999 to 2006. There, he had a record of 359-183-1 as the head coach for the Wildcats, and he averaged nearly 40 wins a season. Bletcher led Culver-Stockton to six HAAC titles and nine NAIA regional tournaments. The Wildcats won the 1999, 2002, and 2006 regional championships, and in 1999, finished third in the NAIA World Series. He was named the HAAC coach of the year in 2000 and 2005, and he was the regional coach of the year in 2000, 2002 and 2006.

While he was an associate coach at Culver-Stockton, the program went 66-40, won two conference titles, and advanced to the NAIA World Series in 1998 for the first time in school history. From 1990-1996, Bletcher was the associate head baseball coach at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. In his final three seasons at Pomona, the program had its best three records in school history up to that point. Bletcher was also an assistant coach from 1988-1989 at Citrus Junior College in Glendora, Calif.

"Of all the schools that I have been a part of," Bletcher said, "Lindenwood provides the best opportunity for an amazing college experience – you will earn a quality college degree and win a Word Series title!"

Assistant Coaches:

Nathan Beuster (Pitching Coach)

A graduate of Culver-Stockton University, Nathan Beuster joined the Lions coaching staff as a Pitching Coach in 2007.

While at Culver-Stockton, Beuster earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors (HAAC) and helped his team to three conference championships. He currently ranks eighth on the Wildcats’ all-time wins list.

Under Beuster’s guidance in 2008 the Lions pitching staff was among the nation’s best ranking fourth in the country in hits allowed (6.556) and tenth in the country in runs allowed (3.948). The staff combined to give up a mere 3.143 earned runs per game as they held their opponents to a batting average of .247 on the year (ranking 11^th in the country).

In the summer of 2007 Beuster was the head coach of the legion team in his hometown of Geneseo, Illinois. The success of that team translated into five players going on to play at the next level as a number of his former athletes have found roster spots on college teams across the country.

Beuster is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Arts and Education with an emphasis in strength and conditioning. He is engaged to be married to his fiancée Emily in June of 2009.

Bryan Brown (Junior Varsity Coach/Video Technology)

Bryan Brown is in his second season as head Junior Varsity coach. Before Lindenwood, Brown spent one season as a Forest Park Community College first base coach and hitting instructor.

Brown graduated from Parkway West High school in Ballwin, MO, in 2001 where he was a part of the #1 ranked Longhorns, and still holds the career RBI record. He began his collegiate career at Forest Park as well, where in two seasons, he helped the Highlanders to back to back Super-Regional appearances, and in 2003, was a part of a team that was ranked #1 nationally in Junior College Divsion II. After Forest Park, Brown joined up with the Washington University Bears for '05 and '06, two season in which the school record in wins was broken and re-broken. He is currently finishing his degree at Washington (Mo.) in Communications and Journalism.

Brown also coaches locally in the summer for the St. Louis Metro-Collegiate League as the manager for the Clayton Wasps, which includes many Division I, II, III, NAIA, and Junior College players from St. Louis and all across the country.

Tim Canavan (Outfield/High School Recruiting Coordinator)

Tim Canavan joins the Lions for his second season. From 2003-2007, he served as the infield, outfield and hitting coach at Florissant Valley Community College. In his five years at Florissant Valley, the team increased its win total every year but one and was nationally ranked in 2004 and 2005. Thirteen of his players were named All-Region, one was an All-American, one was named the Region Defensive Player of the Year, one was a Division-I signee, and another signed a professional contract.

Canavan holds a BS in Business Administration and an MA in Teaching. He currently resides in O’Fallon, Mo. with his fiancée Angie.

Graham Johnson (Assistant Pitching Coach/Outfield)

Graham Johnson comes to Lindenwood University after playing four years at Culver-Stockton College. He was also the pitching coach at Culver-Stockton College for one year. During his time at Culver-Stockton he helped them win two Heart of America Athletic Conference titles and one Region V title.

Johnson joins the Lions as the outfield and assistant pitching coach and is also the team’s academic success coordinator. He graduated form Culver-Stockton College with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Biology Education. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Education from Lindenwood.

Dillon Lawson (Strength and Conditioning/Junior College Recruiting Coordinator)

Dillon Lawson returns to Lindenwood for his second season as an assistant coach.

Lawson graduated from Transylvania in 2007 with a BA in Exercise Science. He graduated with honors in his major, and while there, held an internship as a personal trainer at the HIT (High Intensity Training) Center.

For the Pioneers, Lawson was a four-year starter at first base and catcher, and was named second-team all-HCAC his junior year, and first-team all-HCAC his senior year. Both his freshman and senior years, the Pioneers set the school record for most wins in a single season, and in 2007, the Pioneers were ranked as high as #13 in NCAA Division III baseball.

Lawson is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Strength and Conditioning at Lindenwood, along with his CSCS certification.

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