Billy Godwin
Encyclopedia
Billy Godwin is the current Head Coach
at East Carolina University
. He assumed the role on an interim basis on October 10, 2005. He was renamed Head Baseball Coach on October 28, 2005 by Athletic Director Terry Holland
.
, NC
. and attended Northern Nash High School
. He then earned an athletic scholarship as a pitcher
in 1982 to attend Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College
. He was named team captain in 1986 and Kiwanis
Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete. He graduated in 1986 in Business Administration. His first coaching job came at North Carolina Wesleyan College
in 1989 and 1990. He was the assistant coach to current UNC
head coach Mike Fox
. The two guided NCWC to the NCAA Division 3 baseball championship in 1989 and a third-place finish a year later.
After Enfield Academy, Coach Godwin became Cary Academy
first Athletic Director in 1997.
Coach Godwin next Head Coaching job came at Louisburg College
. During his six year term he earned a 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 tenth 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.
Godwins team also earned many awards and recognition during his first year. Senior catcher Jake Smith earned the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which is given annually to the nations top collegiate catcher. Four Pirates earned All-Conference honors. The 2006 Pirates ranked among the league leaders (all games) in average (.305), runs scored (381), total bases (939), slugging percentage (.452), hits (633), triples (13), RBI (342), home runs (58), ERA (4.34), runs allowed (296), opposing batting average (.282) and runners picked off (10).His 2009 team made it to the Super Regionals before losing to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Coach Godwin earned a Masters Degree in Education in 1995 from East Carolina University.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
. He assumed the role on an interim basis on October 10, 2005. He was renamed Head Baseball Coach on October 28, 2005 by Athletic Director Terry Holland
Terry Holland
Michael Terrence "Terry" Holland is the Athletics Director and Executive Assistant to Chancellor Steve Ballard at East Carolina University...
.
Early years
Coach Godwin was born in Rocky MountRocky Mount, North Carolina
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of...
, NC
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. and attended Northern Nash High School
Northern Nash High School
Northern Nash High School is a high school located in Nash County just a few miles outside of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina city limits. It is located approximately from Nash Community College, just off Highway 64 bypass.-History:...
. He then earned an athletic scholarship as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in 1982 to attend Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College
Barton College
Barton College is a private liberal arts college located in Wilson, North Carolina. Barton College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The NC Association of Colleges and Universities; the NC Department of Public Instruction; the NC Board of Nursing; and the Committee...
. He was named team captain in 1986 and Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete. He graduated in 1986 in Business Administration. His first coaching job came at North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College is a private four-year coeducational, liberal arts college, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Founded in 1956, the school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a number of preprofessional programs...
in 1989 and 1990. He was the assistant coach to current UNC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
head coach Mike Fox
Mike Fox (baseball coach)
-External links:*...
. The two guided NCWC to the NCAA Division 3 baseball championship in 1989 and a third-place finish a year later.
Head Coach
Coach Godwin first head coaching stint came at Enfield Academy, a private school from his home county, Nash County. Starting in 1991 he was the Athletic Director and Head Baseball coach. During the seven seasons (1991–1997) as head coach he accumulated a 131-57 (.697) record. During this time Enfield Academy baseball team had five consecutive conference championships, four straight Final Four appearances and a state title in 1994.After Enfield Academy, Coach Godwin became Cary Academy
Cary Academy
Cary Academy is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, college-preparatory secondary school in Cary, North Carolina established in 1996. The school places an emphasis on the use of technology in the classroom, with tablet computers issued to all students...
first Athletic Director in 1997.
Coach Godwin next Head Coaching job came at Louisburg College
Louisburg College
Louisburg College is a private two-year college located in Louisburg, North Carolina. The Methodist-affiliated college claims that 90 percent of its graduates move on to four-year institutions...
. During his six year term he earned a 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 tenth trip to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
in Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
. 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.
East Carolina University
Coach Godwin first came to ECU as an assistant coach on June 9, 2005. After Randy Mazey was fired as Head Coach, Coach Godwin was tapped as Interim Head Coach on October 10, 2005 than Head Coach on October 28, 2005. For his first year as Head Coach his record was 33-26.Godwins team also earned many awards and recognition during his first year. Senior catcher Jake Smith earned the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which is given annually to the nations top collegiate catcher. Four Pirates earned All-Conference honors. The 2006 Pirates ranked among the league leaders (all games) in average (.305), runs scored (381), total bases (939), slugging percentage (.452), hits (633), triples (13), RBI (342), home runs (58), ERA (4.34), runs allowed (296), opposing batting average (.282) and runners picked off (10).His 2009 team made it to the Super Regionals before losing to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Coach Godwin earned a Masters Degree in Education in 1995 from East Carolina University.