Kreg Garner, a Brandon, Miss. native, will be joining the Co-Lin baseball coaching staff in 2020-21. Garner, a 2013 Northwest Rankin High School graduate, was a standout catcher for the Cougars. The Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen and Second Team All-American continued his career at Pearl River Community College before playing his final two seasons at Belhaven University. Garner graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management in 2018.
"I've been really looking forward to an opportunity like this, especially coaching with guys like coach Smith and coach Edmonson," said Garner. "I've known Jack [Edmonson] for a while now, and I've always known Clay [Smith] as I helped with tournaments at Belhaven as a kid while he was coaching there...so I'm excited to be involved with them and help continue to build a great program at Co-Lin."
Garner already has two years of collegiate coaching experience as he served as an assistant coach at Meridian Community College for the past two seasons in 2019 and 2020.
"I've experienced the community college system as a player and a coach so I know the competition level of this league," said Garner. "That experience helps tremendously from the recruiting aspect as well."
Co-Lin's head baseball coach, Clay Smith, had high praise for the former standout catcher saying, "We are very excited to have coach Garner join our staff. He has a great baseball background from his playing experience in high school, the NJCAA, and the NCAA. He is definitely going to help with the development of our current players and the recruitment of new student-athletes."
Garner will be specifically coaching Co-Lin's catchers and outfielders, but with a strong knowledge of the game in all areas, he will prove to be an asset in all facets of coaching.
"I'm so excited to get out recruiting and getting our guys on campus and practicing," said Garner. "There is a lot of great things happening at Co-Lin...I've seen some potential plans for some incredible facility upgrades which will help grow the program, and I'm really looking forward to helping make Co-Lin a premier baseball program."
Garner resides in Wesson.