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Impact

Shaping the future of college baseball.

Since 2018, the Surefire Baseball Forum has connected NCAA Division I administrators with top assistant coaches to grow interest in college baseball and prepare future head coaches. Inspired by the Villa 7 basketball event and supported by college baseball experts, founder Jason Penry launched the forum, which has helped 37 coaches secure their first Division I head coaching roles. Surefire continues to shape the sport through meaningful connections.

ALUMNI HIRED AS HEAD COACHES

Through six Surefire events, 37 of the 142 assistant coaches that have attended secured their first NCAA Division I head coach role.

  • Blake Beemer, Butler

  • Chris Bertrand, Northwestern State

  • Will Bolt, Nebraska

  • Nathan Choate, Loyola Marymount

  • Nathan Choate, Washington State (#2)

  • Eddie Cornejo, Cal State Northridge

  • Justin Dedman, Bradley

  • Michael Earley, Texas A&M

  • Josh Elander, Tennessee

  • Donegal Fergus, LMU

  • Dan Fitzgerald, Kansas

  • Ben Greenspan, Northwestern

  • Brent Haring, Nicholls State

  • Randy Hood, UNCW

  • ​Walt Jones, EKU

  • Jason Kelly, Washington

  • Karl Kuhn, Radford

  • Karl Kuhn, Charleston Southern (#2)

  • Bradley LeCroy, VCU

  • Bradley LeCroy, Liberty (#2)

  • Skylar Meade, Troy

  • Joe Mercadante, North Florida

  • Bill Mosiello, Ohio State

  • Corey Muscara, Duke

  • Chris Prothro, EKU

  • James Ramsey, Georgia Tech

  • Nate Rasmussen, Utah Valley

  • Kirk Saarloos, TCU

  • ​Steve Sabins, West Virginia

  • Andrew See, Ohio

  • Brian Smiley, Miami (Ohio)

  • Eddie Smith, Utah Valley

  • Eddie Smith, Washington (#2)

  • Fuller Smith, Tarleton State

  • Jay Uhlman, Tulane

  • Brock Ungricht, San Diego

  • Clay Van Hook, UTA

  • Kevin Vance, San Diego State

  • Gregg Wallis, Grand Canyon

  • Rich Wallace, UCF

  • Nick Zaleski, Incarnate Word

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"I have attended every Surefire event since its inception and it has been a home run from the very beginning. This event provides an invaluable service for aspiring head coaches and athletic administrators. I wish Surefire existed when I was still coaching!"

Mike Rooney, College Baseball Analyst, ESPN

JASON PENRY

College baseball enthusiast and founder.

Growing up in the Baton Rouge area at the height of LSU head coach Skip Bertman’s tenure in the late 80’s and early 90’s, Penry became a college baseball enthusiast. 

 

Surefire is his passion project.​​

PROFESSIONAL

PenryAdvisors.com

Part-time Professor of Practice

Texas A&M University

Founder, Penry Advisors

Fundraising in College Athletics

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education

Louisiana State University Shreveport​

 

​Master of Science in Sports Management

Louisiana State University

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Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration

Texas A&M University

Jason Penry, Founder of Surefire

"Leadership matters. I am grateful for the administrators that share their time each year to prepare the next generation of leaders and grow the 167-year old game of college baseball. Surefire is possible because of outstanding volunteer leadership and the annual investment by our partners. Our success has been a true team effort."

- Jason Penry, Founder of the Surefire Baseball Forum

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