Brian Brewer
Head Coach

In just four years, Brian Brewer has quickly made a name for himself as the head coach of the Marietta College baseball team. This fall, he is also undertaking a new role. Brewer will serve as the interim athletics director while a national search is conducted for a full time athletics director.

In 2006, Brewer secured his place in Marietta College baseball history by guiding the Etta Express to a record-tying fourth NCAA Division III National Championship. The success of the 2006 season earned Brewer an array of awards, including ABCA/Diamond NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year and Mideast Region Coach of the Year. In 2007, coming off the national championship, Brewer led the Etta Express to 32-17 record, a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season title, its record 20th Mideast Regional crown and a record 19th trip to the NCAA Division III World Series. Again, he was named the Mideast Region Coach of the Year.

Brewer, who took over the Pioneers’ program from legendary head coach Don Schaly after the 2003 campaign, has posted a 140-49-1 (.741) record in his first four years. Brewer's career head coaching record now stands at 219-134 (.620).

Brewer, a 1993 graduate of Marietta College, had been the assistant coach at his alma mater since 2000. The Pioneers went 163-38 in his four seasons as the assistant. He helped guide the Etta Express to three Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, two NCAA Mideast Regional Championships and two NCAA National Runner-up finishes.

"It is an honor to be the head baseball coach at my alma mater," said Brewer. "Our goal is to not only continue the tradition of MC Baseball, but build upon the past successes of Coach Schaly and the MC Baseball Fraternity."

Brewer spent four seasons as the head coach of John Carroll University’s baseball program before returning to Marietta College. While at John Carroll, Brewer earned his master’s degree in 1995.

In 1998, Brewer led the Blue Streaks to a 25-18 record and a runners-up finish in the Conference, losing 12-2 to Marietta in the OAC championship game at Pioneer Park. In recognition of his success, he was named the OAC’s Co-Coach of the Year along with Schaly.

"He’s a product of the program—he played here, coached here, and more importantly, he gained experience somewhere else," Schaly said. "He is a great teacher of the game of baseball."

The native of Glen Burnie, Md., wore the pinstripes from 1990-93. The Pioneers went 160-28 (.851) and made two appearances in the NCAA Division III World Series. He was a three-year letterman, playing primarily first base and designated hitter.

He was named third team All-American in 1992 as a designated hitter, as well as being named first team All-Mideast Region and first team All-OAC. He served as captain his senior year in 1993 and earned first team All-OAC honors, along with honorable mention All-Mideast Region honors.

(740) 376-4673
deeganm@marietta.edu

Mike Deegan
Assistant Coach

Mike Deegan, a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference first team selection in 1999 and 2001, returns as an assistant coach for his fifth season in 2007-08.

As a Pioneer, he was a major contributor to four OAC championships, two NCAA Regional championships and two NCAA World Series appearances, including the 2001 NCAA National Runner-up finish for the Etta Express.

Deegan was awarded the Way-Weigelt Award in 2001 after receiving a degree in Management. The Way-Weigelt is the most prestigious of all Marietta College athletic awards and is awarded to the male of the senior class who, in the judgment of the athletic coaches, best demonstrated qualities of scholarship, leadership, character and sportsmanship in addition to participation in athletics. He worked in sales for two years at Coca-Cola before returning to Marietta.

Deegan spent the summer of 2007 as the head coach of the Southern Ohio Copperheads and earned Manager of the Year in the Great Lakes League. Deegan, who guided the Copperheads to the most wins in franchise history with 25, led Southern Ohio into the playoffs for their second straight year.

Deegan, who also served as the assistant cross country coach during his first four years, will be a special assistant to the athletics director in 2007-08. He earned a Master of Arts in Education from Marietta College in fall of 2006.

Deegan and his wife, Lowrie, live in Marietta.

Sam Mann
Assistant Coach

Sam Mann, a 2007 graduate of Washington & Jefferson (Pa.), begins his first year as the Pioneers' pitching coach in 2007-08.

Over his career at W&J, Mann was a four-time first team All-Presidents Athletic Conference selection, a two-time All-Mideast Region selection and the 2007 Mideast Region and Presidents Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a pitcher/first basemen. In 2007, he received All-America honors from ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com and was also a second team Academic All-American. 

Mann holds numerous school records at W&J, including career appearances, innings pitched, wins, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts. During his senior season, Mann ranked in the national leaders in batting average, earned run average and strikeouts.

In June 2007, Mann signed a professional baseball contract with the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Kings of the Independent Frontier League, where he will return this summer.

Mann graduated summa cum laude from Washington & Jefferson with a degree in Political Science. Mann received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, which he intends to use at the College of William & Mary School of Law.

Ryan Eschbaugh
Assistant Coach

2007 Marietta College graduate and four-year standout Ryan Eschbaugh will begin his first season as an assistant coach with the Etta Express in 2008.

Eschbaugh, a four-year letterman, spent time at second base, third base and shortstop during his career with the Pioneers. He earned All-OAC honorable mention as a second baseman in 2004 and again as a shortstop in 2007. The athletic training major, also earned Academic All-OAC honors as a senior.

Eschbaugh had a huge impact during the Pioneers' 2006 National Championship run, earning World Series All-Star Team honors after batting .500 (6-for-12) and fielding 1.000 in four games at Fox Cities Stadium in Wisconsin.

Eschbaugh, who played in 167 games, had a career batting average of .291 with the Etta Express. He ranks tied for second on Marietta's career assist list with 484 and fielded .934 over his four years.

Eschbaugh is in the process of applying to medical school.

Jordan Becker
Student Assistant Coach

Jordan Becker, a junior, joins the Pioneers' coaching staff as a student assistant in 2007. The Johnstown, Pa., native, who was a reserve outfielder during his first two years at Marietta, will work primarily with the outfielders.