Baseball
McDonald, Rob
Rob McDonald
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- rob.mcdonald@murraystate.edu
- Phone:
- (270) 809-4892
2009 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year
Former Thoroughbreds catcher Rob McDonald returned to his alma mater with an eye toward improvement, a trait that has become evident during his time in the dugout.
McDonald became the seventh head coach in ‘Breds history, when he was introduced on May 8, 2003.
’Breds baseball became known as a style of play, of gritty determination and all-out abandon in an effort to score runs and win, regardless of the situation, regardless of the odds.
“We try to recruit good character kids to Murray State,” McDonald said. “We look for a strong work ethic and good citizenship.
“We have quality young men in our program. They come in knowing we have high expectations for them, on and off the field. What I expect is not for everybody. We have fun, but we do things the right way. Our guys welcome the discipline; we get along like family.”
McDonald guided the ‘Breds to one of the most improved teams in 2009 as MSU went 34-21-1 and placed second in the OVC. The 34 wins were the most since 1975 and the efforts helped McDonald earn Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
The MSU offense re-wrote record books as they established new marks for hits (588), runs (416), triples (23), RBIs (367) and total bases (898). They also ranked second in doubles (108) and fourth in average (.319).
The pitching staff also bolstered the lowest ERA over the past 19 seasons, with an OVC-best 4.53 ERA.
In his six years at MSU, McDonald has guided 15 players to all-conference honors, including seven players that have garnered first-team accolades.
In 2009 alone, four players, Daniel Calhoun, Wes Cunningham, Daniel Hill and Jason Laws, earned first-team honors, while Chris Craycraft was named to the second team. Calhoun was also selected as the Pitcher of the Year and became the first All-American in ‘Breds history.
The class in which the ‘Breds present on the field does not go unnoticed by the coaches in the league. MSU has received the OVC Sportsmanship Award following the 2006 and 2009 seasons.
McDonald came to MSU after serving two years as the director of baseball for Opportunity Through Baseball, based in Denver, Colo., where he implemented baseball instruction for 50 athletes selected in conjunction with Major League Baseball in six major market areas.
McDonald began his coaching career in 1985, when he served as an assistant coach at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill.
After spending three seasons as an assistant, McDonald was promoted to head coach, where he spent three seasons.
In his time with the Lynx, McDonald led the team to a record of 88-75-2. He led the team to a winning record in his second season, the first for the team in a decade. The team captured the district championship and advanced to the regional tournament, while earning their first ever national ranking.
In his final season at LC, McDonald paced the Lynx to a 38-win season, the most in a single season in school history.
After the completion of the 1990 season, McDonald moved South and accepted a graduate assistant coaching position under legendary Ron Polk at Mississippi State.
McDonald served in a variety of roles with the Bulldogs, which included serving as first-base coach and working with the first baseman, catchers and outfielders.
In his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs advanced to a pair of NCAA Regionals. He has also published the “Catching Skills and Drills” instructional video, called “the best ever done on the subject” by Collegiate Baseball.
McDonald became the associate head coach at Memphis in 1993, a position he held through the 2000 season. He ran the offense for the Tigers, while serving as the third-base coach, and also handled recruiting.
In his first year with the Tigers, UM posted a 42-15 record and captured the Great Midwest Conference championship. In fact, McDonald helped guide the Tigers a regular season or tournament championship in each of his first three seasons.
In 1994, McDonald helped guide the Tigers to a 52-11 record and the top scoring offense in the nation at 10.24 runs per nine innings. The offense was led by first-team All-American Mark Little.
Under McDonald’s tutelage, Tiger shortstop Randy Meadows was named the 1997 National Defensive Player of the Year.
McDonald served as the head coach at Union County High School from 2001-03.
McDonald is a nationally recognized baseball clinician, having been a featured speaker at several presentations, including the 2006 American Baseball Coaches Association National Convention; the 2006 Baseball Bash in Richmond, Va.; the Texas High School Baseball Coaches State Convention; the Ontario Baseball Association and the Bay Area’s Best catching camp in San Jose, Calif.
He is also thought to be the only Division I head baseball coach to be a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
McDonald began his collegiate career at Illinois where he hit .307 and led the team in RBIs as a catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.
After his freshman season, McDonald transferred to MSU for his final three seasons, where he hit .319 with five doubles as a senior.
McDonald earned a bachelor of science degree from MSU in 1984 and earned a master’s degree in education from Mississippi State in 1992.
Both of McDonald’s parents are alums of MSU. His mother, Billie Jean, was named Ms. Murray State, while his father, Gene, was a member of the Tangerine Bowl team before serving as the team’s starting quarterback as a senior. His father was later inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
McDonald and his wife, the former Fawn Wells, a 1985 MSU graduate, have three children: Amanda, 16; Grant, 14; and Rachel, 12.
Former Thoroughbreds catcher Rob McDonald returned to his alma mater with an eye toward improvement, a trait that has become evident during his time in the dugout.
McDonald became the seventh head coach in ‘Breds history, when he was introduced on May 8, 2003.
’Breds baseball became known as a style of play, of gritty determination and all-out abandon in an effort to score runs and win, regardless of the situation, regardless of the odds.
“We try to recruit good character kids to Murray State,” McDonald said. “We look for a strong work ethic and good citizenship.
“We have quality young men in our program. They come in knowing we have high expectations for them, on and off the field. What I expect is not for everybody. We have fun, but we do things the right way. Our guys welcome the discipline; we get along like family.”
McDonald guided the ‘Breds to one of the most improved teams in 2009 as MSU went 34-21-1 and placed second in the OVC. The 34 wins were the most since 1975 and the efforts helped McDonald earn Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
The MSU offense re-wrote record books as they established new marks for hits (588), runs (416), triples (23), RBIs (367) and total bases (898). They also ranked second in doubles (108) and fourth in average (.319).
The pitching staff also bolstered the lowest ERA over the past 19 seasons, with an OVC-best 4.53 ERA.
In his six years at MSU, McDonald has guided 15 players to all-conference honors, including seven players that have garnered first-team accolades.
In 2009 alone, four players, Daniel Calhoun, Wes Cunningham, Daniel Hill and Jason Laws, earned first-team honors, while Chris Craycraft was named to the second team. Calhoun was also selected as the Pitcher of the Year and became the first All-American in ‘Breds history.
The class in which the ‘Breds present on the field does not go unnoticed by the coaches in the league. MSU has received the OVC Sportsmanship Award following the 2006 and 2009 seasons.
McDonald came to MSU after serving two years as the director of baseball for Opportunity Through Baseball, based in Denver, Colo., where he implemented baseball instruction for 50 athletes selected in conjunction with Major League Baseball in six major market areas.
McDonald began his coaching career in 1985, when he served as an assistant coach at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill.
After spending three seasons as an assistant, McDonald was promoted to head coach, where he spent three seasons.
In his time with the Lynx, McDonald led the team to a record of 88-75-2. He led the team to a winning record in his second season, the first for the team in a decade. The team captured the district championship and advanced to the regional tournament, while earning their first ever national ranking.
In his final season at LC, McDonald paced the Lynx to a 38-win season, the most in a single season in school history.
After the completion of the 1990 season, McDonald moved South and accepted a graduate assistant coaching position under legendary Ron Polk at Mississippi State.
McDonald served in a variety of roles with the Bulldogs, which included serving as first-base coach and working with the first baseman, catchers and outfielders.
In his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs advanced to a pair of NCAA Regionals. He has also published the “Catching Skills and Drills” instructional video, called “the best ever done on the subject” by Collegiate Baseball.
McDonald became the associate head coach at Memphis in 1993, a position he held through the 2000 season. He ran the offense for the Tigers, while serving as the third-base coach, and also handled recruiting.
In his first year with the Tigers, UM posted a 42-15 record and captured the Great Midwest Conference championship. In fact, McDonald helped guide the Tigers a regular season or tournament championship in each of his first three seasons.
In 1994, McDonald helped guide the Tigers to a 52-11 record and the top scoring offense in the nation at 10.24 runs per nine innings. The offense was led by first-team All-American Mark Little.
Under McDonald’s tutelage, Tiger shortstop Randy Meadows was named the 1997 National Defensive Player of the Year.
McDonald served as the head coach at Union County High School from 2001-03.
McDonald is a nationally recognized baseball clinician, having been a featured speaker at several presentations, including the 2006 American Baseball Coaches Association National Convention; the 2006 Baseball Bash in Richmond, Va.; the Texas High School Baseball Coaches State Convention; the Ontario Baseball Association and the Bay Area’s Best catching camp in San Jose, Calif.
He is also thought to be the only Division I head baseball coach to be a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
McDonald began his collegiate career at Illinois where he hit .307 and led the team in RBIs as a catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.
After his freshman season, McDonald transferred to MSU for his final three seasons, where he hit .319 with five doubles as a senior.
McDonald earned a bachelor of science degree from MSU in 1984 and earned a master’s degree in education from Mississippi State in 1992.
Both of McDonald’s parents are alums of MSU. His mother, Billie Jean, was named Ms. Murray State, while his father, Gene, was a member of the Tangerine Bowl team before serving as the team’s starting quarterback as a senior. His father was later inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
McDonald and his wife, the former Fawn Wells, a 1985 MSU graduate, have three children: Amanda, 16; Grant, 14; and Rachel, 12.
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