Tom Cantrell will enter his tenth season as head coach of the North Georgia baseball program in 2008-09.
In their first year eligible for postseason play since entering the NCAA, Cantrell led his team to a tie for third place in the Peach Belt Conference regular season and ran through the PBC Tournament with four straight wins to claim the championship. The Saints finished the regular season winning 19 of 22 games and competed in their first NCAA South Atlantic Regional.
His 2007 team finished their second season of competition at the NCAA Division II level and in the Peach Belt Conference, by finishing 34-22 (17-13 PBC). Cantrell reached a pair of milestones in the 2007 season, winning his 300th game at North Georgia and his 500th game overall. He was also awarded the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year Award, and also coached the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in Craig Brisson.
In their inaugural year, 2006, in the NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference, the Saints finished with an overall record of 32-29 and a PBC record of 9-18. Under the direction of Cantrell, the Saints second baseman Brian Lauderdale was named PBC Player of the Year, South-Atlantic Player of the Year, third team NCAA Division II All-American, and signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Padres.
In his nine years at North Georgia, Cantrell has amassed a 373-195 (.656) record and has posted a winning record at NGCSU in each of those nine seasons. Over his 12-year career at Georgia Perimeter College (DeKalb College) and North Georgia, he has a 550-247 (.690) overall record. Cantrell also has a sharp eye for spotting major league talent, 15 of his former players have signed professional contracts. Five of those 15 are currently in the majors: Nick Green with the New York Yankees, Marlon Byrd with the Texas Rangers, Adam Everett of the Minnesota Twins, Michael Barrett of the San Diego Padres and Robby Hammock with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Cantrell came to North Georgia from Georgia Perimeter College (DeKalb College) where he spent nine years, four as head coach with a record of 177-52 (.773). While at GPC, Cantrell's teams produced two NJCAA All- Americans, five NJCAA Academic All-Americans, 21 GJCAA All-Region, and two GJCAA Players of the Year.
In 1991, Cantrell returned to DeKalb as an assistant coach responsible for recruiting. In his five seasons as an assistant coach DeKalb compiled an impressive 204-94 record. In 1995 Cantrell was named GJCAA Assistant Coach-of-the Year.
In 1998, Cantrell guided DeKalb to its first state championship since 1987. They also won the East Central District Championship, and made an appearance at the JUCO World Series, DeKalb's first appearance since 1977. Coach Cantrell's squads were consistently ranked nationally in the top twenty. For his efforts in 1998, Cantrell, was named GJCAA Coach-of-the-Year, as well as the East Central District Coach of the Year.
Born on November 10, 1965, in Habersham, Georgia, Cantrell was a two-time Georgia All-State shortstop at North Clayton High School. Following his senior season, Cantrell began his collegiate career at DeKalb College. At DeKalb, he hit .332 and was an All-Region shortstop his freshman year with the Patriots. Following an outstanding sophomore campaign, in which he hit .362, he was once again named to the All-Region. At the conclusion of his second year at DeKalb, the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the seventh round.
In the summer of 1985, Cantrell reported to the Braves rookie camp in Bradenton, Florida. After batting .214 in Bradenton, Cantrell was sent to Pulaski, Virginia for his second season. At Pulaski, Cantrell had a spectacular season, hitting .301 and making the Appalachian League All-Star team. That year, he helped lead the team to the Appalachian League World Series. While with Pulaski, he was coached by former Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little. Cantrell credits Little and college coach Doug Casey as the main catalyst that led him into the coaching profession. Cantrell retired from professional baseball in 1987 and began coaching American Legion baseball in College Park, Georgia. A highly successful amateur coach, Cantrell finished third in the nation three times.
Tom and his wife Shannon live in Dacula, Georgia, with their 16-year-old daughter McKenzie.
Playing Experience
Education
Coaching Experience
Record at NGCSU - 373-195 (.656)
2000 - Present
North Georgia Head Coach
1996 - 1999
Georgia Perimeter (DeKalb College)
Head Coach
1991 - 1995
DeKalb College Assistant Coach
Coaching Honors
2007 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year
2003 & 2001 GACC Coach of the Year
2003 & 2001 Georgia Dugout Coach of the Year
1998 ABCA Regional Coach of the Year
1998 East Central District Coach of the Year
1998 GJCAA Coach of the Year
1995 GJCAA Assistant Coach of the Year |
Coaching Record
2008
NGCSU
41-21 (.661)
PBC Tournament Champions
2007
NGCSU
34-22 (.607)
2006
NGCSU
32-29 (.525)
2005
NGCSU
57-15 (.792)
SSAC Champions
2004
NGCSU
54-19 (.740)
NAIA Region XIII Champions
2003
NGCSU
31-26 (.544)
GACC Regular Season Champions
2002
NGCSU
43-24 (.641)
NAIA Region XIII Champions
2001
NGCSU
45-17 (.726)
GACC Regular Season Champions
Region XIII Runner-up
2000
NGCSU
36-22 (.621)
Southeast Regional Bid
1999
Georgia Perimeter
44-10 (.815)
GJCAA Conference Champions
1998
DeKalb
42-18 (.700)
GJCAA Conference Champions
GJCAA State Champions
East Central Champions
1997
DeKalb
46-13 (.780)
GJCAA Conference Champions
1996
DeKalb
45-11 (.804)
GJCAA Runner-up
Overall Record 550-247 (.690)
Career Highlights
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Collected 550th win while clinching the programs first-ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship on May 11, 2008 (10-8 vs. Francis Marion)
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Collected 500th career victory as head coach on April 14, 2007 (5-2 vs. GCSU)
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Collected 300th victory as head coach at North Georgia on February 10, 2007 (2-1 vs. West Alabama)
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Collected 400th career victory as head coach on February 19, 2005 (9-1 vs. Faulkner University).
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Collected 200th victory as head coach at North Georgia on April 22, 2004 (8-0 vs. Shorter College).
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Collected 300th victory as a head coach on May 10, 2002 (3-1 vs. Auburn Montgomery).
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Collected 100th victory as head coach at North Georgia on March 19, 2002 (9-3 vs. Emory)
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Collected 200th victory as a head coach on April 1, 2000 (12-4 vs. Southern Polytechnic State).
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Collected 100th victory as a head coach on February 28, 1998 (5-3 vs. Central Alabama).
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Guided NGCSU to GACC Regular Season Championship in 2003 and 2001.
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Guided NGCSU to NAIA Region XIII Championships in 2002 and 2004.
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Finished 2001 ranked 7th nationally (NAIA) and received regional bid as #1 seed.
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Led NGCSU to first national ranking (20th) in school history on April 4, 2000.
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Averaged 42 wins per season as head coach.
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Led Georgia Perimeter (DeKalb College) to three consecutive GJCAA Conference Championships.
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Led DeKalb to the 1998 GJCAA Conference, State, and East Central Championships and a trip to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
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Compiled a four-year record of 177-52 (.773) at Georgia Perimeter. (DeKalb College)
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