ST. LOUIS - Maryville University director of athletics Marcus Manning announced Thursday that Seth Von Behren has been named head baseball coach for the Saints. A native of Vandalia, Ill., he becomes the ninth coach of the Saints baseball program. Von Behren brings 10 seasons of experience as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I and Division II level.
“In Seth we have identified a person who is the right fit for the baseball program, athletic department and Maryville University,” Manning said. “In partnership with the campus community, he will provide our student-athletes an opportunity to be successful on and off the field. I believe Seth will be a game-changer for us.”
“I am thrilled and honored to be named the head baseball coach at Maryville,” Von Behren said. “I would like to thank President Dr. Mark Lombardi, Vice President for Student Life Dr. Nina Caldwell, Director of Athletics Marcus Manning and everyone involved in the interview process. Maryville is surrounded by wonderful people who are excited to work together as the University continues to grow both academically and athletically. I feel lucky to be a part of the great things to come here at Maryville.”
“Coach Von Behren will be an excellent mentor for all of our wonderful student-athletes on the baseball team,” Caldwell said. ”Seth has a proven record of producing men who have achieved both in the classroom and on the baseball field. We are glad to welcome him to the Maryville University family.”
Von Behren comes to Maryville with experience from West Chester University outside of Philadelphia, Penn., College of Charleston and South Alabama.
“I have been fortunate to work for three great college baseball coaches all who have excelled – Chris Calciano at West Chester, John Pawlowski at Auburn, and Steve Kittrell at South Alabama,” Von Behren said. “I hope I can bring a little bit of each of them to the Maryville baseball program. I need to thank my family who, as any coach knows, goes through the up and downs with throughout the year. My wife, Meredith, has been nothing but supportive and is excited to be a part of the Saints family.”
“As for the program, we simply want to win every day,” Von Behren said. “We want to win in the classroom, on the baseball field and in the community. Knowing there will be bumps in the road, we will work together to overcome those bumps. It is time that we reach out to our alumni and let them know this is as much their program as it is the current players and staff. I look forward to meeting all of our alums and welcoming them back to Saints Baseball in hopes they want to be a part of the future here at Maryville.”
Von Behren began his coaching career at West Chester University and helped turn the Golden Rams program around. Inheriting a team that had posted five straight losing seasons, Von Behren assisted WCU as it set a school record with 32 wins. After two seasons at West Chester, he became an assistant at Division I College of Charleston. With the Cougars, he served as hitting coach, third base coach and infield coach. Von Behren helped the program earn three NCAA Regional bids and one Super Regional appearance. College of Charleston finished the season ranked in the Top 25 on three occasions, including 12th in the final 2006 ranking. Von Behren spent five seasons in the dugout at Division I South Alabama. While serving as hitting coach for the 2009 team, the Jaguars set a school record with a .328 team batting average. After his stint at USA, Von Behren spent one year as director of college recruitment and hitting development at the St. Louis Pirates Baseball Academy.
During his college tenure, Von Behren has coached 33 All-Conference players. Twenty of his former players have singed professional contracts, including current New York Yankee Brett Gardner. Von Behren has guided eight All-Americans, two freshman All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans, including 2006 Baseball Academic All-American of the Year Phillip Coker.
After graduating from Vandalia Community High School, Von Behren attended Illinois State University. He was a four-year starter in the infield for Coach Jeff Stewart and was an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection his senior season. Von Behren’s teams averaged more than 30 wins a season during his playing career. He is still ISU’s all-time leader in runs scored (184) and putouts (1,126), ranks second in hits (262), is tied for second in doubles (58) and is third in RBI (158). Von Behren graduated from Illinois State in 2001 with a degree in speech communication.
Von Behren and his wife, Meredith, have one daughter, Alayna