Head Coach
KEVIN DARWIN
What an amazing year it has been for
Head Coach Kevin Darwin.
Aside from leading his team to a National Championship, he also was
named the NJCAA Coach of the Year and is sitting at the helm of a team
picture of the Lions resting at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, New York.
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To top it off, he also been ask to assist
the United States Junior College All-Star Team in a series against the
ever-powerful Chinese All-Stars this summer at USA Stadium in Millington,
Tenn.
While it's been an impressive year, it
isn't a shock to those who know the Lion's skipper. In the spring of
1993, Coach Kevin Darwin helped bring in a whole new era by becoming
head coach of the first intercollegiate baseball team fielded by North
Central Texas College.
In short order, he proved that he we
committed and up to the challenge of starting a new program. Coach Darwin
saw his team—made up of all freshman player—compile a respectable
22 win season its first year. In six years under the guidance of Coach
Darwin and his staff, North Central Texas College baseball has become
one of the top programs in the region, state, and nation.
Coach Darwin's squad has posted an impressive
record by averaging over 30 wins per season. Coach Darwin credits his
mom and dad for making baseball a big part of his life at an early age.
Although Kevin never signed a professional baseball contract himself,
he is very proud to have his family represented by two brothers who
did play professional baseball.
Older brother Danny Darwin pitched for
several major league teams during his twenty plus years in Major League
Baseball. Younger brother Jeff Darwin also has major league experience
with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants.
Coach Darwin also serves as Director of Athletics at North Central Texas
College.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree
from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in May 1986 and was named
to both the Dean's List and Who's Who. He also holds a Master of Education
degree from SOSU and has completed graduate work in education administration
from Texas A&M Commerce (formerly East Texas State University).
An inductee into the Fannin Conty Sports
Hall of Fame. Coach Darwin has served as the President for the Texas
New Mexico Junior College Baseball Coaches Association. The TNMJCBCA
is represented by thirty-seven two year institutions from Texas and
New Mexico.
The Lions' Skipper married his High School
sweetheart, Cheryl, on Aug. 17, 1984. Cheryl is employed at the First
State Bank of Gainesville. The couple have two children, Cecily 12 and
8-year-old Landon. The Darwins attend Temple Baptist Church in Gainesville.
Away from baseball, Kevin likes to spend quality time with his family
and enjoys archery.
On the Field Accomplishments
HIGH SCHOOL
A varsity letterman in baseball all four
years in high school, Kevin was elected as an All-District pitcher his
sophomore, junior and senior years at Bonham High School.
Among Kevin's other notable accomplishments,
he was also team MVP for two years, as well as a member of the All-Greater
Dallas Team. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the June 1982 Major League
Baseball draft, he declined the offer from the Rangers to accept a college
scholarship at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma
in July 1982.
COLLEGE
At SOSU, Kevin complied a perfect 8-0
pitching record as a freshman. He transferred to Paris Junior College
the following fall, anticipating a chance to get drafted once again
and play professional baseball. Kevin has an outstanding sophomore season
at Paris, was named to the All Conference Team and once again was selected
in the Major League Baseball draft — this time by the Philadelphia
Phillies. He decided again not the sign a professional contract. Instead,
he returned to SOSU and finished a successful college baseball career
by posting an impressive 24-9 pitching during his collegiate career.
COLLEGE COACHING CAREER
Coach Darwin has compiled 283 victories
in nine seasons as the Head Baseball Coach at North Central Texas College.
His teams have qualified for Regional Tournament play the last five
years in a row. Under the guidance of Coach Darwin, the baseball program
at North Central has earned conference, regional, district, and National
Championships. Coach Darwin's teams have earned him NJCAA National Coach
of the Year, ABCA National Coach of the Year, and Texas/New Mexico Junior
College Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
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Assistant Coach
SCOTT HARP
Coach Scott
Harp was a graduate of Duncanville High School in 1992. He was
a varsity starter for two years earning All-District honors his senior
year. Harp attended Dallas Baptist University after playing at Blinn
College in 1993. His first year was a medical red-shirt due to shoulder
surgery. His sophomore Harp was third in the NAIA in stolen bases with
45.
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Harp was named 2nd - Team All-American
in 1995. That summer, Coach Harp was selected to Team U.S.A.'s 40
Man roster. Harp was cut despite hitting .467 and went to play in Cape
Cod Summer League in Massachusetts. The next year, Harp helped lead
D.B.U. to a 62-10 record including a 5-0 record in the Big 12. Harp
was named 1st Team All-American, and NAIA Academic All-American, G.T.E.
Academic all-American for NAIA Div. II, III, and NAIA.
Harp set several single season records
at D.B.U. He broke the at-bats record with 260, singles with 81, plate
appearances with 299, consecutive games with a home run at 4, and hits
where he led the nation with 107. That summer, Coach Harp was drafted
in the 25th round by the K.C. Royals. After one year, Harp quit because
of another shoulder injury. He went back to finish his degree while
coaching at D.B.U. which went to the College World Series.
This is Coach Harp's fourth year at North
Central Texas College where he works with the position players. Under
Coach Harp's guidance, several offensive and defensive records have
fallen during his tenure and NCTC hitters are constantly among the top
of the conference and state in several offensive catagories.
Twelve NCTC hitters have been named All-Conference,
two All-Region and one All-American during the past four years. Coach
Harp finished his Master's Degree at North Texas in December in Secondary
Education and now has developed history classes on the internet which
he teaches.
He resides in Gainesville with his wife,
Amy, who teaches at The Colony High School.
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