Baseball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 330-672-8432
Updated October 2025
Jeff Duncan became the Golden Flashes’ 17th head coach in the summer of 2013 and continued the winning traditions for the Flashes, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach in 2025.
Under Duncan’s leadership, Kent State boasts the following achievements:
- 386-242 overall record for a winning percentage of .615
- 214-108 MAC record for a conference winning percentage of .665
- 2 NCAA Regional Appearances
- 2 MAC Tournament Championships
- 5 MAC Regular Season Championships
- Four-time MAC Coach of the Year (2016, 2017, 2018,2023)
- 2018 Collegiate Baseball Chuck Tanner Coach of the Year
- 90 Academic All-MAC
- 56 All-MAC Selections
- 23 MLB Draft Picks
- 18 All-American Selections
- 15 All-Region Selections
- 8 MAC All-Defensive Teams
- 4 MAC Pitcher of the Year
- 2 MAC Freshman of the Year
- 1 MAC Player of the Year
- 1 Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year
- 1 National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year
- Have Swept 29 MAC Series (40 sweeps in total)
Duncan’s teams have beaten 15 Power-4 schools, including Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Mississippi State, and Ohio State, to keep Kent State a national threat. In 2021, Duncan led the Golden Flashes to a 9-5 victory over then #2 Mississippi State. It was the highest-ranked team Kent State has defeated since toppling #1 Florida in the 2012 College World Series. The Flashes went 4-0 versus Big Ten opponents in 2019. The Flashes went 3-1 against ACC competition in 2018 and took two out of three from ACC opponents in 2019. In 2021, Duncan led the Golden Flashes to a 9-5 victory over then #2 Mississippi State. It was the highest-ranked team Kent State has defeated since toppling #1 Florida in the 2012 College World Series.
The Golden Flashes have been one of the dominant teams in the MAC under Duncan’s leadership, as the Flashes have never had a losing record in MAC play under Duncan. The Flashes have had four 20-win seasons in MAC play, including a program-best 24 wins in 2023 (tying 2012 and 1992). The Flashes won five MAC Regular Season Championships (25, 18, 17, 16, 14) and two MAC Tournament Championships (18, 14)
Duncan has seen 36 players drafted to the MLB during his time as a coach. 23 Flashes have been drafted, including the fourth-highest-ever pick in Flashes history in pitcher Eric Lauer (25th overall, 2016). During his four seasons at Purdue, nine players were drafted, including the 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year Kevin Plawecki, and four players were drafted during his lone season at Auburn
In 2025, the Flashes went 38-18 and won the MAC Regular Season Championship with a 23-7 record. They picked up sweeps versus Toledo, Central Michigan, Ohio, and Western Michigan. They also defeated Ohio State 8-3 in Columbus. The Flashes also had the MAC Player of the Year Hayden Jatczak, their first since 2012, and the Freshman of the Year Sawyer Solitaria, their first since 2019. Jatczak and Sawyer were also named to the All-MAC First Team, along with Jake Casey and Jacob Bean. Luke Matthews was also named to the All-MAC Second Team, and Hunter Klotz to the MAC All-Defensive Team. Jatczak and Casey were also named to the All-Region First Team. Jatczak was also named to the ABCA All-America Third Team.
In 2024, the Flashes went 27-27 and 17-13 in MAC play. They swept Central Michigan and Akron, while also picking up wins versus Pitt (5-4) and at Penn State (10-3). The Flashes would have Calvin Bickerstaff and Josh Johnson named to the All-MAC First Team.
In 2023, the Flashes went 42-16 and won the MAC Regular Season Championship with a 24-6 record. They swept Murray State, UT-Martin, Northern Illinois, Canisius, Bowling Green, Akron, Ohio, Western Michigan, and Ball State. They also picked up wins versus Pitt (5-2) and Ohio State (10-5). Duncan would be named the MAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time. The Flashes had seven All-MAC performers: Joe Whitman (Pitcher of the Year & First Team), Aidan Longwell (First Team & All Defense), Collin Mathews (First Team & All Defense), Justin Miknis (First Team), Ben Cruikshank (First Team), Mitch Scott (First Team), and Mack Timbrook (Second Team). Longwell, Scott, Whitman, and Mathews would earn All-Region honors, and Whitman was selected to the ABCA All-America Third Team.
In 2022, the Flashes produced four All-MAC performers: outfielder Justin Kirby (first team), shortstop Mike McNamara (second team), outfielder Josh Johnson (second team), and catcher Justin Miknis (defensive team). Duncan’s team tied for the MAC lead in batting average and home runs.
In 2021, the Flashes ran their streak of 30-plus win seasons to 22-straight full seasons with a 30-26 record. The season was highlighted by a 9-5 victory over then #2 Mississippi State. Outfielders Ben Carew and Cam Touchette earned first-team honors, headlining eight All-MAC awards earned by the Golden Flashes.
The 2020 season was cut short after just 14 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortened season did see the Flashes take two of three from mid-major powers Florida Gulf Coast and Winthrop.
In 2019, Duncan guided the Flashes to a 30-24 mark, continuing the streak of 30-plus win seasons since Duncan took over in 2013 and running Kent State’s streak of 30-plus win seasons to 21 straight and counting. Eight Golden Flashes earned All-MAC accolades, led by Justin Kirby, who earned the program’s first conference Freshman of the Year award since Andrew Chafin took home in 2009. Kirby was also a member of the Freshman All-America team, marking the sixth time in seven seasons that Duncan has had a player on a freshman All-America team.
Ben Carew took home many awards, including: All-MAC First Team, All-MAC Defensive Team, Second Team All-Region, and Third-Team All-America. Carew’s All-America nod marked the third-straight season Duncan has coached a player to All-America status.
Three more of Duncan’s players heard their names called in the Major League Baseball Rule-4 Draft. The Texas Rangers and New York Mets selected John Matthews and Connor Wollersheim in the eighth round. With two more players drafted in the top-10 rounds, Coach Duncan has had 15 players taken in the first ten rounds of the entry draft. The Detroit Tigers took Pavin Parks in the 36th round.
In 2018, Kent State compiled a 40-18 record and swept the regular season and MAC Tournament titles. The Flashes appeared at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, knocking off New Mexico State before falling to No. 24 Louisville to end the season. Joey Murray was named Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American, and Colin Romel was named to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American team, while 11 Flashes earned Academic All-MAC honors for the third consecutive year. Murray, Austin Havekost, and Eli Kraus were called in the 2018 draft.
The Flashes finished with a 37-18 season in 2017, adding another regular-season MAC title. Kent State saw four Flashes earn First Team All-MAC honors, and 11 student-athletes garner Academic All-MAC honors, tying the record set in 2016. Luke Burch, Patrick Dayton, Jake Latz, Dylan Rosa, and Zach Willeman were selected in the 2017 draft.
The 2016 season was one of the most successful, not just in Duncan’s reign, but in program history. The team compiled a 44-14 record, tying the third-most wins in history, and a 20-4 conference record en route to a Regular Season MAC Championship. Eric Lauer was named the National Player and National Pitcher of the Year, as well as a consensus All-American, while he was joined by two teammates on the All-MAC First Team. Lauer was also named an Academic All-American, making it back-to-back seasons that Duncan has mentored a top academic student achiever. A record 11 student-athletes garnered Academic All-MAC honors in 2016. Lauer, Andy Ravel, and Conner Simonetti all had their name called in the 2016 draft.
Duncan guided the Golden Flashes to a 31-21 record in 2015, including a Mid-American East Division title as the Flashes went 18-9 in conference play. Three of his players earned All-MAC recognition, while two were named All-Region. Additionally, the team had eight Academic All-MAC students, the most for the program since the award was first given in 1972. Sophomore Jared Skolnicki led the way in the classroom as he earned Academic All-America honors, just the third student to be named such in program history.
In his first year at the helm, Duncan led Kent State to a 36-23 season and an NCAA postseason appearance after a four-game sweep of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. His offense belted 22 triples, tying the most in any season since 1970. Four Golden Flashes earned All-MAC honors, while two were named All-Region. Duncan also developed senior Cody Koch into a MAC Tournament MVP and NCAA All-Tournament honoree. Three three-year players were drafted in the 2014 MLB Draft.
Before coming to Kent State, Duncan spent four seasons at Purdue, helping lead the team to a school-record 45 wins in 2012, including a Big Ten Regular Season Championship, Big Ten Tournament Championship, and an NCAA Regional Host. He was named associate head coach in September of 2012. Duncan was named the assistant in the Big Ten most ready for a head coaching job by College Baseball Insider. Baseball America listed him as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation.
While part of the Boilermakers program, Duncan was the hitting, base running, outfield coach, and recruiting coordinator. He signed three recruiting classes that were ranked nationally by Collegiate Baseball Magazine. He helped lead the Purdue program to 133 wins in four years on staff.
Before Purdue, Duncan was an assistant coach at Auburn University from August 2008 to September 2009, where he served as the third base coach and assisted with the team’s offense and outfielders. While there, he coached nine position players drafted by Major League Baseball and helped the team set a single-season record of 103 home runs.
Duncan played baseball professionally for nine seasons with the Mets, Padres, Blue Jays, and Dodgers organizations. He spent two years at the Major League level with the Mets during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Duncan was also a three-time All-Star selection while in the Minor Leagues. He was drafted twice: in the seventh round by the Mets in 2000 and in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Cubs out of high school.
Before going pro, Duncan played baseball at Arizona State. Batting .360 in his career as a Sun Devil, Duncan was captain of the 2000 team that went on to win a PAC-10 Championship.
Year-by-Year Record
| Year | Overall | Conference | Titles / Postseason |
| 2014 | 36-23 | 16-11 | MAC Tournament Champions / NCAA Louisville Regional |
| 2015 | 31-22 | 18-9 | MAC East Champions |
| 2016 | 44-14 | 20-4 | MAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2017 | 37-18 | 18-6 | MAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2018 | 40-18 | 19-8 | MAC Regular & Tournament Champions / NCAA Lubbock Regional |
| 2019 | 30-24 | 17-8 | |
| 2020 | 7-7 | 0-0 | Season cancelled early due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | 30-26 | 23-17 | |
| 2022 | 24-29 | 19-19 | |
| 2023 | 42-16 | 24-6 | MAC Regular Season Champions |
| 2024 | 27-27 | 17-13 | |
| 2025 | 38-18 | 23-7 | MAC Regular Season Champions |
What They Are Saying About Jeff Duncan:
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work side-by-side with Coach Duncan as we move this program to greater heights. Jeff was a terrific player in his collegiate and professional careers. He has transitioned into a highly respected coach who has demonstrated a tireless work ethic regarding evaluating, recruiting, and developing student-athletes. He has a strong passion for baseball, and I am very excited about the future of this program with Coach Duncan as the head coach.”
Mike Birkbeck
Kent State associate head coach
“I am thrilled that Kent State has decided to hire Jeff Duncan as their next head baseball coach. He was an excellent player, and I believe he is an even better coach. The Golden Flashes will continue to be championship contenders under the direction of Coach Duncan.”
Scott Stricklin
Georgia head coach
Kent State head coach, 2005-2013
“Jeff will do an outstanding job leading the Kent State baseball program. He has a wealth of baseball experience, is a tireless recruiter, and one of the best persons and competitors that I have been around.”
Doug Schreiber
Purdue head coach
“Jeff’s track record recruiting high quality student-athletes and developing them on the field speaks for itself. I have seen first-hand the outstanding work he has done at Purdue University. The coach in me knows this is a great hire and the alum in me is excited to see that the history and tradition of Kent State Baseball in good hands.”
Greg Beals
Ohio State head coach
“I think he’s one of the finest young assistant coaches in college baseball. He is very deserving of this opportunity and will make a fine head coach for Kent State.”
Mac Seibert
Regional Scouting Supervisor, New York Mets
“Jeff Duncan will join a long list of outstanding coaches at Kent State. I believe he will do a tremendous job and continue the great tradition of their baseball program.”
Dave Keilitz
Executive Director, American Baseball Coaches Association
“Jeff is a guy who reached the highest level as a player, and as good of a player and coach as he is, he’s an even better person. Everyone who’s known him as a coach knows what a great job he’ll do.”
Mike Rooney
College baseball analyst, ESPNU
Arizona State assistant coach, 1998-2004
