Prothro Will Not Return As EKU Baseball Head Coach, Walt Jones Chosen To Lead Program - Eastern Kentucky University Athletics (2024)

Baseball 5/15/2024 11:19:00 AM

RICHMOND, Ky. – Chris Prothro, who took a medical leave of absence on March 25, will not return as head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University baseball program. Walt Jones, who has served as acting head coach in Prothro's absence, has been named head coach moving forward.

"The decision to step away was not made easily, but this decision is best for our current players, the coaching staff and future Colonels who chose to play at EKU. It is in the best interest of the program to have the head coach situation resolved now," Prothro said. "Walt Jones is an excellent choice to take leadership of the program moving forward. Walt's experience has prepared him for this role and I know he will do an excellent job leading the Colonels."

Before taking over as acting head coach, Jones served as the program's top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since arriving with Prothro in the fall of 2020.

"The sign of a true leader is stepping up to the plate when needed. Walt Jones solidified his spot as a leader of our baseball team long before today's announcement," said EKU President David McFaddin. "His willingness to lead our baseball team the past few months as acting coach, his work ethic, and his baseball acumen helped lead our teams to many successful seasons. I look forward to many more with Walt at the helm as our new head coach."

Since Jones took over as acting head coach, the Colonels have swept season series against Atlantic Sun Conference rival Bellarmine and regional rival Marshall, and earned a road win at in-state rival Morehead State. EKU also has a road win over second place Florida Gulf Coast.

Offensively, Ron Franklin Jr., Justin Carinci and Silas Shaffer have swung hot bats. Franklin is hitting .375 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs over the last 33 games. Shaffer is hitting .366 with two home runs, two doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs in his last 13 games. Carinci has posted a .439 average and scored 15 runs in his last 10 games.

On the mound, the trio of Isaac Milburn, Joe Clancy and Nathan Lawson have pitched well recently. Milburn hasn't allowed a run and has struck out 15 in his last five appearances. Clancy has held opponents scoreless and struck out 10 in his last five trips to the mound. Lawson turned in a quality start against FGCU, limiting the Eagles to one run on two hits in six innings.

Jones served as the hitting instructor, and coached base running and the outfielders in his role as an assistant. Hehelped the Colonels to a championship season in 2022. EKU went 38-20 overall and claimed a share of the ASUN Conference West Division Championship with a 20-10 league mark. The 38 wins were the most in a season since the 1990 squad won 42. It was Eastern Kentucky's first conference title since 2012. The Colonels were picked to finish eighth in the ASUN Preseason Poll, but finished tied for the best overall conference record in the league.

Outfielder Kendal Ewell was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given each year to the top amateur baseball player in the country. He also earned multiple national player of the week honors.

EKU followed the championship campaign with 29 more wins in 2023, making it the winningest two-year period for the program since 1989 and 1990. The 2023 Colonels set a new program record for walks drawn in a season, surpassing a mark that had stood for 42 years. Will King, who was chosen to the ABCA Rawlings Midwest All-Region Team, was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 MLB Draft. In addition, incoming freshman left-handed pitcher Bradley Stewart, who signed with EKU in the spring of 2023, was drafted in the 17th round by the Detroit Tigers.

The drafting of an incoming player speaks to the program's recruiting success. EKU's 2023 recruiting class was recognized by Collegiate Baseball News and ranked higher than such programs as South Florida, Wake Forest, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas State, Middle Tennessee, Washington, South Alabama and Georgia Southern among others.

Jones was a scouting director for the Prep Baseball Report-Louisiana and national JUCO scouting director for Prep Baseball Report-National from July 2019 to the fall of 2020. Before his time with Prep Baseball Report, Jones was the recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at Nicholls State University from 2014-19. While at Nicholls, Jones oversaw recruiting, coached the outfielders and hitters, and organized fundraising events. Jones was an assistant coach at Chipola College from 2012 through 2013. Before joining the Chipola staff he was at Nicholls State where he served a volunteer assistant coach and the director of baseball operations from 2009-12.

"We are very excited to promote coach Jones to the head coaching position full time. Over the last two months he has fully embraced the position and has proven he is ready to take over the program. Walt has been a huge part of the program's success and high level recruiting classes over the last four years, and we are looking forward to the continued success under his leadership."
Corey Neal (Senior Associate AD & Baseball Sport Administrator)

"EKU has made an outstanding choice to lead their baseball program. I have known Walt as a player, and a coach. His relentless pursuit of success is second to none, and he will be an outstanding leader for every young man in the program!"
Kerrick Jackson (University of Missouri Baseball Head Coach)

"First and foremost, Walt Jones is a first class human being. Someone I would want my sons to play for. He cares deeply about his players and creates positive relationships. He has earned this opportunity through hard work and the way he goes about the job. EKU made a tremendous decision to elevate Walt, allowing him to continue the great work that he and coach (Chris) Prothro were doing."
Jay Uhlman (Tulane University Baseball Head Coach)