Jake McKinley enters his first year with Tigers and will serve as the Graduate Assistant Coach.  McKinley’s primary responsibilities will include working with Tiger outfielders, but will also work some with hitters and pitchers.  On top of his coaching duties, McKinley will also be finishing his Masters Degree in Social Science.

After a standout college and pro career, McKinley entered the coaching ranks in 2006-2007 at Bethany University in California where he served as an Assistant Coach under Chris Lewis.  At the same time, McKinley was also the Assistant Coach under Joe Gerber for the All Star Academy Titans, a 16-under club team that was ranked in the nation’s top ten. 

While at Bethany, McKinley was responsible for the Bruin Outfielders and Pitchers.  In his lone year at his alma-mater, the Bruins finished with a 31-20 record, good for the best record in the history of the program.  He also coached All-Americans J.P. Lapointe and Mark Koski.  In 2007, Bethany broke virtually every single season record as a team.   While at Bethany, the Bruins brought in the biggest recruiting class in the history of the program under McKinley.

As a player, McKinley enjoyed a standout career at Bethany University in California, as well as Cabrillo Junior College in California.  While at Cabrillo, McKinley finished his lone year with all-conference honors and was named pitcher of the year.  McKinley continued the trend at Bethany as he was twice named pitcher of the year, and once named Most Valuable Player.  A two way player, McKinley is third all time in career homeruns, and still holds most pitching records for a career and single season, including most strikeouts in career, averaging almost nine strikeouts per nine innings.

McKinley also played for the elite Yuba Sutter Gold Sox, a summer collegiate team in Marysville, California.  One of two NAIA players picked in the country to play on the team, McKinley put together a career 2.36 ERA, and still holds the organization’s record for most appearances in a single season.

After a successful collegiate career, McKinley signed a pro contract as a free agent and spent two seasons with the Golden Baseball League’s Chico Outlaws, in California.  As a rookie, McKinley set and still holds the league record for fewest hits per nine innings (5.4 hits/9 innings).  He served as a starter, middle reliever, and a closer in his two years.  In his final year of pro ball, McKinley was a starting pitcher on an Outlaws team that went on to win the championship.

Originally from El Dorado California, McKinley will be with the Tigers for the next two seasons.  McKinley is single and currently resides in Campbellsville.

Sanders on McKinley:

"Jake is a welcomed addition to our program and will assist in every facet.  He will serve as the first base coach and he will structure our outfield defense."

Jake McKinley Quick Facts:

*As an Assistant Coach, McKinley’s career college coaching record is 31-20, good for a .608 winning percentage

*In his lone year at Bethany University, the team hit .327

*Will be the Tigers' first base coach during games

*Coached two All-Americans in his 1^st year as a college coach

*Brought in biggest recruiting class in Bethany University history

*All time strikeout leader in Bethany University history

All about Jake McKinley:

Birth date: October 5^th, 1984

Born in: Placerville, California

Parents: Clint and Denise McKinley, and John and Vicky Kelso

Siblings: Wade McKinley (30) and Adam McKinley (26)

High School: Union Mine High School, El Dorado, California, Pitcher/1B

College: Cabrillo Junior College and Bethany University, Pitcher/1B

Awards/Honors: 2001, 2002 1^st team All-Conference at Union Mine High School; 2003, 2004, 2005 Pitcher of the year at Cabrillo Junior College and Bethany University; 2005 Most Valuable Player at Bethany University.