‘To build a winning culture’ – Barnett joins SCC athletics as new athletic director and head baseball coach

With five years of collegiate baseball coaching experience, Coy Barnett is ready to lead Southeastern Community College athletics as the new Athletic Director, Head Baseball Coach and Student Health and Wellness Coordinator. For the past three years, Barnett has worked with the National Collegiate Scouting Agency, helping identify and recruit talent across North America and Latin America, including families from the United States, Canada, Central America and South America.

Barnett is looking forward to meeting the returning players of the upcoming baseball season. He said there is a sort of “excitement in the air” with a “new beginning” and “changing of the tides.” He is ready to start his new role as head baseball coach and athletic director, so he can make a positive impact on the players and college.

“I’m excited to get in there, hire an athletics staff, work on the softball side and build a winning culture that Columbus County and the Whiteville area can be excited about and take part in,” Barnett said.

Barnett’s experience as a baseball recruiter has given him valuable insight into the mindset of parents—their hopes for their children, the questions they ask and the concerns they share throughout the recruiting process. He was involved with baseball from a very young age. He played at Lenoir Community College and the University of Mount Olive, where he was a career .341 hitter. His greatest accolade on the field was being named 2019 Player of the Year in the Carolina Virginia Collegiate Summer League for the Fuquay Varina Twins.

He was coached under Hall of Fame Coach Gary Smith at Lenoir CC as Hitting Coach/Recruiting Coordinator from 2021–2023, where the program amassed 72 wins from 2022–2023, won the 2023 Region X East Division Championship, and 2023 Division 2 Region X Championship. Barnett also brings deep ties to the game through family—his older brother, Hunter Barnett, played in the Toronto Blue Jays Organization.

“Stepping back into coaching, it will be a little easier on the recruiting trail from being able to pick those brains of players over the past three years and understand what they’re looking for and where we can get some high-level talent,” Barnett said.

Barnett described baseball as “a lot like life.” He said the process of training and competing in baseball is life in its purest form because we can witness success and growth with other people and build community. That is his favorite part of the sport.

“The only thing fair in life is a ball between white lines at a baseball game,” he said.

Barnett’s approach to baseball coaching is adaptable and open-minded. He said he is not stuck on one way of doing things. He wants to reach every player, unlock their potential and make them better for the team.

“As a coach, I have a vision for what we want to do,” Barnett said. “To be successful, we’re going to have high expectations to build a culture of responsibility and accountability. I want to lead by example whether it’s in the weight room and on the field, and if they see you do that, they’re typically going to follow.”

In terms of academics and life, Barnett said that baseball helps players build accountability in the classroom and in everyday functions as an adult away from parents. With players living on their own, doing their own laundry, cooking their own food and waking up on time, Barnett said that baseball gives the players an identity and purpose.

“In the classroom, we’re going to push for excellence by obtaining a high team GPA, so that each player can obtain the degree or certificate they want to move forward in life. Whether it’s joining the workforce or transferring to a four-year institution, I want to help them make it happen.”

As the athletic director, Barnett wants to build a championship standard with both baseball and softball programs being “extremely competitive.” His first step in achieving that is working to improve the athletic facilities. He said that better facilities will help build pride in both teams, help with recruiting high level talent and help with community support.

“Once I get in the door, I want to help make our facilities reflect what our vision is for winning a championship in the coming years,” Barnett said.

As the Student Health and Wellness Coordinator, Barnett plans to utilize this position to get more student body participation in athletics and monthly exercise events. He has a vision for starting intramural sports leagues in cornhole and ultimate Frisbee in hopes of building up a community atmosphere on campus.

“When you don’t have on-campus housing, it’s tough to build a community like that unless you’re on a sports team,” Barnett said. “So, I think working in this health and wellness coordinator role will help bridge that gap in the future.”

Barnett plans to build relationships with coaches and athletic directors at local high schools in efforts to recruit more local talent to SCC’s baseball and softball teams. Barnett wants to “dominate our backyard” by recruiting high-level talent within Columbus County.

“We’re trying to create a new vision for SCC athletics, and we’re going to have to find players who buy into that vision,” Barnett said. “So, within year two and year three and getting those first few recruited classes in and seeing a lot of success, that’s usually when you see the most investment from your community.”

Barnett graduated from the University of Mount Olive with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 2019. He later earned his master’s degree in education with a specialization in health and physical education from UNC Wilmington in 2022. He is a La Grange native located in Lenior County.

Outside of work and baseball, Barnett is an outdoorsman and loves to golf, deer and duck hunt and fish. He is a Carolina Panthers fan and has season tickets. He and his wife, Lindsay Barnett, now reside in Whiteville.

Interested in joining the baseball or softball team? Fill out this questionnaire!