Corey Kemp was named today as head coach of the College of St. Scholastica baseball team, replacing John Baggs, who died of cancer in February.
Kemp, a Saints assistant coach under Baggs for eight years, was elevated to the top spot by Athletic Director Don Olson. Baggs led the team for 18 years and guided it to national prominence. Kemp also pitched for the Saints from 1998 to 2001.
"I would not be in the position I am in today to be the next head baseball coach at the College of St. Scholastica without the mentorship, support, and teaching from Coach Baggs," Kemp said in a prepared statement. "Coach Baggs has left big footsteps for me to follow, and I know that he would have confidence in my ability to take over his program."
Working under Baggs, Kemp helped develop one of the top pitching staffs in NCAA Division III baseball. The Saints led the country in earned run average in 2005 and 2006 and finished fifth in 2009.
"Corey Kemp's passion for St. Scholastica baseball, his understanding of the programs culture and traditions and his appreciation for the excellence the college represents are unmatched," Olson said in a statement. "When you combine those attributes with his knowledge of the game of baseball, the conference and Division III, we have the perfect fit for the next head coach for Saints baseball."
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Check back to duluthnewstribune.com later for more details and see tomorrow's print edition for a complete report.
