McPherson, Kan. – August 5, 2021 – Chandler Short, McPherson College Athletics Director, announces the resignation of Dr. Bryan Moses, who has served as the head coach for the Bulldog Baseball program the past five seasons.
"Coach Moses has been an integral part of this department serving our administration team and as our head baseball coach over the last 5 years," said Short. "He has transformed the program and has left this program doing things the right way in the classroom and on the field. We wish him nothing but the best in this next step."
Coach Moses will leave as the program's winningest coach, going 144-92, in his five seasons. He took over a floundering program and elevated it to one of the best in the KCAC, and primed to be a national contender in the years to come. Coach Moses joined the Bulldog program in the fall of 2016, taking over a program that had finished 8-44 the previous spring. In his first year at the helm, the Bulldogs improved to 20-35, their first 20-win season since 2013. In 2017, the Bulldogs won 24 games and capped off that season with a trip to the KCAC Tournament. In his third season, the Bulldogs broke through with the program's first 30-win season, going 30-25. Spring 2019 was a breakout season for the Bulldogs. The team set a new record for wins, going 36-17, and had its first winning season in the KCAC with a 22-11 mark, qualifying for the end of the season tournament for just the second time in program history.
Moses and the Bulldogs were poised to build on the success of the 2019 season when they hit the field in 2020, but COVID-19 shut down the season after just 25 games. In 2021, Moses led the Bulldogs to another program first, a trip to the NAIA Opening Round. They finished the season 38-15, setting a new record for wins in a season, finished runner-up at the KCAC tournament, and then received an at-large berth to the NAIA National Tournament. In their first appearance at the national level, the Bulldogs were seeded fourth at the regional, and knocked off the #3 seed to finish 2-2.
In addition to the work with his teams on the diamond, Coach Moses challenged his players to excel in the classroom and in the community. His teams were consistently near the top of the Bulldog Growler standings, the athletic department's annual community service competition, and the 2021 Bulldog team was named to both the KCAC and NAIA Scholar Team list.
"My time at McPherson College was more enjoyable than I ever thought possible," said Moses. "The program turned a corner rapidly and it was fun to steer the ship. Thank you to our players, coaches and everybody who played a role. McPherson College is a special place and it will continue to be for years to come. Sko DOGS."
Bulldog Associate Head Coach and Hitting Coach, Kyle MacKinnon will replace Moses as head coach. MacKinnon joined the Bulldog program in 2016 as the hitting coach. A native of Caledon, Ontario, MacKinnon came to MC with an impressive coaching resume. After a stellar playing career with the Durham College Lords in Oshawa, Ontario, Mackinnon joined the coaching staff of the Ontario Blue Jays, one of the premier travel baseball teams in Canada. He held several coaching roles over a span of seven years with the Blue Jays, spending time as the assistant coach, the hitting coach, and the head coach of the 16U team.
Coach MacKinnon spent summers working with some of the elite summer college baseball programs in the U.S. and Canada including the Medicine Hat Mavericks (2016), the Fort McMurray Giants (2017), the Brooks Bombers (2018 & 2019), the Mandan Flickertails (2020), and this past summer with the Macon Bacon of the Coastal Plains League.
"It is an honor to be named the new head coach of the McPherson College baseball program, said Coach MacKinnon. "I would like to thank the director of athletics, Chandler Short and the rest of the McPherson College administration for this opportunity. Coach Moses needs a big thank you for turning this program around and creating national recognition in his five year tenure. I am excited to continue to build on the previous successes we have had with the players and coaching staff, both on and off the field. It will be our staff's mission to continue to develop our guys into great students, people and players. My family and I are thrilled to remain a part of the Bulldog Family."
Coach MacKinnon is hard at work getting things ready for the upcoming season. His team will begin arriving on August 13, and practice will begin shortly thereafter.
"I am excited to continue working with Kyle as he leads this program and continues to build of the success on and off the field. He is committed to our athletes being students first and serving in the community and across campus." Short said.
