Eastern Michigan Athletics
Robbie Britt Named EMU Head Baseball Coach
6/16/2023 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
Britt ranks seventh among active Division II head coaches in winning percentage
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced the hiring of Robbie Britt as head coach of the baseball program today, June 16. A highly-accomplished program leader with four seasons as a Division II head coach, Britt arrives in Ypsilanti with a .722 career winning percentage (125-48). He has an extensive coaching resume which includes stops at the NCAA Division I, II, and III ranks along with high school and club baseball.
"We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Robbie and his family as they join Eastern Michigan University as the newest head coach of our baseball program," said Wetherbee. "From the very beginning of our search, it was clear that we needed a coach with a proven ability to attract and nurture talented student-athletes. Robbie Britt's name repeatedly emerged as the ideal candidate for our program. His extensive experience in cultivating excellence alongside a culture of fierce competitiveness resonated with our vision. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable achievements of our student-athletes both on the field and in their academic pursuits, as well as their contributions to the community under Robbie's leadership.
Britt has been the head coach for the past four seasons at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. The Maryville, Tenn., native owns the seventh-best winning percentage among active Division II head coaches. He has built the Golden Eagles into a perennial power at the Division II level with three NCAA appearances, three conference regular season championships, and two conference tournament titles. The third-winningest coach in program history, Britt's Charleston teams were dominant at home, posting a 72-14 record (.837 winning percentage) on their own field.
"Our family is incredibly excited to lead the Eastern Michigan baseball program," Britt added. "The energy and sense of community make Eastern a destination for anyone looking to compete at the highest level. We look forward to continuing the tradition of the 'Script E' and carving out our own set of accomplishments along the way!"
Britt has had 27 student-athletes go on to receive all-conference honors along with nine earning All-Region honors. He also has worked with 11 players that have moved on to professional baseball since 2015.
His athletes not only perform on the field, but in the classroom as well. Charleston baseball had eight straight semesters with a team GPA above 3.0, all while giving back to their community. Under Britt, the Golden Eagles have accumulated over 4,000 hours of community service by collaborating with local organizations including United Way, Bible Center Church, Mountain Mission, Kanawha County Schools, Ronald McDonald House, and the Alzheimer's Association. The team's involvement in the community earned them the UC Team Service Award in 2022.
The Golden Eagles won four straight games to win the 2023 Mountain East Conference tournament, their second straight tournament title and their fourth in the last five seasons. UC finished with a 43-12 overall record, which set a new standard for wins in a season.
Charleston was one of the most prolific hitting teams in MEC history. UC hit .326 as a team with 505 runs scored, and 477 RBI, all of which are records in the league. Charleston had six hitters batting above .300 and they lead NCAA Division II with 350 walks for the year, while also being top 15 in slugging percentage (.577 - 4th), triples (23 - sixth), on-base percentage (.453 - seventh), runs (505 - 12th), doubles (131 -13th), and home runs (82 - 15th).
On the mound, the Golden Eagles ranked 14th nationally with six shutouts, while ranking second with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. UC notched a 4.54 ERA and allowed just 8.5 hits per contest. Cole Peschl held a 2.35 ERA with 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, a figure that ranked sixth in Division II. His nine wins were second in the conference and top-25 in the nation.
Charleston had seven all-conference selections in total and catcher Tyler Dellerman was named MEC Player of the Year. Four UC student-athletes were named first team Atlantic Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA). Furthermore, Kyle West, Peschl, and Dellerman became the first Golden Eagles to earn All-American status since 1990, when the trio earned honorable mention honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA).
The 2022 season was a historical one for Charleston baseball. The team compiled a 40-18 record on the season and won the regular season MEC Championship title with a conference record of 25-7, but their road to victory did not stop there. The Golden Eagles went on to win the MEC Championship Tournament and advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament where they would battle their way to regional finals. During this season, Britt had three student-athletes break school records, and one of his pitchers, Colt Webb, went on to twirl a no-hitter making him the ninth Golden Eagle in the history of Charleston Baseball to toss one.
In 2021, Britt led the Golden Eagles to their best start in school history (24-3). The team had 15 consecutive wins during that stretch. Later in the season, the team rattled off a 16-game winning streak which stands as the longest such streak in the program's history. The Golden Eagles soared to a No. 11 national ranking which is the highest such ranking in program history. The squad finished the season by winning their third straight regular season conference championship with a 24-4 record. From there, the Golden Eagles went on to host the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional for the first time in the program's 118-year history.
In 2020, his first season at the helm, Britt managed UC to a season that garnered national attention as the Golden Eagles received votes in the final NCBWA poll and finished ranked 23rd in the collegiate baseball poll. The success can be attributed to Britt's impact on the pitching staff and defensively in the field. Under his direction, Golden Eagle hurlers ranked third nationally in WHIP (1.04) and finished with a top-25 ERA (3.32). Defensively, the team improved from 181st in Fielding Percentage in 2019 to a percentage of .975 which slotted them 16th nationally in 2020. The offense also excelled under Britt as the team led the Mountain East Conference in extra base hits (40) and stolen bases (29).
The 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Golden Eagles compiled a 9-5 record in the shortened season providing a look into the bright future ahead. Britt managed the squad to five victories over top-25 opponents highlighted by wins over No. 6 Ashland (8-0) and No.15 Wingate (2-1), a first in the history of the program. The team's collective success allowed for standout players to receive accolades including two MEC Player of the Week Honors (Jordan Bailey and Drew Hefner), and Logan Campbell was named the NCBWA Division II National Pitcher of the Week. He was also a two-time MEC Pitcher of the Week award winner and also garnered the NCBWA Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week award twice.
He came to Charleston after coaching and teaching a year at Rossview High School in Clarksville, Tenn.
Prior to his year at Rossview, Britt served as both an assistant and interim head baseball coach at Middle Tennessee State University from 2015-18. During 2017-18 seasons, Britt coached offense and worked with infielders. Prior to that as the volunteer assistant he worked with the outfielders and offense, along with field maintenance. Britt was originally hired as Director of Baseball Operations and was moved to a coaching position soon thereafter. In his role, he also assisted with coordinating on-campus recruiting, academic achievement, camps, alumni correspondence, player development programs, team travel, equipment management, and scouting reports.
While in Murfreesboro, Britt was able to work with a trio of future MLB Draft picks. Riley Delgado heard his name called in the ninth round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, LT Woodard was taken by the New York Mets in the 16th round in 2018, and Aaron Antonini was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round of the 2019 event.
The Blue Raiders exploded with the help of Britt's instruction in 2017, improving in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen bases. MT ranked second in Conference USA with a .306 batting average (24th in NCAA) and 606 hits (13th in NCAA). The offense more than doubled its home run total from 2016 (18) to 2017 (46). MT finished the 2017 season as the only school in C-USA to have three players finish in the top eight of the conference in batting average.
At his alma mater, Maryville College, Britt was the program's assistant coach and Director of Baseball Operations from 2014 to 2015 while he finished his bachelor's degree. As the Scots' assistant, Britt coached the infielders and catchers. Under his leadership, Maryville had six all-conference performers and an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) First Team All-American. He also helped develop the school's first MLB draftee in shortstop Nick Dean (32nd round, L.A. Dodgers).
Britt's coaching career started as the owner, director, and head coach of an 18U summer travel baseball team, the East Tennessee Select Baseball Club, from 2011-15. During his time coaching, he developed 26 student-athletes into college baseball players, led the team to a .777 winning percentage, and organized and directed multiple camps and tournaments every summer.
During this time period, Britt was also a student-athlete himself and played baseball at Division III Maryville College for three years. During his playing career, Britt spent time at first base and on the mound as a reliever. He was a two-time academic all-conference selection, and a 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Britt graduated from Maryville in 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in political science and history. He earned his master's in strategic leadership from Charleston in 2022.
Britt is married to his wife, Courtney. They have a daughter, Ellie and two sons, Camp and Crew.
What Others Around the Nation are Saying About Robbie Britt Being Named Baseball Coach at EMU:
Vanderbilt University Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin
"Robbie is a wonderful human being and special teacher. I have known him over the past 10 years and truly enjoy working alongside of him. He is that special type of person that you want mentoring young men. He is true to who he is and will embrace everything that is special about Eastern Michigan. Congratulations on hiring a person that will better the University and its beliefs."
West Virginia University Head Baseball Coach Randy Mazey
"Coach Britt has done a tremendous job at the University of Charleston and is one of the brightest, hardest working coaches out there. I am 100 percent confident that he will do a tremendous job at Eastern Michigan and take that program to levels it has never reached before."
Boston Red Sox Field Coordinator Andrew Wright
"Incredible hire. Robbie embodies the passion, intentionality, and knowledge of the game that is essential in building a championship program. He is a man of high integrity, character, and has an elite work ethic. The future of EMU Baseball is incredibly bright as I know his values align directly with the vision and mission of the University and its Athletic Department. I couldn't be more excited for Robbie, Courtney, Ellie, Camp, and Crew."
Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum
"This is a phenomenal hire for Eastern Michigan University. Robbie is a winner in all areas of his life. He is a learner, teacher, father, baseball coach, CEO, and awesome human. He is a builder of men and baseball players. I'm fired up for Robbie and his family on this new journey. The future is bright at EMU with Robbie leading the way. Congrats to everyone involved with this outstanding hire."
"We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Robbie and his family as they join Eastern Michigan University as the newest head coach of our baseball program," said Wetherbee. "From the very beginning of our search, it was clear that we needed a coach with a proven ability to attract and nurture talented student-athletes. Robbie Britt's name repeatedly emerged as the ideal candidate for our program. His extensive experience in cultivating excellence alongside a culture of fierce competitiveness resonated with our vision. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable achievements of our student-athletes both on the field and in their academic pursuits, as well as their contributions to the community under Robbie's leadership.
Britt has been the head coach for the past four seasons at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. The Maryville, Tenn., native owns the seventh-best winning percentage among active Division II head coaches. He has built the Golden Eagles into a perennial power at the Division II level with three NCAA appearances, three conference regular season championships, and two conference tournament titles. The third-winningest coach in program history, Britt's Charleston teams were dominant at home, posting a 72-14 record (.837 winning percentage) on their own field.
"Our family is incredibly excited to lead the Eastern Michigan baseball program," Britt added. "The energy and sense of community make Eastern a destination for anyone looking to compete at the highest level. We look forward to continuing the tradition of the 'Script E' and carving out our own set of accomplishments along the way!"
Britt has had 27 student-athletes go on to receive all-conference honors along with nine earning All-Region honors. He also has worked with 11 players that have moved on to professional baseball since 2015.
His athletes not only perform on the field, but in the classroom as well. Charleston baseball had eight straight semesters with a team GPA above 3.0, all while giving back to their community. Under Britt, the Golden Eagles have accumulated over 4,000 hours of community service by collaborating with local organizations including United Way, Bible Center Church, Mountain Mission, Kanawha County Schools, Ronald McDonald House, and the Alzheimer's Association. The team's involvement in the community earned them the UC Team Service Award in 2022.
The Golden Eagles won four straight games to win the 2023 Mountain East Conference tournament, their second straight tournament title and their fourth in the last five seasons. UC finished with a 43-12 overall record, which set a new standard for wins in a season.
Charleston was one of the most prolific hitting teams in MEC history. UC hit .326 as a team with 505 runs scored, and 477 RBI, all of which are records in the league. Charleston had six hitters batting above .300 and they lead NCAA Division II with 350 walks for the year, while also being top 15 in slugging percentage (.577 - 4th), triples (23 - sixth), on-base percentage (.453 - seventh), runs (505 - 12th), doubles (131 -13th), and home runs (82 - 15th).
On the mound, the Golden Eagles ranked 14th nationally with six shutouts, while ranking second with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. UC notched a 4.54 ERA and allowed just 8.5 hits per contest. Cole Peschl held a 2.35 ERA with 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, a figure that ranked sixth in Division II. His nine wins were second in the conference and top-25 in the nation.
Charleston had seven all-conference selections in total and catcher Tyler Dellerman was named MEC Player of the Year. Four UC student-athletes were named first team Atlantic Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA). Furthermore, Kyle West, Peschl, and Dellerman became the first Golden Eagles to earn All-American status since 1990, when the trio earned honorable mention honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA).
The 2022 season was a historical one for Charleston baseball. The team compiled a 40-18 record on the season and won the regular season MEC Championship title with a conference record of 25-7, but their road to victory did not stop there. The Golden Eagles went on to win the MEC Championship Tournament and advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament where they would battle their way to regional finals. During this season, Britt had three student-athletes break school records, and one of his pitchers, Colt Webb, went on to twirl a no-hitter making him the ninth Golden Eagle in the history of Charleston Baseball to toss one.
In 2021, Britt led the Golden Eagles to their best start in school history (24-3). The team had 15 consecutive wins during that stretch. Later in the season, the team rattled off a 16-game winning streak which stands as the longest such streak in the program's history. The Golden Eagles soared to a No. 11 national ranking which is the highest such ranking in program history. The squad finished the season by winning their third straight regular season conference championship with a 24-4 record. From there, the Golden Eagles went on to host the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional for the first time in the program's 118-year history.
In 2020, his first season at the helm, Britt managed UC to a season that garnered national attention as the Golden Eagles received votes in the final NCBWA poll and finished ranked 23rd in the collegiate baseball poll. The success can be attributed to Britt's impact on the pitching staff and defensively in the field. Under his direction, Golden Eagle hurlers ranked third nationally in WHIP (1.04) and finished with a top-25 ERA (3.32). Defensively, the team improved from 181st in Fielding Percentage in 2019 to a percentage of .975 which slotted them 16th nationally in 2020. The offense also excelled under Britt as the team led the Mountain East Conference in extra base hits (40) and stolen bases (29).
The 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Golden Eagles compiled a 9-5 record in the shortened season providing a look into the bright future ahead. Britt managed the squad to five victories over top-25 opponents highlighted by wins over No. 6 Ashland (8-0) and No.15 Wingate (2-1), a first in the history of the program. The team's collective success allowed for standout players to receive accolades including two MEC Player of the Week Honors (Jordan Bailey and Drew Hefner), and Logan Campbell was named the NCBWA Division II National Pitcher of the Week. He was also a two-time MEC Pitcher of the Week award winner and also garnered the NCBWA Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week award twice.
He came to Charleston after coaching and teaching a year at Rossview High School in Clarksville, Tenn.
Prior to his year at Rossview, Britt served as both an assistant and interim head baseball coach at Middle Tennessee State University from 2015-18. During 2017-18 seasons, Britt coached offense and worked with infielders. Prior to that as the volunteer assistant he worked with the outfielders and offense, along with field maintenance. Britt was originally hired as Director of Baseball Operations and was moved to a coaching position soon thereafter. In his role, he also assisted with coordinating on-campus recruiting, academic achievement, camps, alumni correspondence, player development programs, team travel, equipment management, and scouting reports.
While in Murfreesboro, Britt was able to work with a trio of future MLB Draft picks. Riley Delgado heard his name called in the ninth round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, LT Woodard was taken by the New York Mets in the 16th round in 2018, and Aaron Antonini was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round of the 2019 event.
The Blue Raiders exploded with the help of Britt's instruction in 2017, improving in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen bases. MT ranked second in Conference USA with a .306 batting average (24th in NCAA) and 606 hits (13th in NCAA). The offense more than doubled its home run total from 2016 (18) to 2017 (46). MT finished the 2017 season as the only school in C-USA to have three players finish in the top eight of the conference in batting average.
At his alma mater, Maryville College, Britt was the program's assistant coach and Director of Baseball Operations from 2014 to 2015 while he finished his bachelor's degree. As the Scots' assistant, Britt coached the infielders and catchers. Under his leadership, Maryville had six all-conference performers and an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) First Team All-American. He also helped develop the school's first MLB draftee in shortstop Nick Dean (32nd round, L.A. Dodgers).
Britt's coaching career started as the owner, director, and head coach of an 18U summer travel baseball team, the East Tennessee Select Baseball Club, from 2011-15. During his time coaching, he developed 26 student-athletes into college baseball players, led the team to a .777 winning percentage, and organized and directed multiple camps and tournaments every summer.
During this time period, Britt was also a student-athlete himself and played baseball at Division III Maryville College for three years. During his playing career, Britt spent time at first base and on the mound as a reliever. He was a two-time academic all-conference selection, and a 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Britt graduated from Maryville in 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in political science and history. He earned his master's in strategic leadership from Charleston in 2022.
Britt is married to his wife, Courtney. They have a daughter, Ellie and two sons, Camp and Crew.
What Others Around the Nation are Saying About Robbie Britt Being Named Baseball Coach at EMU:
Vanderbilt University Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin
"Robbie is a wonderful human being and special teacher. I have known him over the past 10 years and truly enjoy working alongside of him. He is that special type of person that you want mentoring young men. He is true to who he is and will embrace everything that is special about Eastern Michigan. Congratulations on hiring a person that will better the University and its beliefs."
West Virginia University Head Baseball Coach Randy Mazey
"Coach Britt has done a tremendous job at the University of Charleston and is one of the brightest, hardest working coaches out there. I am 100 percent confident that he will do a tremendous job at Eastern Michigan and take that program to levels it has never reached before."
Boston Red Sox Field Coordinator Andrew Wright
"Incredible hire. Robbie embodies the passion, intentionality, and knowledge of the game that is essential in building a championship program. He is a man of high integrity, character, and has an elite work ethic. The future of EMU Baseball is incredibly bright as I know his values align directly with the vision and mission of the University and its Athletic Department. I couldn't be more excited for Robbie, Courtney, Ellie, Camp, and Crew."
Savannah Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum
"This is a phenomenal hire for Eastern Michigan University. Robbie is a winner in all areas of his life. He is a learner, teacher, father, baseball coach, CEO, and awesome human. He is a builder of men and baseball players. I'm fired up for Robbie and his family on this new journey. The future is bright at EMU with Robbie leading the way. Congrats to everyone involved with this outstanding hire."
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