LynDon Watkins is entering his third year as Coppin State’s Head Hitting coach. His duties also include serving as the Outfielders position coach, coaching first base and serving as the Assistant Recruiting Coordinator.
Coach Watkins set a precedent for the future in his first year by committing to a mental and physical hitting approach which would allow his team to best utilize their skills and abilities. In 2018 the Eagles posted the highest team batting average in the last seven years. They also concluded the 2018 season with a team batting average of .281 which left them ranked #74 in Division 1 baseball, which is also a school record. The Eagles hitters improved their team batting average by 23 points from the previous year by reducing strikeouts and increasing production in all other hitting categories.
Under Coach Watkins tutelage the 2018 hitters soared to new heights by having five players ranked in top 50 hitting categories and two in top 100 categories amongst all NCAA Division 1 players. Senior Caleb Duhay, Juniors Nazir Mcilwain and Eric Crossman, Sophomore Allen Saar and Freshmen Marcos Castillo and Derek Lohr all turned in outstanding performances at the plate which led the way for the historic 2018 season and MEAC conference awards.
Coach Watkins 2018 group of outfielders provided great defense and offense. Seniors Caleb Duhay and Andres Santana received All-MEAC Conference Tournament recognition and both ranked in the top 100 in stolen bases amongst Division 1 players. Freshman centerfielder Marcos Castillo was also recognized by several baseball organizations for his outstanding contributions during the 2018 season.
Coach Watkins comes to Coppin State with a vast amount of knowledge and experience, having spent nine years coaching at nationally ranked St. Johns College High School in Washington DC, which has produced 13 drafted players and 2 free agent signees in the last ten years.
After nine years of success as an assistant and head coach at St. John’s College High School, Watkins was named the head coach of St. Vincent Pallotti High School, Laurel, MD. In his first season, he took the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Under his tenure the program produced two All-Conference selections as well as a Maryland Private School All-Tournament selection.
As an assistant Coach he helped lead the Cissel Saxon Post #41 American Legion team to a Maryland State Title in 2003.
Watkins other baseball experience includes consulting, serving as a clinician for several baseball organizations and he is the President of the Diamond Dynasty Baseball Organization.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Coach Watkins played high school baseball at Paul Robeson and collegiately at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Watkins earned a BS degree from Chicago State University in Chemistry and a CPM from George Washington University in Public Management. He is currently working on his Masters of Forensic degree at Stevenson University.
