Tom Cantrell is in his 14th season as head coach of the University of North Georgia baseball program.

 

Over the last three years, Cantrell has led the Saints to three consecutive Peach Belt Conference tournament appearances, including back-to-back 34-win seasons in 2010 and 2011.

 

The North Georgia baseball program continues to send players to the next level, as a trio players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft over the last three years. In 2010, Daniel Petitti and Chris Rearick became the program's first duo to be drafted in the same year, when they were selected in the 37th and 41st rounds respectively by the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays. Troy Snitker followed and made his own headlines in 2011, when he became the highest draft pick in North Georgia history, going in the 19th round to the Atlanta Braves.

In their first year eligible for postseason play since entering the NCAA, Cantrell led his team to a tie for third place in the Peach Belt Conference regular season and ran through the PBC Tournament with four straight wins to claim the championship. The Saints finished the regular season winning 19 of 22 games and competed in their first NCAA South Atlantic Regional.

Cantrell reached a career coaching milestone during the 2010 season, picking up his 600th victory as a head coach with a 17-2 victory over Carson-Newman College on March 16, 2010. He currently sits just one victory shy from earning his 500th victory at North Georgia.

His 2007 team finished their second season of competition at the NCAA Division II level and in the Peach Belt Conference, by finishing 34-22 (17-13 PBC). Cantrell reached a pair of milestones in the 2007 season, winning his 300th game at North Georgia and his 500th game overall. He was also awarded the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year Award, and also coached the 2007 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in Craig Brisson.

In their inaugural year, 2006, in the NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference, the Saints finished with an overall record of 32-29 and a PBC record of 9-18. Under the direction of Cantrell, the Saints second baseman Brian Lauderdale was named PBC Player of the Year, South-Atlantic Player of the Year, third team NCAA Division II All-American, and signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Padres.

In his 13 years at North Georgia, Cantrell has amassed a 499-284 (.637) record and has posted a winning record at UNG in 12 of those 13 seasons. Over his 17-year career at Georgia Perimeter College (DeKalb College) and North Georgia, he has a 676-336 (.667) overall record. Cantrell also has a sharp eye for spotting major league talent, 23 of his former players have signed professional contracts. Five of those 20 are currently in the majors: Nick Green with the Miami Marlins, Marlon Byrd formerly with the Boston Red Sox, and formerly Robby Hammock with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cantrell also coached Adam Everett formerly of the Cleveland Indians, and Michael Barrett during summer ball at East Cobb, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cantrell came to North Georgia from Georgia Perimeter College (DeKalb College) where he spent nine years, four as head coach with a record of 177-52 (.773). While at GPC, Cantrell's teams produced two NJCAA All- Americans, five NJCAA Academic All-Americans, 21 GJCAA All-Region, and two GJCAA Players of the Year.

In 1998, Cantrell guided DeKalb to its first state championship since 1987. They also won the East Central District Championship, and made an appearance at the JUCO World Series, DeKalb's first appearance since 1977. Coach Cantrell's squads were consistently ranked nationally in the top twenty. For his efforts in 1998, Cantrell, was named GJCAA Coach-of-the-Year, as well as the East Central District Coach of the Year.

In 1991, Cantrell returned to DeKalb as an assistant coach responsible for recruiting. In his five seasons as an assistant coach DeKalb compiled an impressive 204-94 record. In 1995 Cantrell was named GJCAA Assistant Coach-of-the Year.

Born on November 10, 1965, in Habersham, Georgia, Cantrell was a two-time Georgia All-State shortstop at North Clayton High School. Following his senior season, Cantrell began his collegiate career at DeKalb College. At DeKalb, he hit .332 and was an All-Region shortstop his freshman year with the Patriots. Following an outstanding sophomore campaign, in which he hit .362, he was once again named to the All-Region. At the conclusion of his second year at DeKalb, the Atlanta Braves drafted him in the seventh round.

In the summer of 1985, Cantrell reported to the Braves rookie camp in Bradenton, Florida. After batting .214 in Bradenton, Cantrell was sent to Pulaski, Virginia for his second season. At Pulaski, Cantrell had a spectacular season, hitting .301 and making the Appalachian League All-Star team. That year, he helped lead the team to the Appalachian League World Series. While with Pulaski, he was coached by former Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little. Cantrell credits Little and college coach Doug Casey as the main catalyst that led him into the coaching profession. Cantrell retired from professional baseball in 1987 and began coaching American Legion baseball in College Park, Georgia. A highly successful amateur coach, Cantrell finished third in the nation three times.

Tom and his wife Shannon live in Dacula, Georgia. Their 20-year-old daughter, McKenzie, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama and a member of the cheerleading squad.

Playing Experience

• DeKalb College (1983-1985)
• Atlanta Braves (1985-1987)

Education

• DeKalb College (1985)

Coaching Experience

Record at UNG - 499-284 (.637)

2000 - Present 
North Georgia Head Coach

1996 - 1999
Georgia Perimeter (DeKalb College)
Head Coach

1991 - 1995
DeKalb College Assistant Coach

Coaching Honors

• 2007 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year
• 2003 & 2001 GACC Coach of the Year
• 2003 & 2001 Georgia Dugout Coach of the Year
• 1998 ABCA Regional Coach of the Year
• 1998 East Central District Coach of the Year
• 1998 GJCAA Coach of the Year
• 1995 GJCAA Assistant Coach of the Year

 

Cantrell's Coaching Record
2012 NGCSU 24-28 (.461)	2011 NGCSU 34-20 (.630)	2010 NGCSU 34-17 (.667)
2009 NGCSU 34-24 (.586)	2008 NGCSU 41-21 (.661) PBC Tournament Champions	2007 NGCSU 34-22 (.607)
2006 NGCSU 32-29 (.525)	2005 NGCSU 57-15 (.792) SSAC Champions	2004 NGCSU 54-19 (.740) NAIA Region XIII Champions
2003 NGCSU 31-26 (.544) GACC Regular Season Champions	2002 NGCSU 43-24 (.641) NAIA Region XIII Champions	2001 NGCSU 45-17 (.726) GACC Regular Season Champions Region XIII Runner-up
2000 NGCSU 36-22 (.621) Southeast Regional Bid	1999 Georgia Perimeter 44-10 (.815) GJCAA Conference Champions	1998 DeKalb 42-18 (.700) GJCAA Conference Champions GJCAA State Champions East Central Champions
1997 DeKalb 46-13 (.780) GJCAA Conference Champions	1996 DeKalb 45-11 (.804) GJCAA Runner-up	Overall Record 676-336 (.667)

Career Highlights

• Collected 600th career victory as head coach on March 16, 2010 (17-2 vs. Carson-Newman)

• Collected 400th victory as head coach at North Georgia on April 21, 2009 (10-9 vs. West Georgia)
  
  
• Collected 550th win while clinching the programs first-ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship on May 11, 2008 (10-8 vs. Francis Marion)

• Collected 500th career victory as head coach on April 14, 2007 (5-2 vs. GCSU)

• Collected 300th victory as head coach at North Georgia on February 10, 2007 (2-1 vs. West Alabama)

• Collected 400th career victory as head coach on February 19, 2005 (9-1 vs. Faulkner University).

• Collected 200th victory as head coach at North Georgia on April 22, 2004 (8-0 vs. Shorter College).

• Collected 300th victory as a head coach on May 10, 2002 (3-1 vs. Auburn Montgomery).

• Collected 100th victory as head coach at North Georgia on March 19, 2002 (9-3 vs. Emory)

• Collected 200th victory as a head coach on April 1, 2000 (12-4 vs. Southern Polytechnic State).

• Collected 100th victory as a head coach on February 28, 1998 (5-3 vs. Central Alabama).

• Guided NGCSU to GACC Regular Season Championship in 2003 and 2001.

• Guided NGCSU to NAIA Region XIII Championships in 2002 and 2004.

• Finished 2001 ranked 7th nationally (NAIA) and received regional bid as #1 seed.

• Led NGCSU to first national ranking (20th) in school history on April 4, 2000.

• Averaged 40 wins per season as head coach.

• Led Georgia Perimeter (DeKalb College) to three consecutive GJCAA Conference Championships.

• Led DeKalb to the 1998 GJCAA Conference, State, and East Central Championships and a trip to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

• Compiled a four-year record of 177-52 (.773) at Georgia Perimeter. (DeKalb College)