WINFIELD, Kan. – Seven-time Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) champion Mark Carvalho has been named the next head coach of the Southwestern College baseball program.
“Our SID, Brendan Sweany, was instrumental in this process,” interim athletic director Matt O’Brien said. “His knowledge of baseball as a former player at the college level helped us make this quick decision. We had three top-tier candidates for this position, and I am delighted to be working with Coach Carv, who brings a winning record to SC. He will put our program on on the map with his understanding of the world of recruiting and his successful experiences within the conference. I’d also like to commend the recruiting committee for their willingness to help make this decision quickly.”
The hiring committee for the position consisted of Sweany, Stephannie DeLong (associate vice president of admissions), Dr. Elizabeth Frombgen (chair), Lonnie Boyd (director of human resources), Brad Griffin (head soccer coach), Jimmy McSorley (assistant men’s basketball). Coach) and O’Brien.
Carvalho has a decorated past, having trained within the KCAC in different capacities from 1997-2021. His journey began as head coach at Friends University, where he coached from 1997 to 2006. During that time, he won 239 games, going 98-53 over the last three years of his tenure. They won two conference championships under him.
He served as the associate head coach at Bethany College the following year and helped propel that team to the No. 20 national rank, along with a 36-16 win-loss record. As the head hitting coach, his team boasted a .382 team batting average, while he worked with the defense. The Swedes won the KCAC Championship that year.
After a couple of years out of the conference, Carvalho became the head baseball coach at Kansas Wesleyan University, where he won three conference titles and posted a 155-112 record in five seasons. In two of the seasons, 2010 and 2011, KWU won both the regular season and intra-conference tournament championships. He was named KCAC Coach of the Year in 2011.
He then became an assistant coach and recruiter for the Falcons on Friends in his second stint in college. From 2016 to 2021, he was relied on to help the Falcons find new recruits each year as he worked a large number of different recruiting shows around the country.
In addition to his on-field coaching knowledge, he has been the general manager of the Newton Sluggin’ Rebels summer college baseball team since 2014. He assists the head coach with recruiting players for the team, while also organizing players opponents and manage the games. , fundraising and work with the media.
“I often think about how blessed and lucky I am that every day my job allows me to pursue my passion for baseball and youth development,” Carvalho said. “I look forward to being a part of Southwestern’s culture and investing in the baseball program and players. I thank Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen, AD Matt O’Brien, and the committee for giving me this opportunity and looking to build the Moudbuilder program. of baseball and establishing a tradition for years to come I grew up 10 miles from here and have great memories of being in Winfield and on the SC campus I am excited to be back in this area and look forward to making many more positive memories ahead “
Carvalho begins his job immediately as he inherits a raw but talented squad looking to reach greater heights in the spring 2024 campaign.
