Jonathan Bennett, Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach at Montreat College, announces today that Mike Bender will be the Head Baseball Coach for the Cavaliers next season. Bender will take over the vacant position from former Head Coach Travis Little. Bender has been the Assistant Baseball Coach at Montreat College for the last six years.

Bennett says, "Mike's loyalty to this institution, to the Athletic Department, and to the young men on that team is unparalleled. He's got a great baseball mind, and has the respect from players and opposing coaches."

Bender says that the players have been one of the most important considerations in his pursuit of the Head Coach position. He says, "I'm very humbled to take over this program from Travis. I wanted to make sure that the seniors and this team has some kind of stability next year. I really want to see them have a terrific season and continue the tradition that Coach Little has built here as a powerhouse in the NAIA for this region. I'm really privileged to have this opportunity, and will continue to bring in the best Christian student-athletes to this program that I can."

Last season the Cavaliers wound up in a tie for fourth place at the end of the regular season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference that is home to two teams (Union College and Tennessee Wesleyan College) that finished the season ranked among the top 15 programs in the entire NAIA Division I. The Cavs finished the season with a 32-19 overall record, and were nationally ranked as high as 20th in the 2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll.

As Coach Bender looks ahead to the 2010 season, he says, "I've got seven or eight position players returning. These guys are team leaders. I have one of the deepest outfields in the region, but I have had a huge hole to fill behind the plate. I'm very fortunate to have a senior team. These guys know what to do when they get to practice, they have tremendous character, and next season I'm sure they are going to leave everything on the field."

Coach Bender began his college playing career at Western Carolina University and finished his playing career at Georgia College and State University as a two-time Peachbelt Conference Presidential selection. Bender has played and coached in Germany as well as collegiate leagues in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, and North Carolina.

Bender earned an Associates Degree in Physical Education from South Georgia Community College and his B.S. in Health Sciences from Georgia College and State.

Bender is serving as the Head Coach for the Fort Collins Foxes, a member of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League, in Fort Collins, CO this summer.