Brenneman Named Richland Baseball Coach
Dallas College Richland named Jimmy Brenneman as head baseball coach.
"With Coach Brenneman coming in, I'm just really excited about his enthusiasm and his passion for baseball," Dallas College Executive Athletic Director Sadiaa Jones said. "I think he'll bring a new dynamic to an already great tradition with our Thunderducks and our baseball program."
Brenneman spent the past six years at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Illinois. He assumed the role as head coach in the fall of 2020 after four years as an assistant, and had two seasons in the lead role of the Bobcats. In 2021, Frontier, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I program, went 36-23, advancing to the postseason for the first time in school history. The school-record 36 victories signaled the biggest turnaround in the NJCAA Division I during the four years he spent in Fairfield. He took the job as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach in 2017, following a 3-35 season prior to his arrival. He had a 59-54 record in his two years at Frontier.
"I am really excited to be back in Texas, and especially at Dallas College Richland," Brenneman said. "They have a rich history of success on the field, and many alumni have moved on to prestigious universities and on to the professional level. I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and players in this program."
Frontier sent 34 players on to four-year schools, with 18 players moving on to the NCAA Division I level during Brenneman's two years as head coach. Two players signed professional contracts. The Bobcats had a team grade point average over 3.0 during his six seasons at Frontier.
"He's just motivated to get Dallas College Richland baseball moving in the right direction, in a direction to win, not just conference, but get to the national tournament," Thunderducks first-year athletic director Lynn Nabi said. "Everybody has wonderful things to say about his work ethic. He just really fits in with the Richland family here because all of our coaches are hardworking and motivated about student-athletes, and he fits that mold. So absolutely a great hire for Dallas College Richland."
Prior to Frontier, Brenneman spent two seasons at Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas, as the hitting, outfield and baserunning coach. The Bulldogs finished 34-21 in 2016, hitting .362 as a team, which ranked ninth in NJCAA D1, stoled 126 bases, which was 13th in the country. Hosea Nelson was drafted in the ninth round by the Cleveland Indians after finishing as runner-up for NJCAA D1 Player of the Year. The Bulldogs had three NJCAA All-Americans during the two years Brenneman spent at Clarendon.
He also coached at Globe Institute of Technology in New York in 2014.
Brenneman played at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, from 2011-12, and was a member of the first 40-win team in the history of the Camels' program. He ranked in the top 20 in NCAA DI in stolen bases (30) and hit by pitch (27) in 2012. He led the nation in hit by pitch (31) as a junior. Brenneman batted .323 as a junior, and finished his two-year Campbell career with a .306 average.
He also played at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois, from 2009-10. Brenneman was a First Team All-Region 24 selection after hitting .446 as a sophomore. The Statesmen were ranked in the top 25 in the NJCAA D1 rankings multiple times throughout the 2010 season.