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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Baseball Welcomes Director of Operations Beau Kerns
7/12/2024 11:30 AM | Baseball
Former collegiate pitcher to oversee organizational aspects around the program
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah head baseball coach Gary Henderson announced today that Beau Kerns has been named the program's director of operations. In his role, Kerns will manage all organizational aspects around the ballclub, including team travel, meals, film, recruiting and practice planning. He also hires and oversees the Utes' team of student managers.
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Kerns, a native of Lewiston, Idaho, makes the move to Salt Lake City after three-plus seasons as pitching coach with the Corvallis Knights in the West Coast League. Altogether, he has nine years of coaching experience at the community college and summer collegiate level.
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"It's great to welcome Beau to our club as we prepare to enter the Big 12," Henderson said. "His experience both as a collegiate pitcher and as a coach gives him incredible knowledge of our sport both on and off the field. Our players and staff will enjoy having Beau with our program."
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While with the Knights, Kerns was part of a coaching staff that won three straight WCL championships. Under his tutelage, the Corvallis pitching staff led the league in earned run average and opposing batting average both in 2022 and '23. He coached Utah rising junior Merit Jones in 2023, as well as fellow pitchers Bransen Kuehl, Colter McAnelly and Payton Riske during the early part of Summer 2024.
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"I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Henderson, Mark Harlan and Jason Greco for this opportunity," Kerns said. "Watching from afar, I have been impressed by the upward trajectory around Utah Baseball. It's a very exciting time to be a Ute and I look forward to meeting the players, alumni and everyone who supports our program."
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Prior to Corvallis, Kerns was part of the staff that re-launched the Umpqua Community College baseball program in Oregon. In both of his two seasons (2020-21), the RiverHawks pitching staff ranked top-three in the NWAC and sent 10 arms onto the Division I level. He was the pitching coach with the Yakima Valley Pippins from 2017-19.
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He had a professional playing stint with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League. Kerns also briefly played with the Glenelg Tigers of the South Australian Baseball League.
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As a player, Kerns helped Lewis-Clark State to the 2015 NAIA World Series title, where he was named World Series MVP. Then in 2016, he was a student assistant coach and helped the Warriors to a second straight championship.
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Kerns graduated from Lewis-Clark in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology, adding a Master's from Western Governor's University in leadership and management (2022). He also holds a teaching certificate in secondary math.
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Henderson added, "I'd also like to thank Will Heward for his two seasons on our staff. Will exceeded my expectations in his role, and we wish him and his family all the best as they begin a new chapter."
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Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
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Kerns, a native of Lewiston, Idaho, makes the move to Salt Lake City after three-plus seasons as pitching coach with the Corvallis Knights in the West Coast League. Altogether, he has nine years of coaching experience at the community college and summer collegiate level.
Â
"It's great to welcome Beau to our club as we prepare to enter the Big 12," Henderson said. "His experience both as a collegiate pitcher and as a coach gives him incredible knowledge of our sport both on and off the field. Our players and staff will enjoy having Beau with our program."
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While with the Knights, Kerns was part of a coaching staff that won three straight WCL championships. Under his tutelage, the Corvallis pitching staff led the league in earned run average and opposing batting average both in 2022 and '23. He coached Utah rising junior Merit Jones in 2023, as well as fellow pitchers Bransen Kuehl, Colter McAnelly and Payton Riske during the early part of Summer 2024.
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"I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Henderson, Mark Harlan and Jason Greco for this opportunity," Kerns said. "Watching from afar, I have been impressed by the upward trajectory around Utah Baseball. It's a very exciting time to be a Ute and I look forward to meeting the players, alumni and everyone who supports our program."
Â
Prior to Corvallis, Kerns was part of the staff that re-launched the Umpqua Community College baseball program in Oregon. In both of his two seasons (2020-21), the RiverHawks pitching staff ranked top-three in the NWAC and sent 10 arms onto the Division I level. He was the pitching coach with the Yakima Valley Pippins from 2017-19.
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He had a professional playing stint with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League. Kerns also briefly played with the Glenelg Tigers of the South Australian Baseball League.
Â
As a player, Kerns helped Lewis-Clark State to the 2015 NAIA World Series title, where he was named World Series MVP. Then in 2016, he was a student assistant coach and helped the Warriors to a second straight championship.
Â
Kerns graduated from Lewis-Clark in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology, adding a Master's from Western Governor's University in leadership and management (2022). He also holds a teaching certificate in secondary math.
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Henderson added, "I'd also like to thank Will Heward for his two seasons on our staff. Will exceeded my expectations in his role, and we wish him and his family all the best as they begin a new chapter."
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Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
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