Jason Middleton - Baseball Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Jason Middleton

Title:
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Jason Middleton joined the JMU coaching staff in August 2008 as the volunteer assistant coach. He enters his third season in 2011 as first base coach for the Dukes while also working directly with the hitters and outfielders.

“We’re excited that we could get a guy like Jason here who has a few years of college coaching experience already under his belt,” commented Spanky McFarland. “Usually volunteers are fresh out of playing, so it’s great to get a guy who has some experience. His background will hopefully be beneficial as well, because we hope to expand our recruiting into the midwest where he’s worked previously and into the junior college circuit.”

In his first season with the Diamond Dukes, Middleton helped the JMU offense to a .330 team batting average, best in the CAA and 25^th in the nation. JMU returns the majority of that offense for his second season in Harrisonburg. The Dukes were also 14^th nationally in steals per game with Middleton manning the first-base coaching box.

In his second year, JMU led the CAA in conference games in nearly every offensive category including a .344 team average. The Dukes ranked top 50 in the country in several offensive categories, including scoring, doubles, triples, home runs, steals, and slugging percentage.

Middleton came to JMU from El Reno, Okla. where he won two conference championships and one regional championship working with head coach Matt Newgent at Redlands Community College. Other stops included Kansas City Kansas C.C. with head coach Steve Burleson and University of North Alabama with head coach Mike Lane. His coaching stints have included a total of seven players who earned All-America honors.

“I am very excited to be a part of a baseball program that has a prestigious history and a promising future,” stated Middleton. “This is a great place to be with the knowledgeable coaching staff, talented players, and a new stadium in place for the 2010 season. This is an exciting time to be a Duke.”

A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Middleton started his collegiate playing career at Longview Community College in Kansas City. He received his bachelor of science from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

Middleton is married to the former Ami Shelley.