Mark Calvi, South Alabama Jaguars

Mark Calvi became the fifth head coach in South Alabama baseball history at the conclusion of the 2011 season, after spending the year as associate head coach/head coach in waiting, and begins his seventh season as Jaguar head coach in 2018. Calvi has led the Jaguars to four Sun Belt Conference championships in the last five years.

The Jaguars have returned to their roots under Calvi. After going the junior college route early in his tenure, which led to a 20-win improvement in his second campaign (in 2013), Calvi and the Jaguar coaching staff has focused on local products, including many who may have fallen under the radar or could be considered late bloomers. The approach has worked wonders, thanks in part to the program’s ability to recognize raw talent. The Jags responded by winning 37 games in 2015, 40 in 2016 and 42 last spring. USA also has appeared in regionals in each of the past two seasons, marking the first time in 15 years the program has achieved that feat.

South Alabama appears poised to build on its recent accomplishments, particularly with the return of  junior outfielder Travis Swaggerty, a potential first-round draft pick in June who put together an impressive showing this past summer for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. The Jaguars also have freshman JoJo Booker, the second-highest drafted player out of high school not to sign. Drafted by the Angels in the fifth round last June, the right-handed Booker throws in the low-to-mid 90s and should see activity early in his collegiate career.

In his first season at South Alabama, Calvi led the Jaguars to their highest Sun Belt Conference Tournament seed (No. 4) since the 2006 season. USA closed the 2012 campaign with consecutive wins over Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic to close the SBC Championship.

In just his second season at the helm, Calvi led the Jags to their 14th SBC championship and 25th NCAA Regional appearance after recording the program’s first 40-plus win season since 2003 and was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Diamond South Central Region Coach of the Year.

Seven Jags earned all-conference honors in 2013, and Jordan Patterson was named the SBC Player of the Year becoming just the sixth Jaguar in the program’s history to earn the honor.