Link Jarrett
Link Jarrett
Title: Head Coach
Phone: 334-3247
Email: linkjarrett@uncg.edu

Link Jarrett enters his first season as the head baseball coach at UNCG. Jarrett, a two-time Assistant Coach of the Year award winner and offensive mastermind, brings 13 years of coaching experience to the program, including stops at Flagler, Mercer, Florida State, East Carolina and Auburn.

Jarrett has spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach/director of player development at Auburn for coach John Pawlowski. During his time at Auburn, the Tigers averaged 34 wins per season and advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament all three years becoming just one of five SEC schools to accomplish that task. Under his guidance, the Tigers have seen 19 players selected, 11 of which have been position players, in the Major League Baseball Draft in three seasons.
 
Jarrett was named SEC Assistant Coach of the Year by SEBaseball.com in 2010 as he helped the Tigers post a 43-17 overall record and capture the SEC West Division championship. Auburn advanced to the NCAA Tournament and hosted the NCAA Regional where is posted a .349 team batting average in the postseason.
 
Jarrett was in charge of the team’s offense and helped the Tigers set school records for batting average (.348), home runs (131) and slugging percentage (.591), the latter two both national bests in NCAA Division I baseball. Auburn’s 816 hits, 584 runs and 9.1 runs per game also finished in the top 10 in the nation and led the SEC as did the team’s on-base percentage (.423), RBI (549) and total bases (1385). Additionally, Hunter Morris was name SEC Player of the Year in 2010.
 
Last season, Jarrett helped Auburn posted a 31-28 record while leading the SEC in batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.386), triples (19), stolen bases (113) and stolen base attempts (151). The Tigers had four players drafted in the MLB Draft while also seeing six signees selected. Auburn led the league in conference play in batting average, hits, doubles, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases.
 
Prior to Auburn, Jarrett spent four seasons as the hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator at East Carolina under head coach Billy Godwin. He helped the Pirates advance to the NCAA Tournament his last three years while averaging 40.2 wins per season with a .639 winning percentage. He led East Carolina to a 46-20 record in his final year in Greenville in 2009, guiding the Pirates to a NCAA Regional host and championship with an NCAA Super Regional appearance in Chapel Hill. East Carolina also collected the 2009 Conference USA regular season title.
 
Jarrett was named the Conference USA Assistant Coach of the Year by SEBaseball.com for his work in 2009. He helped the Pirates become of the most prolific offenses in the country, finishing with a NCAA-best 814 hits, while placing fourth in runs scored (565), sixth in doubles (154), seventh in home runs (108), 12th in slugging percentage (.546) and 15th in batting average. East Carolina also led Conference USA in on-base percentage (.415), RBI (523), total bases (1310) and fielding percentage (.971). He helped recruit Conference USA Newcomer of the Year Chris Heston and All-Freshman Team selection Kevin Brandt.
 
In 2008, East Carolina posted a 42-21 record with finishing as runner-up in the Coastal Carolina Regional. The Pirates led Conference USA in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, hits, RBI, home runs, total bases and walks. East Carolina advanced to the NCAA Regional in 2007 with a 40-23 record as it led the league in home runs while finishing third in batting average e, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and RBI. Also, he recruited Conference USA Player of the Year Corey Kemp, Freshman of the Year Seth Maness, Newcomer of the Year Justin Bristow and All-Freshman Team member Dustin Harrington.
 
Prior to East Carolina, Jarrett spent two seasons at Mercer as the recruiting coordinator, helping the team double its win total in his first season (2004), and then topping that with the team’s first winning record since 1999 with a 28-26 mark during the 2005 campaign.
 
Jarrett spent the 2003 regular season at his alma mater, helping Florida State to a 54-13-1 record and a Super Regional berth as well as an ACC regular season championship.
 
Jarrett began his coaching career at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., in 1999. Over the course of three seasons, Flagler established school records in batting average, hits, doubles, fielding percentage, ERA and double plays while posting a 108-63 record (.632), with a 40-win season in 2001 and a No. 5 national ranking.
 
Jarrett was the starting shortstop on three College World Series teams at Florida State in 1991, 1992 and 1994. He earned NCBWA All-America honors as a junior and senior and still holds the NCAA record for career assists with 802. He also holds the FSU records for consecutive games played (235) and at-bats (989).
 
Jarrett was the 22nd round pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 1994 MLB Draft. He was voted the Most Spectacular Defensive Player in the organization in 1994 while playing for the Bend (Ore.) Rockies in Single-A and then hit .303 for the New Haven Ravens (AA) in 1997.
 
Jarrett earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in psychology from Florida State in 1994. He and his wife Jennifer, have two children, J.T. (13) and Dawson (10).
 
-UNCG-
Jerry Edwards
Jerry Edwards
Title: Assistant Coach
Phone: 334-3247
Email: jredwar4@uncg.edu

Edwards enters his first season as an assistant baseball coach for UNCG in 2013.

“Jerry’s work ethic and conviction to coaching and recruiting, as well as his 16 years of college coaching experience, will be tremendous assets to our program,” Jarrett said. “He helped build a championship program at Eastern Kentucky as a coach and recruiting coordinator. His network and contacts across the country are extensive. I am thrilled that Jerry and his family are on board at UNCG.”

Senior right hander Matt Fyffe was named the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, finishing the regular season with a 9-0 record and a 1.51 ERA in 65.2 innings pitched. He stifled opposing hitters, holding them to a .209 batting average. Fyffe’s nine wins led the OVC while his 1.51 ERA paced the league and ranked seventh in the nation.

The Colonel’s pitching staff experienced revitalization under Edwards in 2011, lowering its season ERA nearly two points from 7.48 in 2010 to 5.61 in 2011. With Edwards' instruction, senior right-hander Stephen Hefler, who transferred to EKU from Kaskaskia College in 2010, dropped his ERA from 8.23 in 2010 to 3.77 in 2011 and transformed into one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the Ohio Valley Conference - becoming just the second EKU pitcher to earn first team All-OVC honors since 1990. Junior right-hander Matt Harris also blossomed under Edwards last season, lowering his ERA from 9.58 in 2010 to a team-best 2.77 in 2011. Against OVC competition, Harris, who started the year in the bullpen but transitioned into a starter later in the season, posted a miniscule 0.59 ERA of while batters hit just .168 against him.

In 2010, Edwards developed a relatively unknown freshman right-hander out of Georgia named Anthony Bazzani. Due to the persistent guidance of Edwards, Bazzani was transformed into one of the top pitchers in the OVC by May. He was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week after he worked all nine innings, allowed one earned run, scattered seven hits and struck out six against Jacksonville State on May 15. He then led the Colonels to their first OVC Tournament win since 2007 as he dominated Murray State on May 26, going eight innings and nearly setting a neutral site OVC Tournament record with 10 strikeouts. Bazzani finished the season with a 5-3 record, led EKU in innings pitched (77.1) and opponent batting average (.282) and was named to the OVC All-Freshman Team.

Edwards inherited a 2009 pitching staff that had lost nine of 14 arms from the previous season. Only two of his pitchers recorded a win in 2008 and none of them worked more than 30 innings. However, Edwards was able to piece together a group composed primarily of raw underclassmen, freshmen, and career relief pitchers. The staff ended up producing 31 wins.

Before coaching at EKU, Edwards spent two years at North Carolina Wesleyan College as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator under current North Carolina head coach, Mike Fox. During those two years, he helped lead North Carolina Wesleyan to the 1999 Division III National Championship.

Edwards arrived at EKU from Louisburg (N.C.) College, where he was the pitching coach. While at the two-year college, Edwards had nine of his pitchers sign with Division I schools, and two of his pitchers were taken in the top 12 rounds of the MLB Draft and signed professional contracts.

Before Louisburg, Edwards served as the head coach at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn. While at Hiwassee, he mentored a pair of MLB draftees. In between his stints at EKU and Hiwassee, Edwards was an Associate Scout for three years with the Atlanta Braves under the guidance of Area Scouting Supervisor Billy Best.

Edwards began his coaching career at the Enfield Academy in Whitakers, N.C. under the tutelage of current East Carolina head coach, Billy Godwin. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1999, and he received a master’s degree in physical education/sports administration from EKU in 2001.

Edwards and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two children – Jacob (12) and Claire (10).
Matt Boykin
Matt Boykin
Title: Assistant Coach
Phone: 334-3247
Email: mrboykin@uncg.edu

Matt Boykin enters his first season as an assistant baseball coach for UNCG in 2013.

Boykin spent the last two seasons as the head baseball coach at St. Andrews University after being hired in the summer of 2010. He joined the Knights’ program after spending six years as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University. He was an integral component of the Mountaineer coaching staff, helping in all aspects of the program including serving as recruiting coordinator, primary hitting & infield instructor and third base coach while assisting with strength & conditioning, practices and compliance.

His efforts as recruiting coordinator were integral in ASU’s run to the 2012 Southern Conference title. The Mountaineers were slotted into the 2012 NCAA Charlottesville Regional where they knocked off top-seeded and host Virginia as well as No. 2 seed Oklahoma in consecutive contests on the way to the regional final.

“Matt’s dedication to recruiting, ability to evaluate and coaching experience in the Southern Conference are all traits that have defined his 10-year coaching career,” Jarrett said. “His organizational skills and extensive recruiting history in North Carolina will be key facets that will move UNCG baseball into a new era as he coordinates our recruiting efforts.”

Appalachian State fans witnessed a transformation in the baseball program during Boykin’s time on the mountain. He helped guide ASU from a 10-43 season with a 261 RPI rating in 2004 to a 38-18-1 record with a RPI of 50 in 2010. The 38 wins in his last season with the program were the second-most in school history and marked the fourth consecutive 30-plus win season for ASU.

Boykin coached nine MLB draft picks in his tenure at Appalachian State as the institution did not have any draftees in the decade prior to his arrival. Boykin also instructed 12 all-conference and four All-America selections.

After just one season in Laurinburg, Boykin dramatically increased the size of the St. Andrew’s baseball program. Not only did he keep bringing in players for the varsity team, but he also started a JV program. During the rebuilding process, Boykin raised the number of athletes on the roster from 12 to 40 and oversaw the team's transition from NCAA Division II to the NAIA for the 2013 season. Boykin graduated 100% of his athletes and involved the program heavily in the community through involvement with Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, Optimist Club of Laurinburg, Scotland County Relay for Life and other local organizations.

The Apex, N.C., product played four seasons at Barton College and was a two-time academic all-conference and all-tournament honoree for the Bulldogs before earning a pair of bachelor’s degrees in business administration and sports management in 2003. Boykin was also awarded a master’s degree in sports coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 2005.

In addition to spending the 2004 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Boykin was the head coach of the Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League and served as an assistant coach with the CPL’s Wilson Tobs in 2004. He also owns experience working at several camps throughout the Southeast and has been an assistant coach for American Legion squads in Wilson and Apex, N.C.
Dustin Ijames
Dustin Ijames
Title: Director of Administration and Facilities
Phone: 334-3247
Email: dlijames@uncg.edu

Dustin Ijames begins his fifth year overall at UNCG in 2012 and his second as Director of Administration and Facilities.

Ijames attended nearby Glenn High School in Kernersville, NC, where he was part of four conference championship teams. Ijames was a three-year starter for the Bobcats, collecting all-conference and all-county honors on multiple occasions. Ijames was also a member of the victorious 2001 West squad in the annual North Carolina East-West All-Star baseball game. 

Ijames began his collegiate playing career as a shortstop at Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC. After a knee injury sidelined him during his freshman season in 2002, Ijames enjoyed a solid 2003 redshirt freshman campaign for the Monarchs, batting .311 with 27 RBI.  

In 2004, Ijames transferred to North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, NC, where he saw time as both an infielder and outfielder. In 2005, Ijames enjoyed his best season as an Aggie, helping North Carolina A&T to a record-setting 27-win season and the school's first MEAC baseball regular-season and tournament championships. North Carolina A&T's MEAC tournament championship also earned the school its first ever NCAA Regional appearance, in Clemson, SC.  

Off the field, Ijames was honored as a 2005 COSIDA Academic All-American for his efforts in the classroom. In his final season as an Aggie in 2006, Ijames excelled both on and off the field and was rewarded by being selected as the school's 2006 Male Academic Athlete of the Year.  

Ijames graduated from North Carolina A&T in 2006 with a B.S. in business management and earned his master's degree in sports studies in 2008 from High Point University.

Prior to coaching at UNCG, Ijames was an assistant baseball coach at his Glenn and led the Bobcats to the Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference title and a state quarterfinal playoff appearance. Ijames is in his seventh overall year of coaching with experience in: high school, travel, collegiate summer league and college baseball and has coached eight MLB draft picks during his career.

Joey Holcomb
Joey Holcomb
Title: Volunteer Assistant Coach
Phone: 334-3247
Email: hjholcom@uncg.edu

Joey Holcomb enters his first season as a volunteer assistant coach for the UNCG baseball program in 2013.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing coaching staff," Holcomb said. "The UNCG athletic support system of faculty and staff is unbelievable. There is no limitation to what can be accomplished by our student-athletes. I am truly excited to be a part of the UNCG family and I am anxious to see what the future holds for our baseball program."

Holcomb spent the last four seasons as assistant head coach at Huntington College. His on-field duties included working directly with Hawks' outfielders and catchers. Holcomb helped mentor junior catcher Grant Brown to D3baseball.com All-South Region accolades.

In 2012, the Hawks garnered a 30-12 record and captured the Great South Atlantic Conference title after falling in the title game in 2011.

“Joey brings great, valuable qualities to our baseball program,” Jarrett remarked. “He is very organized and detail oriented, and has a true desire to be a Spartan. His experience at Huntington from a coaching and recruiting standpoint speaks for itself, and his personality will help tremendously with our on-campus recruiting efforts. Organizing and running our camps will also be an integral part of his job at UNCG. We are very fortunate to have Joey on our staff.”

Holcomb's previous coaching experience includes one season as an assistant at Clay-Chalkville High School in 2008 and two seasons as a Huntingdon graduate assistant in 2006 and 2007.

In his season at Clay-Chalkville, Holcomb coached two All-State performers and helped the Cougars reach the Class 6A playoffs. In his two seasons as a Huntingdon graduate assistant, the Hawks were 59-26. Huntingdon finished in a tie for the Great South Athletic Conference regular-season title in 2007.

As a player with the Hawks, Holcomb enjoyed a successful career. As a junior, he earned All-Conference as a catcher. He graduated from Huntingdon in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in biology and later earned his master's in secondary education. In addition to his collegiate playing career with the Hawks, he also played two seasons at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.

Holcomb is married to the former Brittany Reed.