Mary Baldwin University head baseball coach Scott Hearn is expanding his administrative duties in the Fighting Squirrels' athletic department, earning a promotion to Assistant Athletic Director according to Director of Athletics Tom Byrnes.

Hearn will join the leadership team of Byrnes and Associate Athletic Director Christy Shelton and continue to serve as head coach for the baseball program and as the department's NCAA Compliance Director.  He will add a variety of administrative leadership duties in the 2027-28 academic year.

"Scott Hearn has been a highly valued resource for the athletic department in his eight years at MBU," Byrnes said.  "He has battled through all the ups and downs of building a baseball program from scratch.  The team results and awards are beginning to shine brightly to Fighting Squirrels supporters.  He's the right person for this position and this promotion."

A graduate, standout player and former assistant coach of Bridgewater College, Hearn accepted the assignment of building a baseball team for MBU when the institution added men's sports in 2018-19.  After a Covid-interrupted campaign as a club team, MBU jumped into varsity status in the Spring of 2021 season.
Building on the experiences and successes of previous seasons, The Fighting Squirrels broke team records in 2026 in total victories and USA South Athletic Conference victories and just missed qualifying for the conference playoffs for the first time in team history.  This was accomplished with a youthful starting lineup and pitching staff that will mostly return for the 2027 campaign.

Individually, the Fighting Squirrels' freshman outfielder Patrick Sido became the first player in team history to earn the USA South Rookie of the Year award, first-team all-conference and D3baseball.com all-region recognition in the same season.  MBU also boasted a team GPA over 3.00 in both semesters in 2026-27.

"I'm extremely humbled and grateful to join the leadership team within the athletic department here at Mary Baldwin," Hearn said.  "I can't put into words how much I appreciate the support I've gotten from Tom and Christy not only from an administrative end, but athletically as well. I look forward to working alongside both of them to continue to help our department grow and move forward."

Originally from Delmar, Del., Hearn graduated from Bridgewater in 2003 after a stellar baseball career that left him as the Eagles' all-time leader in hits, extra base hits, RBIs, doubles, and total bases.   He obtained a masters in sport administration from Liberty University in 2013.

Hearn arrived in Staunton after spending 11 years as an assistant baseball coach at Bridgewater. While coaching the Eagles, Hearn played a role in the team's two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) titles and assisted the program to a 36-win season - the most in team history. Hearn designed and organized all daily plans for hitters and outfielders and served as a recruiting coordinator for seven years.

In addition, Hearn served as the Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance and a Title IX Investigator. As an assistant AD for compliance, he worked with all 23 sports at Bridgewater. Hearn conducted monthly rules education presentations for all administrators and staff, while distributing and collecting all monthly required forms and paperwork. He also administered the Division III rules test and performed game manager duties for fall and winter sports.

Hearn also worked in the Bridgewater Office of Student Life for five years before making the full-time transition to athletics.  Other coaching stops include one year as a volunteer assistant baseball coach at NCAA Division I Old Dominion University and stints with the Waynesboro Generals (2004) and the Staunton Braves (2021) of the Shenandoah Valley Baseball League.

Scott's promotion is well-deserved," Shelton said.  "We have worked closely together for the past eight years through fundraising efforts, recruiting, coaching similar sports and the every day life of an athletic department. I have witnessed Scott's dedication, organization and hard work for the baseball team and the athletic department. I am excited to work with Scott in his new role."

Other changes in store for the MBU athletic department in 2026-27 include a full-time baseball assistant coach, an additional assistant coach for the soccer teams and women's basketball, a graduate assistant in athletic communications, the planned return of the men's and women's tennis programs to the varsity athletic lineup, the USA South Conference's partnership with FloSports to enhance MBU contests broadcastings and other enhancements to improve the student-athlete experience.

"We're continue to overcome the challenges of building a strong, competitive co-ed athletic program at MBU," Byrnes said.  "We believe the University leadership is setting up the Fighting Squirrels for continued growth and success in the future, and we are greatful for that support throughout the entire community."