Trevecca Nazarene University

Chase Sain is the tenth head coach of the Trevecca baseball program. His first season, 2021, was the Trojans 51st season of baseball on the Hill. 

He is just the second coach in the NCAA Division ll era and was a familiar face when he took over the program reigns. Sain served as Ryan Schmalz lead assistant for three seasons prior to Schmalz resigning. 

In 2021, Sain, a native of Bolivar (TN), led the Trojans on a historic run in his first season. He led the team to its first appearance at the NCAA Division II College World Series, winning the Great Midwest regular season and tournament champions along the way. Sain then lead the team to its first NCAA Midwest Regional championship to advance to the world series in Cary, NC.  

His TNU teams have won 30+ games and 20+ conference all four seasons. Sain reached the 100 game win mark in just his third season. Win No. 100 came in the final home series, March 4, 2023. In the first game of the double header against Tiffin University, the Trojans won 7-4 to get Chase Sain the memorable win. The win also gave the Trojans the Great Midwest South Division title.  

SAIN FILE

First Season | 2021

2021 NCAA Div. II College World Series | 2021 NCAA Midwest Region Champions

2021 Great Midwest Regular Season/Tournament Champions
2024 Great Midwest Tournament Champions

SAIN ERA AWARDS | NCAA D2/GREAT MIDWEST

2021-2022

D2CCA All-Midwest Region – three (3) - First team: Braden Odom, Roland Ryan – Second team: Justin Campbell

NCBWA All-Midwest Region – three (3) – First team: Braden Odom - Second team: Roland Ryan, Justin Campbell

NCBWA D2 Preseason Midwest All-Region – Braden Odom

Great Midwest Player of the Year – Braden Odom

Great Midwest All-Conference – Nine (9) – First team: Braden Odom, David Milam, Roland Ryan, Logan West, Justin Campbell, Jack Keele – Second team: Bryant Goolsby – Third team: Shawn Wallwork, Henry Mosley 

Great Midwest Pitcher / Player of the Week – Pitcher: Justin Campbell (March 1) – Player: Henry Mosley (Feb 14), Jordan Jackson (Feb 24), Roland Ryan (March 23), Roland Ryan (April 11), Braden Odom (April 25)   

NCBWA Midwest Region Player of the Week – Jordan Jackson (Feb. 24)

2020-2021 * 2021 awards recap - READ

ABCA/Rawlings All-American – Third team: Jay Benard

D2CCA All-American – Second team: Jay Benard

D2CCA All-Midwest Region – three (3) - First team: Jay Benard, Tiger Cox – Second team: Braden Odom

NCBWA All-Midwest Region – two (2) - Second team: Braden Odom, Jay Benard

ABCA/Rawlings – Second team: Jay Benard

Great Midwest All-Conference – Seven (7) - First team: Braden Odom, Tiger Cox, Jay Benard – Second team: Ethan Harrison – Third team: Chase Haley, Joseph McNamee

Great Midwest Pitcher / Player of the Week – Pitcher: Alex Clouthier, Jay Benard, Drew Pierce – Player: Shawn Wallwork, Trey Vanderpool

TSWA Pitcher / Player of the Week -

ABCA/ATEC Region Coach of the Year - Chase Sain

SAIN ERA | YEAR-BY-YEAR 

2024
The Trojans settled into the season with a quick 6-1 start in their first seven games, taking series over Maryville and Lewis as well as single game wins over Emmanuel University and Belmont Abbey College. Trevecca's impressive run through the Great Midwest began by splitting a series with Lake Erie before taking three of four over Malone. The Trojans swept Hillsdale in four before dropping its first of only two conference series all season, the first to Walsh. The Trojans took three of four games from both Kentucky Wesleyan and Cedarville before playing perhaps one of the most memorable regular seasons to date. The Trojans hit for the home run cycle, all in the first inning, against Carson-Newman University on 4-23-24. The Trojans won the road game 18-5 by hitting a total of five home runs on the day. After compliing a 20-12 conference record, the Trojans swept through the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament, winning the championship for the league-record fifth time. The Trojans punched their ticket to their second NCAA Regional tournament for the second time in four seasons under Sain. After taking the opening game off hosts UIndy, the Trojans fell in their final two games of the Regional to end the historical campaign. 

2023

The season started with a strong schedule and after a less than desired start, the team won eight of their next 10 and headed the season in a positive direction. The run included taking three of four in the opening Great Midwest series against Hillsdale. After dropping three to Walsh, the Trojans started another run winning 13 of their next 15 games. The Trojans closed the regular season winning seven of their last nine games. The team posted its second consecutive 22-10 mark in conference play. 
In the post season, the Trojans dropped their opener, but bounced back with two wins before being eliminated by Findlay before reaching the championship round. 
Coach Sain reached the 100 win plateau in just his third season. 
The team won 30+ games and 20+ conference games for third time in the Sain Era. 

2022

Trevecca started year two with a 10-1 record with a nine-game win streak and were 19-3 through 22 games. The season opener was a 22-2 win over Rockhurst at Jackson Field. Following a loss to Belmont Abbey in the second game, Trevecca rolled off nine straight wins to close out February. Trevecca added a six, five, and two four-game winning streaks.

In Great Midwest play, the Trojans went 22-10 and tied for second. The overall record was 37-15. The team continued playing well on the road and in league play. The Trojans won the first three conference series 3-1. The Trojans did finally lose a series for the first time since 2019. The lone conference series loss since 2019 came at regular-season champion Tiffin.

The team started the year ranked No. 6 in the NCBWA (National College Baseball Writer's Association) preseason poll and No. 8 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (CB) preseason poll. The Trojans remained in the NCBWA top 10 for the first 10 polls and were in the top 15 for the final three regular-season polls. TNU was in the CB top 15 for the first seven polls of the season.

The Trojans earned the hashtag #MASHVILLE with a school record of 86 home runs. In fact, it’s the record for the Great Midwest conference as well.

Braden Odom and Roland Ryan led a quartet of Trojans who had double-digit home runs – Odom (23), Ryan (21), Bryant Goolsby (13), Henry Mosley (11). In all, 13 different Trojans homered. With Odom now the single-season home run King in TNU history, Ryan is now tied for second for the most home runs in a season with Mario Campos.

Justin Campbell tied the NCAA Era record for wins in a season with 10.

With all the home runs, the 2022 team also set a new all-time record for runs scored with 464. The 415 RBI is the most in NCAA Era history, and second only all-time to the 417 RBI produced by the 2005 team. The 266 walks is the most all-time.

The team led the Great Midwest in nine different offensive categories.

2021

The first season for Chase Sain truly was an #inSAIN season. It started with a three-game sweep of the University of Southern Indiana and ended with the team making it to the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, NC. Sain not only earned Great Midwest Coach of the Year honors but he was also selected as the ABCA/ATEC Midwest Region Coach of the Year. To read more about the award and the historic first season for Sain at Trevecca – Click Here

The team went 36-13 overall and ran through the Great Midwest with a 23-5 mark. In the postseason, the winning continued with an 8-3 record. The postseason included a 4-0 run in the conference tournament (despite losing 11 players due to covid protocol) and a 4-1 region tournament record. In the 25 games leading into the College World Series, the Trojans went 21-4 with a 12 game and six-game win streak

TROJAN COACHING HISTORY

Sain took the reins from his former boss, Ryan Schmalz, who led the program for the previous eight seasons. Schmalz, who hired Sain before the 2017-2018 season, endorsed Sain replacing him as head coach, "Chase is going to do a terrific job of leading the Trojan Baseball Program. He has the respect of the players, parents, alums, and those surrounding the program." 

"He has done a great job recruiting and developing players and will do a terrific job of taking the Trevecca Baseball program to the next level," Schmalz said. "The current and future Trojans are lucky to have Chase as their leader."

The previous nine coaches are - Ryan Schmalz | Mike Lord | Jonathan Burton | Chris Collins (HOF Video) | Jeff Forehand (HOF) | Ryan Gray | Dave Altopp | Elliot Johnson | Bill Green (Video #1 | Video #2)

SAIN BEFORE TREVECCA

Before joining the Trojan coaching staff, Sain was an assistant at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for the 2017 season. The Vols catching coach also served as the director of camps. He helped head coach Dave Serrano lead the Big Orange to a record of 27-25.

For two seasons (2016, 2015), Sain served on the staff at Middle Tennessee State University, where he served as an assistant under Blue Raider head coach Jim McGuire. Sain in the area of hitting, catcher coach, and coordinator of camps. 

In the summer of 2014, Sain added to his resume coaching in the Cape Cod League as the hitting coach for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.

For the 2013-2014 season, his coaching journey took him to nearby Victory University, where he served as the hitting coach and recruiter for the Eagles of head coach John Jarnagin. Victory finished 31-24 and placed fourth in the Small College World Series.

Sain served as a student-assistant coach for Head Coach Daron Schoenrock at the University of Memphis for two seasons. While at his alma mater, he coached catchers and assisted with coaching hitters. He created offensive and defensive drills while prepping pitchers inside the bullpen during games. 

Sain graduated from Memphis with a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies in August 2013. 

Sain was a three-year letter winner on the University of Memphis baseball team. He started his coaching career as a student assistant for two seasons. As a catcher, Sain worked closely with pitching coach Fred Corral and the Tiger catchers throughout the season. 

Sain was a four-year letter winner at Bolivar (TN) Central High School. The three-year starting catcher earned All-District, All-Region, and All-West Tennessee honors in the 2005 season. Sain hit .440 with five home runs and 30 RBI in his senior campaign. His hitting acumen is manifest by his record 29-game hit streak at Bolivar. 

SAIN VISION FOR TREVECCA BASEBALL

Coach Sain at the time of his hiring said, "For me personally, my job here at Trevecca will surpass the title of just a Head Coach. I not only have an obligation, but I have the purpose of serving these young men, and an opportunity to be a positive/strong influence in their life." 

"This is a responsibility and a gift I take seriously."

"This is my promise:

We will be grounded in the Lord's word. 

We will be built on toughness and affirmation. 

We will be principled in our performance.

We will be structurally accountable for our actions on and off-campus." 

Sain concluded with, "I am eager to get on the field with our guys and get to work! Go Trojans! #FAMILY"

SAIN AT HOME

Coach Sain and his wife, Shelby, live in Murfreesboro, TN. Shelby is an interior designer in Franklin.