Banfield & McKinney Named to Akron Baseball Staff

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AKRON, Ohio —University of Akron baseball head coach Chris Sabo has named Jordon Banfield and Dan McKinney to his staff.

Banfield will serve as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, while McKinney will be an assistant coach who will serve as the pitching coordinator and assistant recruiting coordinator.

The hirings are pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.

"Jordon Banfield is a proven coach and recruiter at the D-I level. He will be a strong asset for myself as we move forward in bringing quality baseball back to the University of Akron," Sabo said. "Daniel McKinney is a young, eager coach with a strong resume as a recruiter and a pitching coordinator. I feel Daniel is a young, rising coach at the D-I level, and I'm thrilled to have him as my pitching coach moving forward at The University of Akron."

Banfield spent the past year as the Arizona scouting director for Prep Baseball Report. He spent two seasons at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator (2015-17). At UT-RGV, Banfield managed all aspects of recruiting, scheduling, academics, and eligibility his first season. As a recruiter, Banfield brought in a pair to Perfect Game's Top 150 junior college recruits in Chase Adams and Jered Quartier.

In his second season, Banfield coached the offense to a .273/.378/.385 line with 26 home runs and 16 triples, its highest totals since 2010. That represented a .014 increase in batting average, a .022 increase in on-base percentage, and a .049 increase in slugging percentage over 2016. UTRGV also increased its home run total by 15, its triples total by seven and its doubles total by 18 (from 74 to 92) while scoring an additional 79 runs (from 231 to 310). Banfield also helped the base runners to 52 stolen bases, and the infielders to a .973 fielding percentage.

In Banfield's first season with the team, he oversaw a defensive unit that posted a WAC-leading .972 fielding percentage, the second-best mark in NCAA Division I program history. UTRGV also committed a WAC-low 52 errors.

Banfield spent two seasons (2013-15) at the University of Illinois-Springfield as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In his first season at UIS, the Prairie Stars broke 20 school records and finishing with a 28 wins and the program's first ever appearance in the GLVC Tournament. Banfield signed 32 new players to the 2014-15 roster as part of a heralded first recruiting class. The first class he signed just went 45-5 as seniors, included the NCAA home run leader and finished the year ranked fourth in the country.

Banfield went UIS from Ann Arbor, Mich., where he managed one of the top travel programs in the country while also working for the Texas Rangers as a professional scout.

As head coach of the Ann Arbor Travelers, Banfield led the team to 22 tournament victories, producing 20 NCAA Division I signees and multiple MLB draft picks. The Travelers became the first Michigan team in 30 years to qualify for the Connie Mack World Series in back-to-back seasons. Coach Banfield managed the program's recruiting efforts, off-season development, fundraising, and college placement.

Working under former NCAA Division I head coach and area scout Roger Coryell, Banfield was responsible for covering amateur prospects in Michigan and Ohio as well as setting up yearly free agent workouts.

An Ann Arbor, Mich., native, Banfield earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan in sport management in 2008. Banfield was an All-State selection at Ann Arbor Greenhills High School and a member of the Ann Arbor Braves program that produced three major league baseball players.

"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity Coach Sabo has given me to help build this program from the ground up," Banfield said. "Having a chance to return to my Midwestern roots and work alongside one of my former players (Coach McKinney) was a huge draw. Everyone in the athletics department and Akron community couldn't have been more welcoming on my visit, and I can't wait to get to work."

McKinney spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as the pitching coach. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator during the end of his tenure there. Serving as the pitching coach for the Eagles, he oversaw a team that led its conference in staff ERA two years in a row. Nine of his pitchers moved onto or have been signed by Division I programs, and he helped Kirkwood make its first DII Junior College World Series since 1999.

McKinney began coaching at Miami University as a volunteer assistant coach and assistant pitching coach in October 2018. He assisted in the development of the pitching staff.

McKinney also spent the past three seasons working as an associate scout for the Cleveland Indians. He filed reports on draftable players from the Iowa area.

A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, McKinney earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Michigan in 2016. He received university Honors Distinction as a junior and senior. A right-handed pitcher for the Wolverines, a career-ending surgery cut his collegiate career short.

A graduate of Bowling Green High School, McKinney earned All-State honors by ESPN as a senior in 2012. He also earned Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2011 and was ranked ninth in the state of Ohio by PreBaseballReport.com. A 2011 second-team All-Northern Lakes League honoree, McKinney was a 2010 first-team All-City honors and first-team All-District selection.

"First, I would like to thank Coach Sabo for giving me the opportunity to join the coaching staff and help rebuild the program," McKinney said. "I have been extremely impressed with the excitement and support from the Akron community for reinstating the Akron baseball program. Coach Sabo, Coach Banfield, and myself are thrilled to be working together and we could not be more excited to get to work."

Akron baseball will begin competition in the spring of 2020 and will resume play in the Mid-American Conference.

The University of Akron Athletics

Banfield & McKinney Named to Akron Baseball Staff

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