Story Courtesy of Kent State Athletic Communications

KENT, Ohio – Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond announced today that head baseball coach Jeff Duncan signed a contract extension to keep him leading the Golden Flashes through the 2030 season.

Duncan, who became Kent State's 17th head coach in the summer of 2013, has built one of the most successful eras in program history. In 2025, he became the all-time winningest coach in Golden Flashes baseball history, compiling a 386-242 overall record (.615 winning percentage) and a 214-108 mark in Mid-American Conference play (.665 winning percentage) over 12 seasons.

"Jeff Duncan has established Kent State baseball as a premier program not only in the MAC but nationally," said Richmond. "His track record speaks for itself, winning seven MAC Championships, making two NCAA Regional appearances, and being the program's all-time winningest coach. What makes Jeff truly special is his ability to develop young men into successful athletes, students, and leaders. He's coached 18 All-Americans, sent 30 Flashes to the MLB, and maintained an unwavering commitment to academic excellence. We're thrilled to extend his contract through 2030 and look forward to many more years of success under his leadership."

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue building this program and representing Kent State University," said Duncan. "This is home for my family and me, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, but I believe our best days are still ahead. We have an incredible support system, from our administration to our fans, and most importantly, we have student-athletes committed to excellence on the field and in the classroom. I want to thank President Diacon, Randale, and the university for their continued faith in our program. We will keep competing at the highest level, making the Kent State community proud."

Under Duncan's leadership, the Golden Flashes have captured five MAC Regular Season Championships (2025, 2023, 2018, 2017, 2016) and two MAC Tournament Championships (2018, 2014), advancing to NCAA Regional play twice. The program has never posted a losing record in conference play during his tenure, including four 20-win MAC seasons.

Duncan's impact extends beyond wins and losses. He has been named MAC Coach of the Year four times (2023, 2018, 2017, 2016) and earned the 2018 Collegiate Baseball Chuck Tanner Coach of the Year award. His teams have produced 30 MLB players, 18 All-American selections, and 90 Academic All-MAC honorees, demonstrating his commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field.

The Golden Flashes have consistently competed with college baseball's elite programs under Duncan's guidance. His teams have defeated 15 Power-4 schools, including a memorable 9-5 victory over then-No. 2 Mississippi State in 2021 – the highest-ranked opponent Kent State had beaten since toppling No. 1 Florida in the 2012 College World Series.

Most recently, the 2025 season saw Duncan guide the Flashes to a 38-18 record and another MAC Regular Season Championship with a 23-7 conference mark. The team featured MAC Player of the Year Hayden Jatczak – the program's first since 2012 – and Freshman of the Year Sawyer Solitaria. Jatczak also earned ABCA All-America Third Team honors, continuing Duncan's tradition of coaching All-Americans.

Before arriving at Kent State, Duncan spent four seasons at Purdue, helping the Boilermakers achieve a school-record 45 wins in 2012, and one season at Auburn. As a player, he spent nine seasons in professional baseball, including two years at the Major League level with the New York Mets (2003-2004). He was a three-time Minor League All-Star and played collegiately at Arizona State, where he captained the 2000 PAC-10 Championship team.

Duncan and the Golden Flashes will open the 2026 season on February 13 at Southeastern Louisiana.