Austin Knight, who played baseball at DBU from 2007-2010, has been named the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners' Short Season-A team in Everett, Washington.  Today's announcement by the Mariners makes Knight the seventh player from DBU to coach in professional baseball. 

Knight had recently been the head coach at Northeast Texas Community College in 2016 and served two years each as an assistant coach at Dallas Baptist University and Texas A&M.   On the diamond, Austin was a four-year starter in the Patriots' infield, helping DBU reach the program's first-ever NCAA Regional in 2008.

The opportunity to coach in the professional ranks presented itself when Knight met with Andy McKay, the Seattle Mariners' Director of Player Development, at the American Baseball Coaches Convention in Nashville, Tennessee last January.  Austin played for McKay in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 2009 in the Northwoods Summer Collegiate League.  Two years later, he coached alongside McKay back in La Crosse.

Now entering his second season as the Mariners' Director of Player Development, McKay's philosophy is centered around creating a winning mentality within the organization, starting at the minor league level.  As the two visited at the ABCA Convention, McKay made it known that he would like for Knight to consider an opportunity in the near future with the Mariners' minor league system.  Nine months later, Austin received an official offer from McKay and today he was named the hitting coach for the Everett AquaSox, the club's Class A Short Season team in the Northwest League.

As Knight prepares to enter his first season coaching in professional baseball, he is encouraged by the direction of the Mariners' organization and their approach to player development.  "It's exciting to see the pride the Mariners take in winning at all levels," Knight said.  "They focus on what it takes to win as a team, as well as developing players to reach their potential.  From that standpoint, it's similar to a college type environment where an emphasis is placed both on the team's success and on player development."

As Knight prepares for the upcoming season, he reflects back with great admiration on the coaches that he had the opportunity to play for and coach under, including DBU's Dan Heefner, Texas A&M's Rob Chrildress, and Northeast Texas' Josh Stewart.  "Their reputations in the baseball community are as good as anyone's in the country and I hope to take what I've learned from each of them and apply those principles as I grow in my career," said Knight.  "They all strive for excellence on the field and in every area of their lives and that serves as an inspiration to me."

With spring training just around the corner, Knight has wasted no time, already diving headfirst into the job.  "I've gone back and watched a lot of Mariners games and have learned quite a bit by just watching and listening." 

Whatever the future holds for Knight and his coaching career, one facet of his life remains a constant and that is his faith.  "I'm thankful for this opportunity and am trusting in God's plan as I prepare for a new chapter in my life." 

That chapter begins in mid-January at the Mariners' "Hitters Summit" in Arizona.  One month later, Austin will be with the team at spring training in Peoria, Arizona.  Following extended spring training, Knight begins his role as the hitting coach for the Everett AquaSox when they open their season on June 15.