Joel Bonnett is in his second season on the SMSU coaching staff in 2015 and serves as the team’s pitching coach.
The SMSU pitching staff posted a 5.28 ERA in 2014, the lowest since the 2010 season and also set a school record with 268 strikeouts.
Bonnett comes to SMSU after spending the 2013 season as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Illinois-Springfield.
A native of Springfield, Ill., Bonnett played four seasons at NCAA III North Park University, spending time as both a starter and a closer. He finished his career seventh all-time in appearances (23) and fourth all-time in saves (7).
Bonnett was an all-conferenc second team honoree as a senior 2012, while in 2010 he earned the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Central Region Gold Glove Award.
He was member of two regular season conference titles, one conference tournament championship and helped lead the squad to its first NCAA regional appearance in 22 years.
Bonnett earned a bachelor’s degree from North Park in business and economics and is pursuing his master’s degree at SMSU in sports leadership.
