Billy Berry - Head Coach
In 2009, Coach Berry begins his fourth year as head baseball coach at Tennessee Wesleyan. Under Berry's direction, the Bulldogs have an overall record of 125-48, posting a conference record of 47-7 during his three years.
In 2007, TWC broke the previous school record for wins by finishing the season with 46 victories. The Bulldogs were ranked in the top five nationally in homeruns, slugging percentage, runs batted in and runs scored. The 2007 Bulldogs were the first team in AAC history to finish the regular season unbeaten and were rewarded by ending the year as the number seven team in the country as voted by the NAIA.
Over the last three years, Coach Berry has led the Bulldgos to three AAC regular season championships and two AAC tournament finals with two AAC tournament titles in 2007 and 2008. The Bulldogs have appeared in the Region XII final game the last three seasons, winning the Region XII title in 2006. With that win the Bulldogs made their second appearance in the Mid-Atlantic Super Regional. Berry was named AAC and Region XII Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Berry and his staff have continued to maintain a high level of recruiting. On the current TWC roster, 12 states are represented from across the nation including the Dominican Republic. In the last six seasons, Tennessee Wesleyan has seen nine former Bulldogs move on to the professional ranks. Twenty nine players have been named to the All Conference team, with four of those being named AAC Player of the Year. The Bulldogs have had countless Region XII selections and NAIA honorable mention All Americans, including two second team and two first team selections.
Coach Berry attended Bluefield College where he was a three time first team All Conference selection. After receiving his B.S. degree in physical education in 1998, he served two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Mills Godwin High School. In 1999 Berry helped lead the Eagles to a Virginia High School League state (VHSL) Championship. The following two seasons Berry was an an assistant at J.R. Tucker High School. In 2002 Berry helped lead the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the VHSL State Championship. In the summer of 2002 Berry lead West End Post 361 to a Division 5 title, the American Legion State Championship and within one game of the American Legion World Series.
In 2003 Berry was named as an assistaqnt coach at Bluefield College. He was then named Head Baseball Coach in the summer of 2004. In his two year stint at Bluefield he had an overall record of 46-57, with a conference record of 22-31. The Rams broke the school record for wins in his first season going 25-29, ending the season with one of his players moving on to play professionally.
In his nine years of coaching either as an assistant or head coach Berry has seen ten former players move on to professional baseball. He wants to continue to help young men use baseball as an avenue to get their education, continue on the Bulldog baseball success and have kids that represent the school, their families, and the program with pride.
Berry, a native of Richmond, Virginia, is married to the former Jacqueline Walker. They reisde in Athens and have two sons-Brady and Brooks.