DULUTH, Minn. – St. Scholastica assistant coach Corey Kemp has been named the new head coach of the CSS Baseball program; it was announced today by CSS Athletics Director Don Olson.

Kemp takes over for the late John Baggs, who passed away in February after a four-month battle with cancer. Kemp was an assistant coach under Coach Baggs for eight seasons and was a pitcher for Baggs from 1998-2001.

“I would not be in the position I am in today to be the next head baseball coach at The College of St. Scholastica without the mentorship, support, and teaching from Coach Baggs,” Kemp said. “Coach Baggs has left big footsteps for me to follow and I know that he would have confidence in my ability to take over his program.”

In the eight years as an assistant, Kemp helped develop one of the top pitching staffs in all of Division III baseball. The Saints led the country in earned run average in both 2005 and 2006 and finished fifth in 2009.

“Corey Kemp’s passion for St. Scholastica baseball, his understanding of the programs culture and traditions and his appreciation for the excellence the college represents are unmatched,” CSS Athletics Director Don Olson said. “When you combine those attributes with his knowledge of the game of baseball, the conference and Division III – we have the perfect fit for the next head coach for Saints baseball.”

With the roller-coaster of emotions this past season Kemp, along with Tim Anderson, Justin Harriman, Tom Berrisford, and Joe Wicklund, led the Saints to their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. For its hard work, the staff earned the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Coach of the Year award.

“During this past spring, many of the responsibilities were shared among our entire coaching staff,” Kemp said. “This year I will be faced with responsibilities that I have not encountered in my eight years as an assistant coach, but I will be confident and believe that the decisions that I make are done with logic and to better the program.”

Kemp’s name is all over the Saints record books from his playing days. He holds the program record with 29 career victories, 233 innings pitched, 258 strikeouts, and is second with 51 appearances. He registered 11 wins during the 2000 season, which is tied for the most in a season in program history.

He was a three-time first team All-UMAC selection and was the league’s pitcher of the year in 2001. He was a NAIA honorable mention All-American selection in 2000 and a NCAA honorable mention All-American choice in 2001. At the conclusion of his college career, Kemp played briefly for the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the Northern League. In 2002, Kemp became the 10th inductee into the CSS Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Saints Baseball will continue to expect success on and off the field,” Kemp said. “We will continue to develop student-athletes into talented baseball players, quality students, and most importantly, good people in the community. I want to give each player the experience that Coach Baggs gave me and all the alumni who are successful.”

Kemp had been a fourth grade teacher at Pike Lake Elementary in the Proctor School District. Kemp’s wife of almost three years, Carrie, is the Assistant Director of St. Scholastica’s McNair Scholars Program and teaches first-year composition at the college.