Kent State University secured Golden Flashes baseball coach Jeff Duncan for years to come with another contract extension.
Kent State University has signed longtime Golden Flashes baseball coach Jeff Duncan to a contract extension through the 2030 season, KSU announced on Jan. 29.
Duncan, 47, has been Kent State's baseball coach since the 2014 season. At the helm of KSU, he has compiled a record of 386-242, including 214-108 in the Mid-American Conference.
Kent State went 38-18 last season, including 23-7 in the MAC, capturing the regular-season conference title. The Golden Flashes have never finished with a losing record in MAC play in any season during the Duncan era. They have won five MAC regular-season titles (2025, 2023, 2018, 2017 and 2016) and two conference tournament championships (2018 and 2014) under the guidance of Duncan, a former MLB outfielder.
“Jeff Duncan has established Kent State baseball as a premier program not only in the MAC but nationally,” Kent State athletic director Randale L. Richmond said in a news release. “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 23 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.”
Duncan's success with Kent State has extended beyond the MAC. His teams have defeated 15 Power Four schools, including Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Mississippi State and Ohio State. In 2021, Kent State beat then-second-ranked Mississippi State. It's the highest-ranked opponent KSU has defeated since upsetting No. 1 Florida in the 2012 College World Series.
Player development is another hallmark of Duncan's Kent State tenure. Since he took control of the program, 23 Golden Flashes have been drafted. Of those players, pitcher Eric Lauer was drafted the earliest — 25th overall by the San Diego Padres in 2016. Lauer made two relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers won the best-of-seven series 4-3.
Before Duncan's latest contract extension with KSU, he had been signed through the 2027 season.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue building this program and representing Kent State University,” Duncan said in the release. “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.”
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State signs baseball coach Jeff Duncan to contract extension
Category: General Sports
