Mark Crocco will enter his 7th year at Erskine College as the Head Baseball Coach in 2024. Crocco came to Erskine after 7 years at the Division I level as an Assistant Coach at The United States Air Force Academy (Mountain West Conference) and Presbyterian College (Big South Conference). In 2018, Crocco took over as the Head Coach at Erskine College.
During his tenure at Erskine College, Crocco has had 6 consecutive winning seasons in a powerhouse-loaded Southeast Region. Crocco has already amassed 152 wins including 81 wins in nationally recognized Conference Carolinas. Crocco has guided his teams to 23 Conference Carolinas All-League Selections including 5 All-Region Selections, 2 All-Americans and 4 pro contracts signed.
Crocco now has 4 players from his 2nd recruiting class at Erskine which was ranked the #1 recruiting class in Division II by Perfect Game who have signed pro contracts and are currently playing professional baseball. Allan Saathoff (Seattle Mariners), Dayan Reinoso (Los Angeles Angels), Livan Reinoso (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Cal Bocchino, who is playing Independent Baseball in the Pioneer Baseball League for the Great Falls Voyagers.
In 2021 the Fleet had the Freshman of the Year and in 2023 Erskine College had its first Player of the Year since 2010.
The 2023 season was taken to new heights as the Flying Fleet had a historic run in their campaign. The Fleet won 5 games against nationally ranked teams, including wins over #8 SAC Champion Newberry, a home sweep of Conference Carolinas Tournament Champion Mount Olive, and a road win over 2021 National Champion, Wingate University. The Erskine offense finished the 2023 season at #1 in Conference Carolinas and #4 in all of Division II in home runs with 89 on the season. Erskine bats were also #1 in home runs per game in Conference Carolinas and #5 in the country in that category as well (1.82). The Fleet had the Conference Carolinas Player of The Year in Dale Francis who ranked in the top 10 in the country in Batting Average (.455). Ashby Smith finished the season #5 in the country in doubles (23). The Fleet had 4 1st team all-league performers in Johnny Hummel (Relief Pitcher), Christian Rivera (Designated Hitter), Dale Francis (First Base) and Ashby Smith (Second Base). The Fleet also had 2 second team selections in the Outfield with Armando Becerra and Tariq Bacon.
In 2017 Crocco was named “Top Recruiter” in The Big South Conference by D1 Baseball. The team saw national success against SEC powerhouses Auburn and Alabama. The Blue Hose 2017 squad also broke the school’s Division I records for wins (32) and Runs (323). That season also saw Crocco’s first high school signee, Hayden Deal, sign a professional contract with the Atlanta Braves and was named Pitcher of The Year in the organization in 2018 & 2019. The Blue Hose also had major postseason success in 2017 and played in the Big South Conference Championship Game. In 2015 and 2016, Presbyterian notched wins over ACC, SEC, and nationally ranked opponents. The Blue Hose beat in-state powerhouses Clemson and South Carolina in 2015 and also tallied wins over #22 Indiana and #7 UCF. PC ended the season by winning its final 7 mid-week games and won 21 non-conference games including a winning record against all in-state rivals. The Blue Hose also tied the Division I school record for wins in 2015. In 2016, the Blue Hose tied the Division 1 school record in wins again and Crocco’s infield ranked second in Big South in fielding percentage (.970). The Blue Hose set Division 1 school records in runs scored (321) and doubles (114) that year as well. In Crocco’s first year at PC, he was charged with the responsibility of running the Blue Hose infield. PC set a Presbyterian Big South and Division I record for fielding percentage, fielding at a .972 clip in the 2013 campaign which ranked second in the conference. PC also tied the Division I school record for wins in Crocco’s first year on staff.
Crocco arrived at PC after two seasons as an assistant coach at The United States Air Force Academy. With the Falcons, Crocco worked with the Falcons hitters and infielders, helping the Falcons to their most wins since 2002 in his first year. He also guided the squad to four All-Mountain West Conference selections and a school record for fielding percentage in 2011.
In Crocco’s first year at the helm in 2018, the Fleet had a Perfect Game top-10 ranked recruiting class and had a winning season including wins over the #1 team in the country. The Fleet went 22-8 at home and had an All-Region selection in Austin Mapes who led the country in hits for a majority of the season. In 2019, the Fleet garnered the Perfect Game #1 recruiting class in the country and continued with more momentum on the field with increases in win percentage, a deeper Conference Carolinas postseason run and a regional appearance as the #1 seed in the NCCAA Tournament. The Fleet continued dominance of all-conference selections, including 4 First Team All-Conference Carolinas selections and another All-Region selection in Drew Yniesta. In a shortened 2020 season, the Fleet were 17-8-1 on the season and were riding a 9-game winning streak before the year was cut short due to COVID-19. In 2021 the Fleet continued their momentum and won 19 games in Conference Carolinas. The Fleet had 5 All-League Selections including another All Region Selection. Erskine had the Freshman of The Year in Dalton Reeves and Crocco’s first All-American at Erskine College, Livan Reinoso. In 2022, Erskine improved again in win totals (28) and had 4 All-League Selections. Erskine beat the defending National Champions and #1 Team in the nation, Wingate University, the eventual National Champions, North Greenville, and #24 UNC Pembroke. Erskine also eclipsed the 100 stolen bases milestone, totaling 114 on the year. After the 2022 season, Allan Saathoff signed with the Seattle Mariners and Cal Bocchino signed with the Great Falls Voyagers (Independent Baseball).
In the summers of 2011 and 2012, Crocco's duties also included running camps at The Air Force Academy. Crocco also worked numerous camps all over the country for organizations such as Top 96 Baseball, Head First Honor Roll Camps, an numerous Baseball Academys at ACC/SEC programs. Crocco played second base for the Wingate Bulldogs (2005-2009) and spent two years prior to Air Force work at his alma mater as an assistant coach, helping the Bulldogs Win the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Championship.
Crocco earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in sport management from Wingate University in 2010. Crocco resides in Fountain Inn, South Carolina with his wife, Whitney, and daughter, Charleston Lynne.
Kaufman comes to Due West, SC after serving the last two seasons as the Assistant Coach for the University of Pennsylvania.
Under Kaufman’s guidance, the Quakers emerged as one of the nation’s top offensive powerhouses in 2019. Penn finished the season ranked within the top five of all Division I programs in many offensive categories including the nation’s second-best batting average (.334), ranked second in doubles per game (2.66), and third in triples per game (.54). Penn also ranked third in on-base percentage (.422) and scoring (8.6 runs per game). The Quaker’s offense was led by senior Matt O’Neill who after the season was selected in the MLB draft with the 598th overall pick by the New York Mets.
Along with his work with the Quakers’ offense, Kaufman solidified Penn’s outfield as one of the most secure in the Ivy League. Starting right fielder Peter Matt was a first-team All-Ivy selection in 2019 after posting a perfect fielding percentage and providing seven assists. Starting center fielder Tommy Courtney also posted a perfect fielding percentage and frequently flashed leather in his 140 putouts.
Following his first season with Penn, Kaufman's efforts working with the outfielders and the batting order have already began to show dividends, as two of the Quakers' All-Ivy selections hailed from his position group -- Eduardo Malinowski and Peter Matt. The freshman from Spring, Texas, paced the entire conference in both batting average (.347) and total hits (59), earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Ivy honors for his efforts. Meanwhile, Matt stepped into a starting role in the outfield midway through the season and proceeded to dominate during Ivy play, securing a place on the All-Ivy second-team.
Kaufman joined the Penn baseball program after serving as the hitting and catching coach for the last two seasons at NCAA Division III Arcadia University, during which the Knights compiled a 55-27-1 overall record. He also took over as the recruiting coordinator during his time in Glenside, which included all off-campus recruiting and evaluation of prospective student-athletes.
Arcadia put together arguably its best season in program history in 2017, as the Knights captured their first-ever MAC Commonwealth title with a school-record 33 wins. In addition to setting program records in six offensive categories - including runs per game, hits, batting average and doubles - Arcadia's catching corps also saw a 12% rise in catcher throw-out percentage under Kaufman.
Prior to his time with Arcadia, Kaufman spent the 2015 fall as an assistant coach with Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala. Kaufman worked with the Panther hitters and catchers, while also assisting with all aspects of recruiting.
Kaufman began his coaching career in 2015 following a four-year playing career at NCAA Division II California University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as team captain for the Vulcans, Kaufman was also a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference All-Academic selection and holds the school record for career throw-out percentage and caught stealing.
Kaufman earned his bachelor's degree in sport management in 2013 before completing his Master's of Science in sport management from California in 2015.
The Erskine College Baseball program has added Jacob Corn as the next pitching coach of the Flying Fleet, Head Coach Mark Crocco announced on Friday afternoon.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Corn to our Erskine Baseball family," Crocco said. "Coach Corn has already built a reputation among his peers as a relentless recruiter, proven winner and has a clear vision to develop competitors on and off the field."
Corn joins the Flying Fleet after spending last season as the pitching coach at in-state junior college powerhouse, Spartanburg Methodist College. The Pioneers saw an immediate impact on the mound with Corn leading the charge in 2023. SMC collected 404 strikeouts in 358.1 innings pitched as a staff last season, averaging over 10 strikeouts per 9 innings. Corn also showed the ability to keep hitters at bay as the Pioneers surrendered the fewest amount of home runs (29) in Division-1 Region 10 over the course of 52 games. SMC also led D1 Region 10 in earned runs (194) as opponents managed just a .236 batting average against Corn's staff, who also totaled three shutouts on the season. Corn and his pitching staff helped the Pioneers to an impressive 21-10 record at home in 2023.
"Coach Corn's ability to incorporate a competitive mindset really stood out to me in the interview process. His philosophy of attacking hitters aggressively in the zone was clear in the numbers that his SMC pitching staff showed in the 2023 season," Crocco said.
Corn is a native of Landrum, South Carolina and played his high school ball at Landrum High School before stops at Spartanburg Methodist and Division-1 Western Carolina University throughout his college career. Corn spent four seasons in the Catamounts' program, carving out a bullpen role during his time, making 57 appearances and recording five saves. After his college career, Corn played a season in the Frontier League, one of the premier independent baseball leagues in the United States, with the Sussex County Miners before joining the SMC coaching staff last season.
"I am excited and thankful to Coach Crocco for giving me the opportunity to come to Erskine and be a part of the coaching staff. I plan to pour everything I have into this pitching staff to ensure we bring a Conference Championship to Due West," Corn said.
Corn turned in a top-20 recruiting class on D1 JUCO Perfect Game for 2023 and Coach Crocco expects him to develop the current staff as well as continue to recruit at a high level.
"Corn grabbed my attention over the past 12 months as one of the top recruiters in the state of South Carolina," Crocco said. "His tireless work ethic and ability to evaluate at a high level was very clear to me as I saw some of the players that Spartanburg Methodist was signing. Coach Corn is a rising star in the college game, and we are honored to have him mentor our players."
Prince begins his third year as an assistant baseball coach at Erskine College in the 2023-2024 season.
He helped the program to a 29-20 record in 2023, leading the developmental team to a conference championship as the Head Coach of the Developmental Team.
In the Fleet baseball program, Prince's duties include working with outfielders, catchers and assisting with hitters as well as coaching first base.
Prince began his coaching career at North Greenville College, where he helped coach the pitching staff.
Prior to his arrival at Erskine, Prince returned home to his alma mater at Dixie High School where he was the head coach from 2013 to 2021. During his time at Dixie, his teams won the region championship four times and district championship two times. Prince was named Region Coach of the year three times, a North-South All Star coach and the South Carolina Class 1A Coach of the Year in 2019. He also coached in the Coastal Plain League as a hitting coach and first base coach for the Spartanburg Spartanburgers.
As a student athlete, Prince attended North Greenville College and was an honorable-mention pitcher and a second team all-conference shortstop.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have a son and daughter, Nolan and Kala.
