Career Highlights
- Entering 25th season at UC (913-409)
- 3x NAIA World Series Appearance (2023, 2024, 2025)
- 3x Opening Round Champions (2023, 2024, 2025)
- 7x Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023)
Brad Shelton just finished his 30th season as a head coach and 24th at the University of the Cumberlands. Shelton has an overall coaching record of 1102 wins and 475 losses. Shelton's 913 wins at Cumberlands makes him the winningest baseball coach in the program’s history.
Shelton arrived on campus at UC in the fall of 2001, inheriting a team that was 7-34 in the previous season. Shelton directed the team to a 34-29 record in 2002. This was the biggest turnaround in college baseball (+27 victories) at any level in 2002. Over the past 21 seasons, the Patriots have become a consistent winner, playing a competitive schedule including some of the top teams in the NAIA. The UC baseball program has posted sixteen 30 plus wins seasons and six 40 plus wins seasons during that time period. Shelton has also won 6 MSC Coach of the Year awards during this time.
In 2025, the Patriots started the season ranked fifth in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history. Cumberlands compiled an overall record of 50-12 and ended their season winning multiple games at the NAIA World Series for the first time. UC completed Mid-South Conference play with a 16-2 mark and captured the MSC Regular Season title for the third consecutive season to secure an at-large bid to host the NAIA Opening Round in Williamsburg. The Pats went 3-0 in the Williamsburg Bracket to advance to the NAIA World Series for the third time in program history. UC collected wins over Grand View and Loyola in Lewiston, ID. Cumberlands had three players receive NAIA All-American honors, six MSC First-Team All-Conference selections, two Second Team All-Conference honorees, and two gold gloves. Charlie Muniz was first Patriot to be named NAIA Player of the Year and MSC Player of the Year, while Kailen Hamson garnered MSC Pitcher of the Year honors. Trent Prokes became just the second player in program history to make the NAIA World Series All-Tournament team. Shelton concluded the 2025 season by taking home ABCA/ATEC NAIA Regional Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.
In 2024, the Patriots entered the season at eighth in the NAIA Presesaon Coaches' Poll and completed their season with their first NAIA World Series win and a program record of 52 wins and just eight losses. In Mid-South Conference play, Cumberlands finished with a record of 17-1 and earned MSC Regular Season and Tournament Champion titles to earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Opening Round. After the Pats hosted and won the NAIA Opening Round Williamsburg Bracket, they made their second program appearance in the NAIA World Series and tallied their first win in Lewiston, ID, 6-4 over William Carey. To round out their historic season, Cumberlands broke six single-season team records: Wins (52), Home Runs (144), Runs Batted In (626), Runs Scored (660), Walks (356), and Strikeouts (608). The Patriots received numerous accolades including five NAIA All-Americans, seven MSC First Team All-Conference selections, four MSC Second Team All-Conference honorees and four MSC Gold Gloves. Charlie Muniz was named the MSC Player of the Year and honored as a member of the NAIA World Series All-Tournament team, while Cesar Avila was named the MSC Pitcher of the Year. For his success leading UC, Shelton was named an ABCA/ATEC NAIA Regional Coach of the Year.
In 2023, the Patriots came into the season ranked 15th, and ended their season at the NAIA World Series for the first time with a 49-9 overall record and a 22-5 conference record.The Pats was the MSC regular and tournament champion. They earned the automatic bid to the NAIA Opening Round as the number one seed. UC won would host the Williamsburg Bracket and won their first NAIA Opening Round Championship and head to Lewiston, ID for the World Series. Cumberlands set new program record in severally statistics categories, Homeruns (142), RBIs (569), Runs Scored (616), Walks (313), Wins (49), Strikeouts (549), and Saves (17). The Patriots had three NAIA All-Americans, six First-Team All-Conference selections, seven Second-Team All-Conference selections, and two MSC honorable mentions. Along with Caden Petrey taking home freshman of the year, while Max Harper and Evan St Claire winning gold gloves. Coach Shelton also took home MSC Coach of the Year.
In 2022 the Patriots were ranked 11th in the NAIA preseason poll, but after a slow start to the season they saw themselves drop to RV for most of the season. Despite the ranking, UC finished the year 46-16 and 18-6 in conference play, at the end of the season the Patriots was second in the conference and won their second straight MSC tournament to secure one of the Mid-South's automatic bids to the NAIA Opening Round. During the Opening Round, the Pats made it all the way to the second championship game which is the closest UC has been to going to the NAIA World Series in program history. This season UC was inside the top-10 for every statistics category in the NAIA, while being first in 14 categories: Games (62), At Bats (2106), Runs (561), Hits (723), Doubles (154), Triples (17), RBIs (506), Extra Base Hits (260), Total Bases (1178), Walks (271), Sacrifice Flies (31), and Batting Average (.343). The Patriots had four First-Team All-Conference selections, five Second-Team All-Conference selections, and two MSC honorable mentions. Along with Seth Benner taking home freshman of the year, Candido Encarnacion and Sean Cheely winning gold gloves, and Coach Jared Martin taking home assistant coach of the year.
In 2021 the Patriots were ranked 8th in the NAIA preseason poll, and reached 3rd after the first poll, where they would stay until the final poll of the season. UC took home both the regular season and conference tournament championships after going 16-4 in conference play and 46-8 overall. The Patriots ranked in the top-15 in the NAIA in eleven statistical categories including 3rd in ERA (3.390) and 6th in home runs per game (1.889). They were also 7th in total batters struck out (510), 8th in slugging percentage (0.602) and fielding percentage (0.969), 10th in runs scored per game (8.907) and RBI per game (8.204), 11th in total RBI (443), 13th in batting average (0.335) and 14th in opponents batting average (0.244) and total runs scored (481). UC had seven First-Team All-Conference selections, five Second-Team All-Conference selections, and two MSC honorable mentions. Coach Shelton took home his sixth MSC Coach of the Year Award, while Bryan Leef and Thomas Guitierrez swept Player and Pitcher of the yeah Honors. Bryan Leef was also named an NAIA First-Team All-American while Thomas Gutierrez earned Honorable Mention Honors.
2020's baseball season was cut short to just 25 games as athletics across the country took a backseat to the global COVID-19 pandemic. After nabbing the 11th spot in the NAIA preseason poll, UC won 17 straight to open the season, and would finish the shortened campaign at 22-3, 2-1 MSC. In a little over a month, the Patriots managed a .280 team batting average including 31 home runs and 139 RBIs. The Patriots pitching staff found success, ranking in the top 10 in the NAIA in Opponent Batting Average (.215) as well as Earned Run Average (3.08). In the month of March, Cumberlands won four straight games against nationally ranked opponents in a five day span. Before the season was brought to an end, the Patriots played a single conference series against (25) Campbellsville where they would claim their third straight road series against the Tigers. 18 members of the 2020 team were named to the MSC Academic All-Conference list while Bryan Leef earned a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
In 2019, UC (46-10, 12-3 MSC) hit .332 for the season with a school record 102 home runs and 415 RBIs. UC ranked in the Top 15 in the NAIA in nine different categories including first in home runs per game (1.925) and slugging percentage (.593). They were also sixth in RBIs per game (7.83), eighth in runs scored per game (8.698), ninth in batting average, 13th in opponents batting average (.238), 14th in both total RBIs (415) and doubles per game (2.151), and 15th in hits per game (10.566). The Patriots won their second consecutive Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship with their 12-3 record before finishing runner-up in the MSC Tournament. Cumberlands would host an NAIA World Series Opening Round for the second straight year. The Patriots had eight 1st Team All-Conference selections, two 2nd Team All-Conference Selections, one MSC Gold Glove award winner, 18 Academic All-Conference selections, and four NAIA Scholar Athletes. UC also had the MSC Pitcher of the Year and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in Zach Hurley. Bryan Leef was also an Honorable Mention All-American.
In 2018, the Pats (47-11) tallied a .331 team BA , the highest in recent history and 15th best in the NAIA. UC was ranked in the Top 15 of the NAIA in the following categories: Fielding Percentage (.971 - 5th), Home Runs per Game (1.241 - 10th), RBI per Game (7.448 - 11th), Total Runs Scored (474 - 14th), Total RBI (432 - 14th), Slugging Percentage (.512 - 14th), Runs Scored per Game (8.172 - 15th). Cumberlands also set a new school record for most home runs in a season (72) and walks (254). UC would win the MSC Regular Season Championship with a 14-2 record during the year before finishing runner-up in the MSC Tournament. The Patriots would go on to host their first ever NAIA World Series Opening Round since the NAIA introduced that format. Cumberlands had six 1st Team All-Conference selections, two 2nd Team All-Conference selections, three MSC Gold Glove award recipients, nine Academic All-Conference selections, and three NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
In 2017, the Patriots (43-17) put together a memorable year on and off the baseball field. The team won the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship and received an automatic bid to the Avista NAIA World Series Opening Round where they participated in the Montgomery Bracket. Season highlights include MSC sweeps at Cumberland University and at Shawnee State University as well as a home Sweep vs. The University of Pikeville. Non-Conference wins vs. NAIA powers #6 Tennessee Wesleyan, St. Thomas, Reinhardt and Huntington helped propel the team to a number 20 ranking in the NAIA Polls. The team was led by NAIA All American and MSC Pitcher of the Year Noah Gapp. For the year, UC had five players earn 1st Team All-Conference honors and five more earning 2nd Team All-Conference awards. Two Patriots also earned MSC Gold Glove honors. The Patriots earning 1st Team All-Conference were 2nd baseman Jesse Reyes, 3rd baseman Kevin Pantoja, outfielder Landon Byron, designated hitter Reed Spata, and pitcher Noah Gapp. Those earning 2nd Team All-Conference were catcher Andrew Ramos, 1st baseman Chase Schmittou, shortstop Roberto Prado, outfielder Bryan Benz , and pitcher Manny Castellano. Pantoja and Byron would also earn the MSC Gold Glove awards for the season. Head Coach Brad Shelton was named MSC Coach of the Year and received the MSC Coach of Character Award.
UC also had 11 players named to the MSC Academic All-Conference team. Those Patriots earning Academic All-Conference were Joe Braun, Hampton Clark , Zachary Finch, Jacob Pardue, Andrew Patterson, Roberto Prado, Marshall Rich, Jeff Rivera, Chase Schmittou, Reed Spata, and Matt Wehrle. Five of these young men were named NAIA Scholar Athletes (Jacob Pardue, Joe Braun, Reed Spada, Jeffrey Rivera, and Chase Schmittou). The team was named an NAIA Scholar Team for overall academic performance.
In 2016, The Patriots posted 33 wins vs. a schedule that was ranked the 28th Toughest in NAIA Baseball by Boyd’s World. Season highlights included a road series win at #19 Campbellsville and a home sweep of RV Saint Catharine College. Senior Jose Alonzo (OF) and Junior Kevin Pantoja (3B) were named first team All Mid-South Conference. Seniors Stone Osborne (OF) and Zach McRoberts (C) were named second team All Mid-South Conference as well as Junior (RHP) Noah Gapp. Junior Chase Schmittou (1B) and senior T.J. Campbell (RHP) won the MSC Rawlings Gold Glove award for their respective positions. The Patriots had 12 All Mid-South Conference Scholar Athletes and 5 NAIA Scholar Athletes.
In 2015, Cumberlands baseball posted 26 wins despite numerous injuries and a schedule that included 22 games vs. ranked or receiving votes teams. Junior Jose Alonzo was named first team All Mid South Conference and Freshman Will Roger was named Mid South Conference Freshman of the Year. Junior Stone Osborne won the MSC Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his play in centerfield. Cumberlands Baseball led all Mid-South Conference Schools with 13 All Academic Selections and 7 NAIA Scholar Athletes. Senior left hander Donovan Feenstra signed a professional contract with the Grays Harbor Gulls following an outstanding season.
In 2014, The Patriots fought hard down the stretch winning crucial series against Shawnee State, Saint Catharine and Lindsey Wilson to qualify for the Mid-South Conference Tournament in route to a 31 win season. Highlights of the season include a dramatic comeback win over the eventual national champions, Cumberland University in a regular season matchup, as well as walk off wins versus Madonna University and Brescia University. Senior Jared Martin wrapped up a stellar career by being named second team all MSC, winning the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and signing a professional contract with the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League. Seniors Hibraim Cordova and Junior Tony Webster were named first team all MSC. Fourteen Patriots were named Academic All Mid-South Conference and two received NAIA Scholar Athlete Awards.
In 2013, UC won 16 of 19 games to close the season with a 34-19 record while finishing in the middle of the pack of MSC play. The team was led offensively by junior Claudio Valencia who was named first team All Mid-South Conference. On the mound, the Patriots were led by junior Kahana Neal who was also named second team All Mid-South Conference.
In 2012, the Patriots struggled all season to get above the .500 mark and ended the season with a 26-28 record while finishing in the middle of the pack in MSC play. The team was led offensively by senior Evan Bennett who was named first team All Mid-South Conference.
In 2011, A great start had the Patriots on the verge of a National Top 25 ranking with a record of 25-8 mid way through the season. Injuries caused several starters to miss games and the team slipped to third in the conference standings and ended the season at 35-20 (15-11 MSC). Statistically, the Patriots hit .295 as a team with 88 doubles, 10 triples, and 14 homeruns. The team also had 76 stolen bases to go along with a .968 fielding percentage. Senior Sean Mahley was drafted in the second round of the Frontier League Baseball Draft and signed with the Schaumburg Boomers in the off-season and was later signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2010 the Patriots started the season receiving votes in the NAIA Pre-season Poll and were picked to finish second in the Mid-South Conference. After a tough start to the season, UC won 10 of their last 12 conference games to finish as the #5 seed in the MSC Tournament. The Patriots came up short in the tournament and ended the season with an overall record of 28-28. Statistically, the Patriots offense had a .337 batting average, 110 doubles, 15 triples, and 49 homeruns. The Patriots led the conference in stolen bases with 113 and had a fielding percentage of .950. Coach Shelton received the MSC Coach of Character Award.
In 2009 the Patriots began the season in the NAIA Pre-Season Top 10 poll and were picked as the favorite in the Mid-South Conference. After some obstacles, the Patriots finished as the #3 seed in the MSC Tournament. The Patriots came up short in the tournament tying Georgetown for second place. The Patriots finished with an overall record of 31-19 and a 14-8 record in the MSC. Statistically, the Patriots offense posted a .311 batting average, 111 doubles, 20 triples, and 46 homeruns. The Patriots led the conference in fielding percentage (.957) and stolen bases (87). Some highlights for the season include wins over several ranked opponents including Union and Tennessee Wesleyan. The teams 31 win season marked its record 8th straight 30 plus win seasons.
In 2008 the UC Patriots captured the Mid-South Conference Championship recording a 17-2 record in conference play. Overall, the team posted a 43-16 record and was ranked as high as #6 nationally. The team received the #1 seed in the Region XI Tournament and was ranked #7 in the final NAIA National Poll. Offensively, the Patriots set a school record with 182 stolen bases and hit .326 as a team. The defense set school records in fielding percentage (.959) and double plays (51). The pitching staff pitched 24 complete games including six shutouts. Left fielder Trevor Urbanick was named Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, Region XI Player of the Year, and NAIA first team All American. Junior pitcher Adam Blakey was named Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Year. Junior second baseman Drew Denton received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the nation's top defensive second baseman. Third baseman Javier Gali-Rodriguez signed a professional contract with the Corpus Christi Beach Dogs of the Continental Baseball League. Senior Jon Silverman was named the Mid-South Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year. Head Coach Brad Shelton was named MSC Coach of the Year.
In 2007 The Patriots began the season ranked in the NAIA Pre-Season top 10 and led the Mid-South Conference for most of the season before injuries and inexperience caused the team to fall into a third place finish. The team finished with a 35-19 record. Offensively, the Patriots offense hit .315 and set a then school record for stolen bases (120). The pitching staff had a team ERA of 3.15 and threw 20 complete games. Senior outfielder Daniel Guttridge was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and signed a professional contract with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League.
In 2006 UC continued to excel at the conference and regional levels as the team won another Mid-South Conference Championship and placed third in the NAIA Region XI Tournament. For the season, the team compiled 39 wins against 16 losses. The regional appearance was the Patriots third in three seasons and fourth in Shelton's five years at the helm. The team was ranked as high as #22 during the season's weekly NAIA national polls. Senior shortstop Jon Sullivan signed a professional contract with the Macon Music of the South Coast League. Head Coach Brad Shelton was named MSC Coach of the Year.
2005 was another outstanding year for the Patriots as they made an excellent run in the NAIA Region XI Tournament. The team advanced to the Regional Championship game for the first time in School history. The team's highest ranking in '05 was #10. The Patriots received an at large bid to the NAIA Regionals and eliminated #15 Campbellsville, #6 Trevecca University and Lambuth University, but were defeated by defending National Champions Cumberland University. The team finished the season at 40-19.
The 2004 edition of Patriot baseball was one of the greatest teams in the program's storied history. The team set many school records on its way to a 45-11 record and #3 national ranking. The team posted a 17-3 record in Mid-South Conference play, winning the regular season and tournament championships. Junior outfielder Roman Cox was named Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and senior pitcher J.J. Jackson was named Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Year. Jackson signed a professional contract with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. Head Coach Brad Shelton was named MSC Coach of the Year.
In 21 seasons as Cumberlands' skipper, the team has 716 wins, one NAIA Opening Round appearance, five NAIA regional appearances, three Mid-South Conference Championships, two Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship, and one NAIA Regional Runner-Up. Two players have been named First Team NAIA All American. One has been named Region XI Player of the Year. Eight players have been named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, three have been named Mid-South Conference Players of the Year, three have been named Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Year, two MSC Freshmen of the Year, and 51 have been named First Team All Mid-Conference.
Prior to coming to UC, Shelton was the head coach at St. Catharine College where he built a nationally ranked junior college program. Highlights of his six year tenure at SCC are 189 wins, 2 40+ win seasons, 60 former players signed with four year colleges and universities, two top ten national rankings, and 2 major league draft choices.
Since becoming a head coach eleven of those teams were recognized by receiving votes for the national polls. 22 former players have been drafted or signed by professional baseball teams.
A former associate scout for the Texas Rangers (4 years), Shelton is a veteran of several summer baseball camps, including the University of Kentucky Camp, Champions Five Star Camp, Blue-Grey Select, Best of Kentucky, and Central Kentucky Baseball Clinic. Shelton directed camps at St. Catharine and currently hosts camps throughout the year at The University of the Cumberlands.
Shelton, a 23 year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, served in 2003 and 2004 as the Chair of the Mid-South Conference Baseball Committee.
A graduate of Asbury University (B.S.), The University of the Cumberlands (M.A.) and Owen County High School, Shelton is married to Candace (Isaac), who is a speech pathologist. They have two sons Tyler and Clay. They are members of the Main Street Baptist Church, Williamsburg, KY. In his spare time, Coach Shelton enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and maintaining and improving the athletic facilities at The University of the Cumberlands.
