No. 6 USA names Head Coach for 2018 Junior Men’s Softball National Team

Post date: Feb 13, 2017 4:20:6 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY – USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced Tyron McKinney as the Head Coach for the 2018 USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT).  Selected by members of the USA Softball Men’s National Team Selection Committee, McKinney will lead the 17-athlete roster that will compete at the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship July 7-15, 2018 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The U.S., currently No. 6 in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Rankings, has placed fifth at the previous three WBSC Jr. Men’s Softball World Championships (2012, 2014, and 2016).  The U.S. also finished in 9th place at the 2015 WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship.

McKinney, a five-time USA Softball First Team All-American, recently completed his first season as an Assistant Coach with the USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team Program, primarily with the pitching staff.  McKinney also served as an Assistant Coach for the 2016 USA Softball Women’s National Team at the WBSC-sanctioned 2016 Japan Cup.

“Thank you to USA Softball and the Men’s National Team Selection Committee for selecting me to lead the 2018 USA Softball JMNT,” said McKinney.  “I am very excited, humbled and honored to represent our country again and work with these young men to get them ready to or someday play in the Men’s National Team Program.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me and continues to support me.  It’s time to start the medal hunt as we begin this new era for the USA Softball JMNT program.”

McKinney has experience as a player, both at the National and International level.  A member of the 1997 USA Softball JMNT, McKinney also represented USA as an athlete on the Men’s National Team from 2009-2011.  Prior to his time on the U.S. roster, McKinney claimed four USA Softball National Championships: the 1999 and 2000 Men’s 23-Under Fast Pitch National Championship, the 2001 Men’s Class B Fast Pitch National Championship and the 2002 Men’s 23-Under Fast Pitch National Championship.