Carlton Hardy was hired in 2006 as the head baseball coach at Savannah State University.
Over his 14 seasons at the helm, Hardy has built a highly successful baseball program that has seen several first for the University. Through the 100 plus years of baseball at Savannah State, Hardy holds the record for most wins for any head coach.
Hardy led the Tigers to its first-ever NCAA Division I Title, winning the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, which earned them the program’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament. The 2013 Tigers were also crowned Co-MEAC Regular Season Champions with a 33-23 overall and 17-7 MEAC record.
Hardy was named the 2013 MEAC Coach of the Year, earned 2013 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Coach honors and won the Georgia Dugout Club's Division I Coach of the Year award.
In 2007, he guided the Tigers to its 10th consecutive season above .500 with a 31-23 record. In his first year as head coach, Savannah State finished 30-19 including one of the biggest wins in program history—a 10-2 victory over Florida State.
The Tigers led all of NCAA Division I in stolen bases in 2009 after 169 successful steals out of 207 attempts. They repeated that honor in 2011 with 159 stolen bases. Under Hardy’s leadership, several Savannah State baseball alums have gone on to play professionally, including 2013 MEAC Championship star Kyle McGowin, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Hardy came to SSU after spending six seasons as the head baseball coach at Olivet College, an NCAA Division III institution and a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. While at Olivet, he compiled a record of 105-123 from 1999 to 2005.
Hardy, a native of Los Angeles, California, has been credited with revamping Olivet’s baseball program. In 2002, he led the Comets to a .500 finish with an 18-18 record, the first time since 1995. The following season, the team recorded a 23-17 overall record and a second place conference finish with a 12-6 mark. Hardy also held the position of assistant football coach for six seasons at Olivet.
Prior to coaching at Olivet, Hardy served as the head baseball coach at Talladega College, a NAIA institution, from 1998 to 1999. By his second season, the team finished 34-18 and held the distinction of having the most wins in school history. That same year he led Talladega to the NAIA sectional tournament. Hardy was the runner-up for Coach of the Year in the Midwest Region.
A three-year letterman in baseball from 1989-91 at Grambling State University, Hardy received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in December of 1993. While at Grambling, he was a First Team All-Conference performer in 1990 and 1991. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in 1991, and played for one season. Hardy also received his Master of Science in Sports Administration from Grambling in 1995.
Full Name:
Carlton Hardy
Education:
Grambling State University ’93, Grambling State University ‘95
Playing Experience:
Grambling State University, 1988-1991; First Team All-Conference, 1989, 1990, 1991
Philadelphia Phillies; 37th Round Draft Pick in the 1991 MLB Draft
Coaching Experience:
Talladega College, 1997-1999 | Head Baseball Coach
Olivet College, 1999-2005 | Head Baseball Coach
Savannah State, 2006-Present | Head Baseball Coach
Honors:
2013 MEAC Coach of the Year
2013 MEAC Outstanding Coach Honors
2013 Georgia Dugout Club (GADC) Division I College Baseball Coach of the Year
Memberships:
American Baseball Coaches Association
Georgia Dugout Club Association
Favorite Athlete:
Barry Bonds
Favorite Food:
Italian
Favorite Leader:
Barack Obama
