Head Coach Brett Neffendorf

Brett Neffendorf was named the eighth head coach of the IU Southeast baseball program on July 5, 2023 after spending seven seasons as a NAIA assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Neffendorf has seven seasons of NAIA coaching experience as an assistant coach as Campbellsville, Cumberland (Tenn.) and, most recently, Union (Ky.) and was the head coach at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. He is also currently an associate scout with the Houston Astros.

During his one season at Union College, the Bulldogs finished with a 30-19 record, claiming the AAC Tournament Championship, the AAC Player of the Year, the Conference Tournament MVP, and an appearance in the NAIA Opening Round Tournament. The 2023 season for Union was a 20-win improvement after finishing just 10-30 in 2022 prior to Neffendorf’s arrival.

In just one season at Cumberland University, Neffendorf’s recruiting class ended the 2022 season with high honors including one First Team All American, the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, five First-Team all-conference players, two Second-team all-conference players, one Gold Glove winner, and one MLB free agent signee. Along with coaching and recruiting, Neffendorf joined the Houston Astros in the fall of 2022 as an associate scout.

Prior to his one season at Cumberland University, Neffendorf was hired in the summer of 2016 as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Campbellsville University. 

In his five seasons, Neffendorf developed the Campbellsville pitching staff into one of then nation’s top pitching staffs year-in and year-out. Neffendorf also helped Campbellsville capture the 2017 MSC Regular Season Championship, back-to-back MSC Tournament titles in 2018 and 2019, and the program's first NCCAA World Series title in 2018.

While at Campbellsville, Neffendorf recruited and coached 11 MSC First-Team All-Conference performers, eight Second-Team, and one NAIA First-Team All-American. In addition, the Tigers struck out 506 batters and recorded 17 saves in 2018 - all single-season team records. In 2018, the staff also led the conference in ERA (3.88) and opponent batting average (.241) as well as setting a school record for wins with 44. In 2019, Campbellsville’s staff improved their numbers on the mound to post a 3.49 ERA and a .237 batting average against led by four qualifying pitchers who held opposing hitters under the .200 mark. Over the course of his five seasons in Campbellsville, five of Neffendorf’s pitchers went on to sign contracts with MLB organizations and Independent Leagues.

Along with coaching and recruiting at Campbellsville, Neffendorf spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons as an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves.

Prior to Campbellsville, Neffendorf directed the Winter Prospect Camp at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., where he worked closely with associate head coach Pat Bailey.

His previous coaching position came in Vancouver, Wash. as the head coach at Clark College. While at Clark, Neffendorf recruited and coached the first Clark player drafted in the Major League Draft since 1982 in pitcher Nick Duron (31st Round – Boston Red Sox).

Before accepting the head coaching position, Neffendorf was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Clark in 2013-14. During his time as an assistant, Clark led the NWAC in fewest walks allowed and complete games pitched. Neffendorf also recruited and coached Travis Eckert who went on to pitch two seasons at Oregon State University. Eckert was drafted after his junior year in the 20th Round by the San Francisco Giants and again his senior year in the 7th Round by the Kansas City Royals.

Neffendorf started his coaching career at NCAA DIII George Fox University in 2013 in Newberg, Ore. where he assisted head coach Marty Hunter with infielders, scouting reports, and recruiting.

Neffendorf graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology while graduating from Campbellsville University with a Masters in Management and Leadership. In the fall of 2019, Neffendorf married former Campbellsville University All-American volleyball player, Jana Kortas.