Darren Munns joined the athletics staff in September of 2005, becoming the third head baseball coach at William Woods University. In his nine seasons at William Woods, the Owls have never finished lower than third in the American Midwest Conference standings.
He has captained the team from a 19-40 season prior to his arrival to a 294-169 mark in his nine seasons at William Woods. The Owls posted a 39-12 record for the 2014 season, and finished 19-8 in AMC play. William Woods won the 2014 AMC Postseason Tournament. The Owls have appeared in five consecutive AMC Postseason Tournament championship games, and seven of the past eight championship games.
The Owls received the NAIA Scholar Team award in 2014 for the third consecutive year, with a team grade point average of 3.31, and 25 players recognized as academic all-conference. On the field, the Owls finished 2014 with the 11th best winning percentage in the country, and were ranked 27th in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll. The 2014 team set school records for wins in a season, and the best winning percentage in program history. WWU also saw four players recognized as first team all-conference selections (James Ball, Zach Nichols, Dane Smith, Matt Thomas) and captured the AMC Pitcher of the Year award (James Ball). Additionally, Derek Fletcher and Matt Thomas were recognized as a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-American.Â
Other accomplishments during Munns' tenure include the best conference and overall record in school history, seven appearances in the AMC Tournament Championship game, winning the 2011 and 2014 AMC Postseason Tournament championships, appearing in three NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds, achieving a cumulative team GPA of 3.1, being ranked in the NAIA Top 25 and producing WWU's first Major League Baseball drafted player. WWU has averaged 33 wins per season under Munns.
Munns joined the Owls after back-to-back record setting seasons in his two years at Harris-Stowe State University, culminating with 34 wins in 2005. Munns has coached at the collegiate level since 1991, including eight seasons at the NCAA Division I level.
Harris-Stowe made a 23-game improvement from the 2004 to 2005 under coach Munns. 2005 also marked the first time in school history that the Hornets appeared in the American Midwest Conference Tournament. Munns' first recruiting class produced four First Team AMC All-Conference players, one of whom made First Team All-American.
Before taking the helm at HSSC, Munns served as Assistant Coach at Central Methodist College (1999-2001) in The Heart of America Athletic Conference. While at Central Methodist, he served as hitting, infield, and third base coach. The 2000 team broke numerous offensive records, appeared in the conference championship game, and qualified for the NAIA Regional Tournament.
Immediately before joining Central Methodist, Munns served as Associate Head Coach at Drexel University (1991-1998), in Philadelphia. Munns' primary duty at Drexel was serving as recruiting coordinator, and pitching coach. During his tenure, Drexel had their strongest recruiting classes in school history, including three freshmen All-Americans.
The Drexel Baseball program also had one of the largest single season improvements in NCAA Division I history, winning 19 games in 1991 after a four win season in 1990. Drexel went on to five consecutive winning seasons and three conference championship game appearances during Munns' tenure. Drexel's graduation rate was in the 90th percentile under Munns' tutelage.
Aside from baseball coach, Munns also serves as the "Voice of the Owls" during the men and women's basketball season. Coach Munns serves as the play-by-play announcer for the William Woods University basketball Audio/VideoCast.
Munns is a Mexico, Mo. native and received his undergraduate degree in physical education from Missouri Western State College (1991) in St. Joseph, Mo. He received his master's degree in athletic/activities administration from William Woods University in the fall of 2009. Munns, and his wife Sarah, reside in Columbia, Mo.
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