Saint Louis Billikens Athletics

Career Highlights
• Recorded his 500th victory as the Billikens' head coach with a 10-2 win over Saint Joseph's April 5, 2024; concluded the season with 516 wins in 17 seasons at SLU.
• Registered his 1,000th career victory May 3, 2024, as SLU defeated George Mason 4-3; concluded the season with 1,006 wins in 29 seasons as a head coach.
• Became Saint Louis' all-time winningest head coach May 19, 2018, with win No. 362, surpassing Bob Hughes.
• Has coached 11 MLB Draft picks at SLU (Connor Lehmann 7th round in 2019, Miller Hogan 6th round in 2018, Alex King 35th round in 2018, Matt Eckelman 21st round in 2016, Jake Henson 21st round in 2015, Colton Frabasilio 23rd round in 2015, James Norwood 7th round in 2014, Grant Nelson 9th round in 2013, Alec Sole 18th round in 2013, Zach Outman 28th round in 2009 and Casey Moore 48th round in 2008).
• Has posted six seasons of 35 or more wins.
• Led the Billikens to a school-record 41 victories in 2012 and 2013.
• Has coached 10 of SLU's 12 30+ win seasons.
• Only coach to lead SLU to consecutive 30-win seasons, including four straight from 2012-15; also accomplished in 2023-24, 2017-18 and 2009-10.
• Helped SLU earn recognition as a "Top 100 Program" by D1Baseball.com.
• 2013 College Baseball National Coach of the Year Honorable Mention.
• Named one of Perfect Game's Rising College Coaches (2013).
• Won Atlantic 10 regular-season titles in 2024, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
• Coached Atlantic 10 Tournament champions in 2018, 2013 and 2010.
• Holds Saint Louis' longest winning streak (15 in 2018).
• 2024, 2018 and 2012 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.
• Earned the first national ranking in school history (#30 by Collegiate Baseball in 2012).
• Ended the 2023 season ranked 24th among active coaches in winning percentage.

In 17 years at the helm of the Saint Louis University baseball program, head coach Darin Hendrickson has taken the Billikens to new heights, including numerous school records, Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 2024 Billikens captured the program's sixth A-10 regular-season title with a 16-8 league mark and tallied 37 victories (37-16) overall, third most in program history. Patrick Clohisy, Jackson Holmes and Ethan Sitzman garnered All-Conference first-team plaudits, while Ethan Bell and Tyler Fogarty earned second-team nods. Hendrickson, who notched both his 500th win at Saint Louis and his 1,000th career victory during the season, was selected A-10 Coach of the Year for a third time.

In 2023, Hendrickson guided the Billikens to a 33-23 record and an appearance in the final round of the A-10 Championship. SLU put together a 10-game winning streak during the season and competed for the A-10 regular-season championship until the final weekend of play. The Billikens upset the top seed in the A-10 Championship en route to the A-10 final appearance.

With Hendrickson at the helm, the 2023 Billikens squad reached new heights not formerly reached in program history. The team broke the school record for runs and RBIs in a single season and well as ranked in the top five in school history for hits, home runs, total bases and stolen bases.

Hendrickson led the Billikens to a 29-24 overall record in 2022, with a 14-9 mark in A-10 play. SLU earned the No. 3 seed in the A-10 Championship and reached the third day of tournament play. Cam Redding was named to the All-Conference first team, while Cameron Pferrer was tabbed to the All-Conference second team. Logan Schmitt earned a spot on the league's All-Academic team. SLU went 19-8 on its home turf.

In a season unlike any other, due to COVID-19, the Billikens finished 17-31 in 2021. Hendrickson notched his 900th career win at George Mason on April 9th. He coached the Billikens to a 6-10 conference record, facing just four league foes on the year. The Billikens picked up a win against against No. 25 Indiana State on April 3, marking just the second victory over a ranked team since the 2017 season.

2020 was cut short due to COVID-19, but Hendrickson led the Billikens to a 10-6 record, including notching his 400th win at SLU on March 8, against Bowling Green. 21 newcomers joined the team in 2020, 11 being freshmen. Saint Louis pitching returned just 3.6 percent of its starts (2-of-55) from the 2019 season. 14 of the 16 games were started by a new face in the rotation.

In 2019, the Billikens went 25-30, finishing seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Senior RHP Connor Lehmann was drafted in the seventh round, pick 203 by the San Diego Padres. He became the third highest draft pick at SLU in the modern draft era. The other two were also during Hendrickson's time.

In 2018, the senior-laden Billikens put together one of the best performances in program history with an overall record of 38-20 and a finish in the 2018 NCAA Regional in Oxford, Miss.. Saint Louis captured both the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship and the Regular Season crown and went on to numerous conference and national accolades. Junior Miller Hogan, after forgoing a pro career in the summer of 2017, went on to Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year honors and was named a Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball News. Hogan was also named to the Perfect Game/Rawlings All-American Third Team and was an ABCA Third Team All-American. Coach Hendrickson was also named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year as his team finished with a 19-4 record in league play. Hendrickson coached five players to Atlantic 10 post-season awards. In addition to Hogan's honor as Pitcher of the Year and All-Conference First Team, Nick Reeser, Parker Sniatynski, Jake Garella and Alex King were also named to the First Team. Further, he coached two MLB Draft picks as Hogan was taken in the sixth round, the highest draft pick in school history, by the Tampa Bay Rays, and Alex King was selected in the 35th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 2017 team captured the fourth seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament, posting a 35-22 overall record, tied for the third-most in school history. The Billikens wn three consecutive games in the Atlantic 10 championship, but ultimately fell to eventual champion Davidson. Hendrickson oversaw the development of closer Ryan Lefner, who set a SLU record with 14 saves in 2017. Sophomore pitcher Miller Hogan was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 2016, the Billikens earned the four seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament. SLU had six honorees achieve all-conference honors. Additionally, senior Matt Eckelman was selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft, making it the fourth consecutive season a Billiken had been selected in the draft. 

The 2015 Billikens finished the year 35-21, winning the fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 Regular Season title. It is the fifth time in A-10 history a team has won the regular season four years in a row, and the first time a team has done it outside of divisional play. The 35 wins also are the fourth consecutive season the Billikens have eclipsed the 30-win plateau and the seventh consecutive winning season for SLU (school record). 

In 2014, Hendrickson coached some of the best talent that Saint Louis has ever seen. For the first time, Saint Louis had two juniors selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft. One of these student-athletes was RHP James Norwood, who was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round, the earliest round in which a Billiken has been selected. SS Alec Solé was later selected in the 18th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. It is the fifth time in SLU history the Billikens have had multiple draft picks in a year and the third time under Hendrickson.

The Billikens experienced one of the greatest seasons in school history in 2013. The team matched the school record with 41 wins and claimed the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles. It was the first time since 1966 that the Billikens won both conference titles. Saint Louis was named the four seed in the NCAA Baseball Columbia Regional.

Hendrickson's players also reached new heights as Mike Vigliarolo was named the 2013 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. It is the first such accolade for a Billiken. Catcher Grant Nelson was drafted in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft. 

SLU first reaped the benefits of Hendrickson's labor in 2010 when he led the Billikens to an Atlantic 10 Conference championship, an NCAA Regional appearance and a school-record 33 victories. 

In his career, Hendrickson has coached 33 players who have been either drafted in the Major League Baseball draft or signed free-agent contracts. In addition, numerous players coached by Hendrickson have continued their careers with independent league teams. In five years at SLU, a total of seven players have gone on to sign contracts with Major League organizations.

Prior to coming to SLU, Hendrickson led Central Missouri to three conference regular-season and tournament championships and twice had his team reach the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2004, the Mules posted a school-record 57 wins, won a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship semifinals. Hendrickson's club duplicated its effort in 2005, with a 57-9 record, its sixth regional championship and a return trip to the NCAA semifinals. In 2006, Hendrickson earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors for his club's 51-13 record and the conference regular-season title. During his four seasons at he reins, the Mules posted a 209-46 record (.820).

Prior to taking over at CMSU, Hendrickson guided St. Louis Community College Forest Park to four NJCAA Super Regional championship games. His 2001 club advanced to the NJCAA World Series and finished the year with a 41-22 slate, earning Hendrickson Midwest Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) and District Coach of the Year honors. A 45-10 record in 2003, including a 14-4 league mark, was good enough to put the Highlanders in the No. 1 ranking in NJCAA D-II the final five weeks of the season. In four seasons at Forest Park, Hendrickson compiled a 155-74 record (.677). In addition to his coaching duties at Forest Park, he also served as the athletics director.

Hendrickson got his first head coaching experience at Fontbonne University, starting that baseball program in 1995. In just the program's third season, the 1998 Griffins went 41-7, won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) title with a 16-1 league record and advanced to the NCAA Division III Central Regional. Hendrickson was named SLIAC and Region Coach of the Year. He left Fontbonne with a 126-54 record (.700) over four seasons.

Hendrickson served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, SIUE, following his graduation in 1992. As a player, he earned first-team All-Region status both seasons on the mound for the Cougars and ranks second in school history with 10 wins and 111-1/3 innings pitched in 1991. With a career 18-5 record, he is fourth in school history in career winning percentage (.783) and 12th in career victories.

Hendrickson, a native of Granite City, Ill., earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from SIUE. His master's in sociology was conferred in 1995, following his bachelor's in political science in 1992. He and his wife, Laura, have three children, Reid, Paige and Andrew.