Barry Batson begins his 16th season as assistant coach with State College of Florida baseball. Batson’s duties include coaching first base, middle infielders, outfielders and assisting with recruiting. During his tenure as an assistant coach, the Manatees have been to seven straight state tournaments winning the State Championship in 2010 and advancing to the JUCO World Series.

Batson graduated from Bradenton Christian High School in 1983 after helping the Panthers to a district championship in 1981 and back-to-back Bay Conference championships in 1981 and 1982. He led the Panthers in batting average (.388) and stolen bases as a senior and was selected first team All-Bay Conference shortstop and MVP. He was the only baseball player in Manatee County to receive a college baseball scholarship in 1983. He played his college baseball at Montreat-Anderson College and the University of Charleston (UC) and graduated from UC with a B.A. in mass communications in 1988.

Batson was an assistant coach at Cardinal Mooney and Southeast high schools, as well as the head coach of the Manatee HEAT. As the head coach, he led the team to district runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006.

Batson founded the Athletics in Christ ministry in 1998 and has worked with Baseball Chapel within the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and the Sarasota Red Sox (class A Florida State League) organizations.  

Batson is a developer of Web-based strength and conditioning programs for professional baseball teams. He currently works with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates strength and conditioning coaches and has maintained the Web-based media for the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.

He is the administrator of Providence Community School in Bradenton. Batson and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Caleb and Christina, and reside in Bradenton.