Gary Calhoun was a veteran presence on the bench for the Keene SwampBats last summer while serving as the team’s Associate Head

Coach. Calhoun is back as the 2019 Head Coach this summer as the SwampBats chase their fifth NECBL title and first since 2013. Said Calhoun, “I am excited to return to one of the great baseball communities in this country. The Keene fans, the Alumni Field atmosphere and the level of talented players in the NECBL made it an easy decision for me to return to the SwampBats.” 

President of the SwampBats, Kevin Watterson, offered these thoughts, “Gary Calhoun is one of the most respected collegiate coaches in the U.S. We are very fortunate to have Gary returning to us. He made a huge impact last summer on our players, in addition to being a popular face of the SwampBats throughout the community. We are looking forward to his direction and leadership as he molds what we feel is a championship caliber team.” 

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Gary played for nationally renowned Florida Southern College, where he backboned a national title team in 1976. Upon graduating, Gary spent a number of years playing professional baseball and then coaching several New York Yankees’ minor league teams from 1997 to 2006. Additionally, Gary spent time coaching in both the Detroit Tigers and Milwau- kee Brewers minor league systems. Collegiately, Gary was the head coach of Tampa’s Hillsborough Community College for 31 years, where he won one national championship and was named na- tional coach of the year in 1988. Gary also man- aged the South Team in the 1989 Olympic Festival. 

In the offseason Gary and his wife Ann reside on Omelia Island, Florida. They have two children.