Photo Caption: During his time coaching at Columbia State, 15 of Corn's players have gone on to play Division I baseball at the university level, and four are playing professionally. The current team GPA is 3.0, and 13 players are on track to graduate this May.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Jan. 29, 2014) - - - Columbia State Community College's head baseball coach, Mike Corn was recently named the 2013 Junior College Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association.

"This is the third consecutive year that Coach Corn has received the award, and it is well deserved," said Louis Conner, Columbia State director of athletics and instructor of physical education. "Not only does he excel at coaching his team on the field; he works with both the athletes and their parents to make each season a success. The players respect him and make him look good."

Although honored, Corn gives all the credit and thanks to his players, commenting that it's not about him being a good coach; it's about the team performing well.

"This is so much more than a coach's award; it's really a team and program award," Corn said. "It is based on the performance of your team and the outcomes of your players."

In addition to time spent on the field, Corn's team spends time volunteering in the Columbia community. They have regularly participated in a special outreach effort with the Boys and Girls Club, as well as other service projects such as People Helping People.

The Chargers closed the 2013 season with a 36 - 21 record and an NJCAA Region 7 championship. They are now gearing up for the 2014 season with a home opener against Campbellsville University Feb. 1 at noon.

Corn began coaching at Columbia State in 2009. The Erwin, Tenn. native played baseball for Columbia State before transferring to Coker College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. He has been an active member of the TBCA for more than 12 years.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.