Photo Caption: Mike Corn said his players are doing more than just taking classes. They are representing themselves, their families, the college, and the city of Columbia. He believes the added responsibility will naturally drive them to succeed.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Aug. 8, 2014) - - - The American Baseball Coaches Association named Mike Corn the NJCAA Division I Diamond Regional Coach of the Year for the East Central District. The Columbia State Community College head baseball coach recently led the Chargers baseball team to the 2014 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

In addition to leading his team to winning the NJCAA Region 7 and East Central District championships, Corn also led the Chargers to an overall sixth place national ranking in the NJCAA this year. This year's team had record-breaking wins for the college, ending the season 46-13.

"Mike has done an excellent job with his players on and off the field this year, as he does every year," said Louis Conner, Columbia State athletic director. "He leads their involvement in community service, campus events and academic coaching. He sets a great example and shows his team that being a part of Columbia State is more than just baseball."

Humbled by his success, Corn credits his team as well as the college and community, commenting that the national recognition adds momentum to the college's institutional goals by enhancing the lives of its students.

"Athletic success can be a wonderful way to jumpstart interest in other college programs," Corn said. "The way our young men represent this community on and off the field is dynamic reflection of the quality education they are receiving. Columbia State is putting out a great product."

Corn also noted that his players are excelling in the classroom. He pointed out that all nine of his sophomore players this past spring were recruited to play at the four-year level with eight of them transferring to Division I universities.

"This year alone we had three of our nine graduates do so with honor," Corn said. "These young men are committed to something greater than them and will have a much stronger feeling of connection to the college.

This award marks the first ABCA award for the college since the mid-90s. Corn was also named the 2013 Junior College Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association, earning the title for the third consecutive year.

Corn began coaching at Columbia State in 2009. The Erwin, Tenn. native played baseball for Columbia State before transferring to Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education.

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, one of the largest higher education systems 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.