Lancaster Bible College and the Lancaster Bible College Athletic Department are pleased to announce the hiring of Rod Baughman as Head Men's & Women's Tennis Coach. Baughman, who also serves as Assistant Athletic Director for Fundraising and Mentorship, takes over for Darren Rowles who stepped down in June after two seasons.

Baughman has an extensive coaching background, totaling 25 years as a head college and high school basketball coach. Baughman helped occasionally this past season with the tennis teams, and has developed relationships with the student-athletes on both teams. Baughman said he is excited to be coaching again and to be able to have the chance to mentor and lead a group of student-athletes.

"I'm excited to be in the coaching realm again, and looking forward to competing and mentoring student-athletes," Baughman said. 

Baughman worked at Lancaster Bible in the mid-90's after graduating from Lebanon Valley College in 1991 with degrees in both accounting and business management, as he was the head women's basketball for a year, before taking over the men's basketball program for two years. After Lancaster Bible, Baughman worked at Conestoga Christian for a year, before beginning a 20-year stint at Meadowbrook Christian School in Milton, Pa. where he served as a school administrator and the Head Boys Basketball Coach.

Baughman, who returned to Lancaster Bible prior to the 2018-19 academic year, said he wants to build off the success that the team has had over the past two years, and will be bringing back the non-traditional season (fall) to go along with the traditional season (spring).

"We will look to build off the recent success of the program and we are excited to be able to have both fall and spring tennis as we build the program to new heights," Baughman said. "There is a great group of student-athletes in the men's and women's tennis program, and there is lots of potential both on and off the court. I can't wait to get started."

Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics agreed with Baughman that there is lots of potential with the tennis programs, and believes Baughman is the right choice to lead the programs.

"I think the enthusiasm Rod will bring to the program will help our student-athletes not only improve as tennis players, but will help them feel valued as well," Beers said. "I'm very excited that Rod has taken the reins of the tennis programs."

The Lancaster Bible men's tennis team won its first-ever North Eastern Athletic Conference championship this past season and the women's tennis team appeared in the NEAC Final this past year as well.

The tennis teams will begin their non-traditional season in September.