Lipscomb University (TN) | Coaches and Staff

Williams named to College Sports Madness A-Sun Team

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With the start of the 2012 baseball season less than a month away, Lipscomb senior outfielder M.L. Williams has been named to the College Sports Madness 2012 Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference First Team.

"M.L. is a versatile player and is extremely valuable to our offense," said Lipscomb head coach Jeff Forehand. He's the one that makes our offense go by generating runs or setting the table. We expect a big season out of him this year."

A 2011 A-Sun All Conference Second Team selection, Williams hit .354 along with scoring a team-high 48 runs last season. The Marietta, Ga., native also led the team on the base paths swiping 24 bases in 25 attempts.

Brothers Reflects on Life in the Big Leagues

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Dressed in boots, a button-down shirt and jeans, Rex Brothers looks every bit the part yes-sir, no-ma'am Shelbyville native.

Put him on the mound, staring down a hitter in the late innings of a pressure situation and the view is a little different.

Fortunately, Brothers wore the purple-and-gold in college and drove Atlantic Sun hitters crazy. He owns three of the top five strikeout campaigns in Lipscomb history and was named to the All-Tournament team at the 2008 Athens Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

The 34th pick in the 2009 draft wrapped up his rookie season with the Colorado Rockies in September. Brothers finished his first tour of duty in the big leagues with a 1-2 record, 2.88 ERA, 59 strikeouts and one save in 48 appearances.

He was back at his alma mater last week for the monthly Jim Wood luncheon as the guest speaker. During a Q&A session with the "Voice of the Bisons", Jonathan Seamon, Brothers told stories of his call-up, life in the big leagues and his adjustment to the majors.

Continued.....

Jeff Forehand

Head Coach: Lipscomb University

With over 300 collegiate wins under his belt, Jeff Forehand was named the 15th coach in the history of the storied Lipscomb program in 2007.

Under his direction, the Bisons reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 2008 behind an Atantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship. A major underdog, Lipscomb traveled to Athens, Ga., taking out host Georgia in the opening round before falling to Georgia Tech in round two. That setup a rematch with the Bulldogs and Georgia prevailed in round two ending the Bisons first NCAA Regional.

Forehand's 2009 club came within one win of back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament falling in the A-Sun championship game. That season would see another milestone for Forehand's program as pitcher Rex Brothers would become the second Lipscomb player drafted in the top round of the Major League Baseball draft. Taken as the 34th overall pick in the draft by the Colorado Rockies, the hard-throwing lefty made a quick rise to the majors making his MLB debut June 6th, 2011 with a 96 mph fastball against the San Diego Padres.

Paul Phillips

Assistant Coach: Lipscomb University

After more than 900 games and 15 seasons in professional baseball including stints in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox and the Colorado Rockies, Paul Phillips joined the Lipscomb staff in the summer of 2012 hanging up his mitt as a player.

A collegiate standout at the University of Alabama, Philips was drafted after his junior season with the Crimson Tide by the Royals in the ninth round, eight slots ahead of Mark Teixeira. It marked the third time that Phillips had been drafted after being chosen by the Royals in the 59th round in 1995 and in the 25th round by the Astros after the 1996 season.

The backstop spent six seasons in the Kansas City farm system before making his Major League debut in 2004. The right-handed stick hit the first of his three MLB home runs at Safeco Field in August 2005, a grand slam off Matt Thornton.

Brian Ryman

Director of Operations: Lipscomb University

Brian Ryman enters his second year as the director of operations for the Lipscomb athletics department.

Ryman served as director of baseball operations in 2006. He was named an assistant coach for the 2007 and 2008 seasons before returning as director of baseball operations in 2009 and 2010. In 2011 Ryman began to serve as the Director of Operations for the entire department as well as director of baseball operations.

Ryman's responsibilities with the baseball program include managing baseball camps, over seeing fundraising, team travel, on-campus recruiting, and summer league placement for the Lipscomb players.

Ryman is also baseball's liaison with Lipscomb athletics compliance. He also works closely with the National Bison Club and the Lipscomb Baseball Alumni, organizing various team events throughout the year, and he helps coordinate the Lipscomb Baseball Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament.