DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College Baseball program has promoted Jimmy Prince to Associate Head Coach and added Ben Johnston as the Recruiting Coordinator of the Flying Fleet, Head Coach Mark Crocco announced on Friday afternoon.

Johnston comes to Erskine for the 2024 season after consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II College World Series as an assistant coach at Rollins College.

"I am very excited to join the Erskine College Baseball family and the community at Erskine. Coach Crocco has done a fantastic job in his tenure as the head coach, and it was an easy decision to join this program," Johnston said.

Johnston, a Winchester, Massachusetts native, was a four-year letterman at Rollins as a catcher and graduated in 2019. He started his coaching career as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, where he helped lead the Wildcats to their first ever conference title in 2021.

After a championship season, Johnston went back to his alma mater to become an assistant coach at Rollins. In his first year back, the Tars made it to the Division II College World Series and finished third in the nation in 2022. The following year, Johnston helped lead Rollins to a Division II championship game appearance this past season.

Johnston will take over as the Recruiting Coordinator in 2024 and continue to bring players to Erskine College who fit the program's mission statement on and off the field.

"It was very clear to see that Ben Johnston is a winner. He has won everywhere he's been. Coach Johnston brings a wealth of knowledge to Due West and his attention to detail on and off the field is unmatched. We are very blessed to have him join our baseball family for the 2024 baseball season," Coach Crocco said.

Additionally, Jimmy Prince has been promoted to Associate Head Coach for the 2024 season. Prince will continue to lead the Developmental program that is the reigning Conference Carolinas Developmental champions as the Head Coach.

He will assist Head Coach Mark Crocco in daily practice plans and in-game operations as well as coach third base for both the Varsity and Developmental teams in the 2024 campaign.

"Coach Prince has been instrumental in the daily operations of our program with both the Varsity and Developmental teams. His infectious love for all of our players and the game of baseball is evident every day. I felt that this was a great way to honor a man who has been loyal to God's call on his life as a teacher of baseball and most importantly these outstanding young men in our baseball program," Crocco said.

The Fleet kickstart their season at home against rival Lander University next Thursday, February 1 at 2 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos