Ben Sanderson - Director of Player & Program Development - Baseball Coaches

Ben Sanderson

Title:
Director of Player & Program Development
Email:
bbsander@ncsu.edu
Phone:
(919) 515-3613

Ben Sanderson recently wrapped up his third season with the NC State baseball staff, after joining the program in July of 2017 as Director of Player and Program Development.

Sanderson joined the Wolfpack following a stint as an area scout with the National Scouting Report. Prior to that position, he was East Carolina's hitting instructor, outfield coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons.

During his first year with the Pirates, Sanderson helped the offense lead the Conference USA in batting average (.279), slugging percentage (.383) and sac flies (29), while ranking second in hits (548), home runs (33) and total bases (752).

He mentored a pair of First-Team All C-USA selections in first baseman Chase McDonald and utility player Drew Reynolds, while third baseman Zach Houchins (second-team) and catcher Travis Watkins (all-freshman team) also garnered post-season accolades.

McDonald, a 12th round selection in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Houston Astros, became just the second Pirate to lead C-USA (47th nationally) in home runs (13) joining 2008 Player-of-the-Year Corey Kemp. He also ranked first in RBI (46) and slugging percentage (.519), while standing ninth in walks (31).

Shortstop Jack Reinheimer, who batted .271 with nine doubles, 21 RBI and a team-best 10 stolen bases, was also taken in the MLB Draft after being picked in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners.

Off the field, Sanderson helped ECU secure consecutive Top-40 national recruiting rankings by Collegiate Baseball (No. 33/2012, No. 38/2013) and Perfect Game (No. 26/2012, No. 24/2013).

Prior to his return to ECU, Sanderson served four years as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University working with the Owls' hitters and outfielders, while playing an integral role in its recruiting efforts.

Sanderson helped the Owls to a 131-97 four-year record that included a pair of Sun Belt Conference regular season titles (2010, '12), an appearance in the 2010 Gainesville Regional, mentored eight all-conference selections and one All-America honoree (Andy Mee).

As a recruiter, Sanderson played a key role in putting together FAU's nationally ranked recruiting classes the last three years including the 2012 class, which was rated No. 26 by Perfect Game recruiting services.

In 2010, Sanderson helped develop players that led FAU to its first Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship and an appearance in the NCAA Gainesville Regional. The Owls advanced to the championship game losing to regional host Florida, which played in the College World Series.

Sanderson joined the Florida Atlantic coaching staff in 2008 after serving as a volunteer assistant coach for two years at ECU where he worked primarily with the outfielders and coached first base. Off the diamond, he was responsible for the Pirates' summer and winter baseball camps.

During his first stint with the Pirates, Sanderson was part of a staff that posted an 82-44 record and garnered a pair of No. 2 NCAA Regional seeds.

The 2008 club, which garnered a No. 2 seed at the 2008 Conway Regional after posting a 42-21 record, was ranked as high as No. 21 in the national polls and produced one of the most productive offensive seasons in C-USA history (all games) leading the league in nine categories including average (.317), hits (702), RBI (464), runs (498), slugging percentage (.499) and on-base percentage (.408).

Sanderson was instrumental in helping the 2007 Pirates lead Conference USA with 85 stolen bases and ranked among the league leaders in outfield assists. The Seven Springs, N.C. native had a pair of Pirates rank among the league leaders in stolen bases with Harrison Eldridge ranking seventh and Ryan Wood finishing eighth.

A four-year letter winner, Sanderson helped the Pirates to four NCAA Regional appearances (2000-03), one Super Regional (2001) and a combined 170-78-2 record. As a senior, he earned his second of two NCAA Regional all-tournament team selections in the Atlanta Regional, and became the first recipient of the honorary No. 23 jersey which was the number worn by ECU head coach Keith LeClair throughout his coaching and playing career.

During his junior campaign he was a member of the 2002 Conference USA Tournament Championship team that posted a 4-0 record and earned a NCAA Regional bid to the Clemson Regional. For his outstanding play, he was named to the regional all-tournament team. Sanderson closed out the season with a .405 batting average, which ranked second on the team and is tied for ninth on the single-season charts.

In 2001 the Pirates earned their first-ever NCAA National Seed, a top-10 national ranking, and NCAA Regional (Wilson) title while winning a school record-tying 47 games. As a freshman he helped ECU to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament title and a NCAA Regional (Lafayette) appearance.

Before going back to ECU in 2007, Sanderson spent two years as the operations manager/ strength and conditioning coordinator at the Triple Crown Baseball Center in Greenville, N.C., where he organized and coordinated strength and conditioning programs for youth members ages 7-19. He also managed daily facility activities including one-on-one and group instruction, camps and special events, as well as general facility maintenance.

Sanderson earned his undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science from ECU in 2003 and in May of 2006 completed his master's degree in exercise and sports science (sport management).