Staff Directory

Brendan O'Donnell

Title:
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
Phone:
251-6386

Brendan O'Donnell begins his second season on staff in 2026.

The Bulldogs finished the 2026 season with a 21-34 overall record, improving their win total by six games from the previous year. Asheville posted several notable accomplishments throughout the season, including the program’s first five-game winning streak since 2006. The Bulldogs also secured the department’s victory in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry with a win over USC Upstate, defeated Western Carolina at home for the first time since 2017, defeated Wofford at home for the first time since 2018, and handed High Point its only double-digit loss of the season. As a team, Asheville showed significant improvement both offensively and on the mound. The Bulldogs improved their team batting average and OPS from the previous season while lowering their ERA from 9.40 to 7.67. Asheville also allowed 48 fewer runs than the year prior and improved its WHIP from 2.16 to 1.87. At the plate, the Bulldogs nearly doubled their walk total from the previous season, drawing 261 walks compared to 164 in 2025. Asheville also increased its run production significantly, scoring 340 runs after totaling 281 the year before. On the basepaths, the Bulldogs recorded 80 stolen bases, doubling their total from 2025, and finished ninth nationally in stolen bases at home. Defensively, Asheville ranked No. 13 in the nation in double plays turned with 48 and improved its fielding percentage from .959 in 2025 to .965 this season. Individually, Drew Turner broke the program’s single-game strikeout record with 14 punchouts against Jackson State and finished the season leading the Big South Conference with 83 strikeouts. Freshman Ben Green earned national recognition after being named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List and the Perfect Game Midseason Freshman All-America Second Team. The Bulldogs also collected multiple weekly conference honors throughout the season, including five Big South Pitcher of the Week selections, two Relief Pitcher of the Week honors, and three Starting Pitcher of the Week recognitions. Three Bulldogs earned postseason conference honors. Blaize Johnson was named to the Big South All-Conference First Team, Green earned a spot on the Big South All-Freshman Team, and Lucas Boesen was selected to the Big South All-Academic Team.

O'Donnell joined the UNC Asheville Baseball coaching staff in July 2025.

O’Donnell spent the 2025 season on staff at his graduate alma mater James Madison, working primarily with the hitters and outfielders.

O’Donnell played his 2024 season at James Madison, hitting .312 with 16 home runs helping JMU advance to the N.C. State regional in the NCAA tournament. He was also named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.

Prior to JMU, he was a four-year member of the baseball team at Rider. He was an All-Conference selection in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2022, before being named a Preseason All-American in 2023. He holds both the Rider single-season and career home run records, having helped Rider to two MAAC tournament championships and two NCAA regional appearances. In 2023, he was a member of the team that defeated No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina in their opening game. He was also a three-time selection to the All-MAAC Academic Team.

O’Donnell holds a pair of bachelor’s degrees from Rider in Business Administration and Sport Management (2023). He is working on his master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Leadership from JMU.