CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian University head baseball coach Jeremy Haworth has announced the addition of Griffin Smith to the Choctaw baseball coaching staff. Smith joins the program after a successful tenure at Ecclesia College, where he quickly established himself as one of the rising young coaches in collegiate baseball.
Smith will bring experience in player development, recruiting, offensive instruction, scouting, analytics and program building to the Choctaws as the program continues its pursuit of championship success.
"This opportunity is truly special for me and I couldn't be more thankful," Smith said. "From the first conversations with Coach Haworth, it was clear that this program is built on strong relationships, character, player development and success. I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and excited to help this program win a national championship. Go Choctaws!"
During his time at Ecclesia College, Smith helped engineer a dramatic turnaround for the program. After serving as recruiting coordinator, pitching coach and associate head coach, he was elevated to head coach and hitting coach in 2024. Under his leadership, the Royals posted a 33-14 record in 2025 and a 21-9 mark in 2026 while earning conference championships, regional appearances and national rankings in multiple offensive categories.
In 2025, Ecclesia ranked among the nation's leaders in batting average, on-base percentage, triples, stolen bases and slugging percentage. Smith coached 13 all-conference selections, five Gold Glove winners and two all-region performers while guiding the program to a conference title and the No. 1 regional seed. His efforts earned him both Conference Coach of the Year and Natural State College Coach of the Year honors.
A native of Arkansas, Smith has also gained valuable experience in summer collegiate baseball. He served as pitching coach for the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods League, bench coach for the Green Bay Rockers and general manager of the Natural State Collegiate League. Additionally, he has worked as a high school area scout for Prep Baseball Report, evaluating and building relationships with players and coaches across the region.
"We are excited to welcome Griffin Smith to our baseball staff," Haworth said. "Griffin is a proven leader who has demonstrated the ability to build and sustain a winning culture under challenging circumstances. His passion for developing student-athletes, commitment to excellence and understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level make him an outstanding fit for Mississippi Christian University Baseball."
Haworth believes Smith's diverse coaching background and ability to connect with student-athletes will have an immediate impact on the program.
"Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that Griffin's values align with the mission of our program and university," Haworth said. "His experience in recruiting, player development, analytics and building relationships will strengthen every aspect of our program. We are confident he will have an immediate impact on our players both on and off the field, and we are thrilled to have him and his family join the Choctaw family."
Smith's coaching résumé includes recruiting players from across the United States and internationally, helping transform Ecclesia College from a 13-win program into a conference champion and nationally recognized contender. He has also developed extensive experience using modern baseball technologies, including TrackMan, Synergy, Rapsodo and PitchLogic, to assist player development and game preparation.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Central Baptist College and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University.
He joins the Choctaws as Mississippi Christian University continues preparations for the upcoming season with aspirations of competing for championships at the conference and national levels.
