Ben Brewer - Baseball Coach - Southern Illinois University Athletics

Ben Brewer

Title:
Volunteer Assistant
Email:
SalukiBaseball@siu.edu

Ben Brewer has been the volunteer assistant coach at SIU for two seasons (2020-21).

In Brewer's first season (2020), SIU went 12-6 in the shortened 2020 season and was ranked in the top-50 nationally in the RPI at the end of the year. Offensively, SIU led the MVC in batting average, hits, walks, doubles, on-base percentage, and stolen bases. The Salukis ranked among the national leaders in stolen bases (fourth), walks (14th), doubles (16th), and hits (17th). Defensively, SIU was also outstanding in 2020, leading the MVC in fielding percentage and double plays. The Salukis turned 18 double plays in 18 games, which ranked ninth nationally. SIU committed only 12 errors in 18 games, and its .982 fielding percentage led the MVC and ranked 15th nationally. Brewer worked with the catchers, and SIU catcher Austin Ulick led the MVC in runners caught stealing.

In 2021, SIU went 40-20 in 2021, which was the most wins for the program in 31 years. The Salukis were one of the best offensive teams in the nation in 2021, ranking among the top-20 nationally (of 286) in hits (10th), slugging percentage (10th), home runs (15th), and runs scored (16th). Defensively, SIU ranked seventh in the the nation in double plays.

Southern Illinois hit several milestones with Brewer on staff. The Salukis won 19-straight games overlapping the 2020 and 2021 seasons, which was the longest at SIU since 1974. SIU's 14-0 start in 2021 was the best start in program history. The 2021 Salukis hit 84 home runs, which shattered the previous program record of 75 homers set in 1998. SIU also finished the 2021 season with an RPI of 82, the best for the program since 2007. SIU collected five wins over the RPI top-50, six wins over teams that made the NCAA Tournament, and nine wins over the RPI top-100, including a four-game series split with Dallas Baptist, who went on to advance to a Super Regional, and a road series win at Indiana State, which made the NCAA Tournament field as an at-large bid.

Brewer comes to SIU with a breadth of experience. As a player, Brewer was a catcher at UT Martin from 2010-13. He started his career at the prep level, including strength and conditioning experience in 2014. He started his baseball coaching career as a graduate assistant at Belhaven University in 2016 and 2017, where he helped lead the Blazers to back-to-back winning seasons. The 2017 team played its best down the stretch, ending the year with an eight-game winning streak.

Brewer worked with hitters, catchers, base running, and scouting reports in a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2018 and 2019. He developed two-time All-American Brandon Parker into the 2019 NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year. Parker was drafted in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. In Brewer's two seasons at MGCCC, the Bulldogs went 65-34 (.657).

Brewer graduated cum laude from UT Martin in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance. He earned his master's in sports administration from Belhaven University in 2018.