JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After eight seasons as an assistant coach for the baseball team in Mossy Creek, Charlie Munroe will finalize his certification while working at Jefferson County High School. Head coach Tom Griffin has filled the void with the hire of Skyler Barnett.
Munroe's duties included working with hitters and outfielders, recruiting and coaching first base on game days. The Newton, New Jersey native played two seasons at Carson-Newman in 2004 and 2005. Munroe was tabbed a second team All-South Atlantic Conference selection in 2005 after hitting .372 with 42 RBI and a league-best .497 on-base percentage.
After receiving a degree in physical education in 2005, Munroe later received a Master's in Counseling from Carson-Newman in 2010.
"Charlie is like family to me and has done a tremendous job in our program as a player and as a coach," Griffin said of the veteran assistant. "I am very excited for him as he begins the next chapter of his career in teaching and coaching. He has made many sacrifices for the baseball program which I will always be grateful."
Skyler Barnett will be in charge of recruiting, work with outfielders and hitters and be the first base coach on game days for Carson-Newman.
Barnett comes to Mossy Creek after spending the 2014 season with Austin Peay State University where he was the position coach for catchers and assisted with hitting while coaching first base. The Governors finished 23-33 last season with their 23 victories good for fifth-most in the Ohio Valley Conference.
"Skyler is a very familiar with our program," Griffin said of the newest member of the Eagle coaching staff. "I recruited him out of high school and he has worked our catching camp for several years. He is very energetic and passionate about the game. The coaches he has worked for rave about his abilities to work with players and his work ethic."
The Erwin, Tenn. native has experience in the SAC after working as a graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial in 2013. Barnett coached catchers and hitters while coaching first base for a Railsplitter club that won the SAC tournament for the first time in 54 seasons.
As a player, Barnett was a four-year letterwinner at East Tennessee State as a catcher. He received All-Academic honors from the Atlantic Sun in his final three seasons as well as being a recipient of the commissioner's medal for academic achievement. Barnett was named a team captain in 2012 and was known as a defensive force behind the plate. His best season was his sophomore year where he hit .296 with five RBI and a .486 on-base percentage.
At Unicoi County High School, Barnett was named to the Johnson City Press Super 22 while being selected to the East Region TBCA Worth All-Star Team after hitting .360 with six home runs, nine doubles and 33 RBI as a junior.
Barnett owns a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from East Tennessee State and is working towards a Master's in Education in Curriculum Instruction from Lincoln Memorial.
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