Since taking the reins of the KSU Baseball program in the summer of 2013, Jeff Duncan has continued the winning ways of each of his predecessors. Duncan, who was at Purdue in 2012 when the Golden Flashes swept the field at the NCAA Gary Regional hosted by the Boilermakers, has guided KSU to two MAC Tournament titles (2014, 2018) and back-to-back-to-back regular season conference crowns in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Under the Chicago-land native’s leadership, Kent State boasts the following achievements:

• Three-time MAC Coach of the Year (2016, 2017, 2018)
• 2018 Collegiate Baseball Chuck Tanner Coach of the Year
• 269-152 overall record for an average season record of 33-19
• 131-63 MAC record for an average MAC record of 19-9
• 47-12-2 record in MAC series
• Has only been swept once in a MAC series

The skipper's recent accomplishments also include 43 All-MAC performers, 58 Academic All-MAC players, two Academic All-American selections, five All-Americans, nine All-Region players and his teams have combined to post a 3.24 cumulative grade point average. Of the 45 players drafted under Duncan's watch, 15 have come in the top-10 rounds.

A former Big League outfielder for the New York Mets, Duncan's teams have beaten perennial powerhouses such as Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Coastal Carolina and Mississippi State during his tenure to keep Kent State a national threat.  The program has gone 12-5 against Big Ten opponents over the past five years, including a 4-0 mark in 2019. The Flashes went 3-1 against ACC competition in 2018 and took two-out-of-three from ACC opponents in 2019. In 2021, Duncan led the Golden Flashes to a 9-5 victory over then #2 Mississippi State. It was the highest ranked team Kent State has defeated since toppling #1 Florida in the 2012 College World Series. 

The Golden Flashes have run roughshod over their Mid-American Conference rivals under Duncan, the three-time MAC Coach of the Year. Kent State dominated Mid-American Conference regular season play in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2016 Flashes finished 20-4 – just slightly off the insane pace and school record of 24-3 set by the 2012 squad. Kent State’s nearest threat in 2016 was Ball State, which finished five games off the pace. In 2017, Kent State posted an 18-6 league mark, two games better than second place Central Michigan. In 2018, the Flashes finished the regular season 19-8, two games better than Miami and Ball State, each finishing 17-10. In the last four MAC seasons, KSU has not been swept in a MAC series.

In 13 years of college coaching, Duncan has worked with 45 players who have been selected in the MLB Draft, including 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year Kevin Plawecki who was drafted in the first round and currently plays for the New York Mets, and 2016 Collegiate Baseball Pitcher of the Year Eric Lauer, who was selected in the first round and currently plays for the San Diego Padres. Joining Lauer in the Major Leagues include pitchers Andrew Chafin and Taylor Williams. 

In 2021, the Flashes ran their streak of 30-plus win seasons to 22-straight full seasons with a 30-26 record. The season was highlighted by a 9-5 victory over then #2 Mississippi State. Outfielders Ben Carew and Cam Touchette earned first-team honors, headlining eight All-MAC award earned by the Golden Flashes. 

The 2020 season was cut short after just 14 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortened season did see the Flashes take two-of-three from mid-major powers Florida Gulf Coast and Winthrop. 

In 2019, Duncan guided the Flashes to a 30-24 mark, continuing the streak of 30-plus win seasons since Duncan took over in 2013 and running Kent State's streak of 30-plus win seasons to 21 straight and counting. Eight Golden Flashes earned All-MAC accolades, led by Justin Kirby, who earned the program's first conference Freshman of the Year since Andrew Chafin took home the award in 2009. Kirby was also a member of the Freshman All-America team, marking the sixth time in seven seasons that Duncan has had a player on a freshman All-America team.

Ben Carew took home a bevvy of awards including: All-MAC First Team, All-MAC Defensive Team, Second Team All-Region and Third-Team All-America. Carew's All-America nod marked the third-straight season Duncan has coached a player to All-America status. 

Three more of Duncan's players heard their name called in the Major League Baseball Rule-4 Draft. John Matthews and Connor Wollersheim were both selected in the eighth round by the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, respectfully. With two more players drafted in the top-10 rounds, Coach Duncan has had 15 different players taken in the first ten rounds of the entry draft. Pavin Parks was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 36th round, moving Coach Duncan's total to 45 drafted players. 

In 2018, Kent State compiled a 40-18 record and swept the regular season and MAC Tournament titles. The Flashes made an appearance at the NCC Regional Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, knocking off New Mexico State before falling to No. 24 Louisville to end the season. Joey Murray was named Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American and Colin Romel was named to the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American team, while 11 Flashes earned Academic All-MAC honors for the third consecutive year. Murray, along with Austin Havekost, and Eli Kraus were called in the 2018 draft.

The Flashes finished with a 37-18 season in 2017, adding another regular season MAC title. Kent State saw four Flashes earn First Team All-MAC honors, and 11 student-athletes garner Academic All-MAC honors, tying the record set in 2016. Luke Burch, Patrick Dayton, Jake Latz, Dylan Rosa, and Zach Willeman were selected in the 2017 draft.

The 2016 season went down as one of the most successful, not just in Duncan's reign, but in program history. The team compiled a 44-14 record, tying the third-most wins in history, and a 20-4 conference record en route to a regular season MAC title. Eric Lauer was named the National Player and National Pitcher of the Year as well as a consensus All-American while he was joined by two teammates on the All-MAC First Team.  Lauer was also named an Academic All-American, making it back-to-back seasons that Duncan has mentored a top academic student achiever. A record 11 student-athletes garnered Academic All-MAC honors in 2016.  Lauer, Andy Ravel and Conner Simonetti all had their name called in the 2016 draft.

Duncan guided the Golden Flashes to a 31-21 record in 2015 including a Mid-American East Division title as the Flashes went 18-9 in conference play. Three of his players earned All-MAC recognition while two were named All-Region. Additionally, the team had eight Academic All-MAC students, the most for the program since the award was first given out in 1972. Sophomore Jared Skolnicki led the way in the classroom as he earned Academic All-America honors, just the third student to be named such in program history.

In his first year at the helm, Duncan led Kent State to a 36-23 season and a NCAA postseason appearance after a four-game sweep of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.  His offense belted 22 triples, tying the most in any single season dating back to 1970.  Four Golden Flashes earned All-MAC honors while two were named All-Region.  Duncan also developed senior Cody Koch into a MAC Tournament MVP and NCAA All-Tournament honoree. Three three-year players were drafted in the 2014 MLB Draft.

In the classroom, Kent State continued its academic success. Six student-athletes were named Academic All-MAC.  Duncan also had a student earn All-District Academic honors while the team maintained a cumulative grade point average above 3.1.  The team posted its third-best spring semester GPA in recorded history.

Before coming to Kent State, Duncan spent four seasons at Purdue, helping lead the team to a school-record 45 wins in 2012, including a Big Ten Regular Season Championship, Big Ten Tournament Championship and a NCAA Regional Host.  He was named associate head coach in September of 2012.  Duncan was named the assistant in the Big Ten most ready for a head coaching job by College Baseball Insider and was listed as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation by Baseball America.
 
While a part of the Boilermakers program, Duncan served as the hitting, base running and outfield coach and also as the recruiting coordinator.  He signed three recruiting classes that were ranked nationally by Collegiate Baseball Magazine.  He helped lead the Purdue program to 133 wins in his four years on staff.
 
Prior to Purdue, Duncan was an assistant coach at Auburn University from August 2008-September 2009 where he served as the third base coach and assisted with the team's offense and outfielders.  While there, he coached nine position players that were drafted by Major League Baseball and helped the team set a single-season record of 103 home runs.
 
Duncan played baseball professionally for nine seasons in the Mets, Padres, Blue Jays and Dodgers organizations.  He spent two of those years at the Major League level with the Mets during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  Duncan was also a three-time All-Star selection while in the Minor Leagues.  He was drafted twice: in the seventh round by the Mets in 2000 and in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Cubs out of high school.
 
Before going pro, Duncan played baseball at Arizona State.  Batting .360 in his career as a Sun Devil, Duncan was captain of the 2000 team that went on to win a PAC-10 Championship.
 
Duncan, who is signed through the 2020 season, resides in Streetsboro with his wife Lauren, son Bryce and daughter Shea.

What They Are Saying About Jeff Duncan:
 
"I am looking forward to the opportunity to work side-by-side with Coach Duncan as we move this program to greater heights.  Jeff was a terrific player in his collegiate and professional careers and has transitioned into a highly respected coach who has demonstrated a tireless work ethic in regards to evaluating, recruiting and developing student-athletes.  He has a strong passion for baseball and I am very excited about the future of this program with Coach Duncan as the head coach"
Mike Birkbeck
Kent State associate head coach

"I am thrilled that Kent State has decided to hire Jeff Duncan as their next head baseball coach.  He was an excellent player and I believe he is an even better coach.  The Golden Flashes will continue to be championship contenders under the direction of Coach Duncan."
Scott Stricklin
Georgia head coach
Kent State head coach, 2005-2013

"Jeff will do an outstanding job leading the Kent State baseball program.  He has a wealth of baseball experience, is a tireless recruiter, and one of the best persons and competitors that I have been around."
Doug Schreiber
Purdue head coach

"Jeff's track record recruiting high quality student-athletes and developing them on the field speaks for itself.  I have seen first-hand the outstanding work he has done at Purdue University.  The coach in me knows this is a great hire and the alum in me is excited to see that the history and tradition of Kent State Baseball in good hands."
Greg Beals
Ohio State head coach

"I think he's one of the finest young assistant coaches in college baseball.  He is very deserving of this opportunity and will make a fine head coach for Kent State."
Mac Seibert
Regional Scouting Supervisor, New York Mets

"Jeff Duncan will join a long list of outstanding coaches at Kent State.  I believe he will do a tremendous job and continue the great tradition of their baseball program."
Dave Keilitz
Executive Director, American Baseball Coaches Association

"Jeff is a guy who reached the highest level as a player, and as good of a player and coach as he is, he's an even better person.  Everyone who's known him as a coach knows what a great job he'll do."
Mike Rooney
College baseball analyst, ESPNU
Arizona State assistant coach, 1998-2004