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Godwin and baseball: A family affair
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — When Billy Godwin stands in the third base coach’s box at Clark-LeClair Stadium, two of his biggest fans are seated in the stands a short distance away.
Godwin’s wife, Sharon, and daughter, Mallory, are regular fixtures at East Carolina’s baseball games.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Godwin said with a smile. “I think my wife has only missed three games and that was (at) UCLA this year. It’s a great feeling to have them there.
“It’s nice you have support like that. All of our families support us. I’ve been married now 16 years. I don’t think I would have stayed married that long if I didn’t have support in the profession I’m in, so I’m very blessed there.”
Sharon and Mallory will undoubtedly be at Boshamer Stadium on Friday when the Pirates play the Western Carolina Catamounts in the NCAA Regional at Chapel Hill.
After missing out on taking the Pirates to regionals in his first year as head coach last season, where he guided the Pirates to a 33-26 record, Godwin is thrilled to be in the postseason this year.
“It feels great,” Godwin said. “For me, personally, it’s a great achievement.”
Postseason success is nothing new to Godwin, a former standout at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount.
Godwin, who won 19 games as a pitcher at Atlantic Christian College and was given the Kiwanis Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete in 1986, has enjoyed success at many levels.
He was 131-57 in seven years as head coach at Enfield Academy, taking his team to four straight Final Fours and winning the state championship in 1994.
Godwin was an assistant coach on N.C. Wesleyan’s 1989 NCAA Division III national championship team.
In six years at Louisburg College, Godwin compiled a 262-85 record. Among his personal achievements, Godwin earned Region X and Eastern District Coach of the Year and was named the North Carolina Coach of the Year in 2002.
“I’ve been blessed in my career,” Godwin said. “I’ve coached in a lot of championship events. I coached in the Junior College World Series (with Louisburg).”
With the Pirates preparing for the NCAA Regional, Godwin couldn’t be happier.
“I find, at this time of the year, it’s the best time to coach because the kids are pretty jacked up,” Godwin said. “You don’t have to say a lot to them. They’re going to come ready to play. They’re going to give you their best effort. If they fail, it’s not because they’re not competing and giving 100 percent.”
Godwin, who has led the Pirates to a 39-21 record this year, will look to take a relaxed approach to the game during the postseason.
“I think what I have to do is encourage and have patience,” he said. “Sometimes that’s not my demeanor. I’m a little more high strung at times.
“Our guys have worked hard and they’ve earned this. We have to go let them play.”
Godwin’s wife, Sharon, and daughter, Mallory, are regular fixtures at East Carolina’s baseball games.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Godwin said with a smile. “I think my wife has only missed three games and that was (at) UCLA this year. It’s a great feeling to have them there.
“It’s nice you have support like that. All of our families support us. I’ve been married now 16 years. I don’t think I would have stayed married that long if I didn’t have support in the profession I’m in, so I’m very blessed there.”
Sharon and Mallory will undoubtedly be at Boshamer Stadium on Friday when the Pirates play the Western Carolina Catamounts in the NCAA Regional at Chapel Hill.
After missing out on taking the Pirates to regionals in his first year as head coach last season, where he guided the Pirates to a 33-26 record, Godwin is thrilled to be in the postseason this year.
“It feels great,” Godwin said. “For me, personally, it’s a great achievement.”
Postseason success is nothing new to Godwin, a former standout at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount.
Godwin, who won 19 games as a pitcher at Atlantic Christian College and was given the Kiwanis Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete in 1986, has enjoyed success at many levels.
He was 131-57 in seven years as head coach at Enfield Academy, taking his team to four straight Final Fours and winning the state championship in 1994.
Godwin was an assistant coach on N.C. Wesleyan’s 1989 NCAA Division III national championship team.
In six years at Louisburg College, Godwin compiled a 262-85 record. Among his personal achievements, Godwin earned Region X and Eastern District Coach of the Year and was named the North Carolina Coach of the Year in 2002.
“I’ve been blessed in my career,” Godwin said. “I’ve coached in a lot of championship events. I coached in the Junior College World Series (with Louisburg).”
With the Pirates preparing for the NCAA Regional, Godwin couldn’t be happier.
“I find, at this time of the year, it’s the best time to coach because the kids are pretty jacked up,” Godwin said. “You don’t have to say a lot to them. They’re going to come ready to play. They’re going to give you their best effort. If they fail, it’s not because they’re not competing and giving 100 percent.”
Godwin, who has led the Pirates to a 39-21 record this year, will look to take a relaxed approach to the game during the postseason.
“I think what I have to do is encourage and have patience,” he said. “Sometimes that’s not my demeanor. I’m a little more high strung at times.
“Our guys have worked hard and they’ve earned this. We have to go let them play.”
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