By
Woody Peele
©2014 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
Cliff Godwin came back home Thursday, taking over the head baseball
coaching position at his alma mater, East Carolina.
For Godwin, it was the end of a circular route than began in 1997
when he was recruited out of nearby Greene Central High School by
then ECU Coach Gary Overton.
An outstanding athlete on the high school level, Godwin played
football, basketball and baseball at Greene Central, the latter
sport under Jim “Rabbit” Fulghum, one of the top high school coaches
in the state.
When he first arrived at East Carolina, Godwin told a welcoming
audience on Wednesday, he didn't know anything about Omaha and the
College World Series. But when Keith LeClair took over as the head
coach for the Pirates, the new mentor built a hope that ECU would —
one day — be a part of that series.
Now Godwin brings that same spirit back to Greenville and Pirate
Country, echoing his former coach. But he doesn't want to just make
it to Omaha, but win a national championship.
Following a red-shirt year as a freshman, Godwin moved into the
position behind the plate, serving three years as team captain. As a
senior, he was named All-East Regional by the American Baseball
Coaches Association and earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic
Association honors. As a senior, Godwin batted .322, hit 15 home
runs, drove in 45 runs, 14 doubles and drew 23 walks in 57 games.
He also earned Academic All-America honors twice, a third-team
selection in 1999 and a second-team selection in 2001.
As a player, Godwin helped East Carolina reach three NCAA regionals
and one-super regional, earning the No. 6 national seeding his
senior season. That year, just a heartbeat away from reaching
LeClair's goal of Omaha, the Pirates lost twice to Tennessee when
the Vols rallied in the late innings of both games.
Following his graduation, Godwin spent two years playing
professionally with the Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League
before turning his sights on coaching. He started that career by
returning to his roots, as an assistant coach at nearby Kinston.
After a season with the Vikings, Godwin entered the collegiate ranks
at UNC-Wilmington, helping the Seahawks to their first CAA title and
a berth in the regionals. After another two seasons, he was named as
the director of baseball operations at Vanderbilt — the team that
won this season's College World Series.
Two years later, he was off again, moving to Notre Dame as an
assistant coach. During his tenure there, the Fighting Irish won the
2006 Big East Tournament and gained an NCAA berth.
From 2006 to 2008, he served as assistant coach at LSU. His final
year there, the Tigers won the Southeastern Conference West
Division, won a regional and a super regional and advanced to the
College World Series.
Godwin moved on from there to Central Florida, as an assistant his
first year and as associate head coach the next year. He also served
as recruiting coordinator, again helping that team to the NCAA
regionals before leaving to take a position at Mississippi.
In four seasons at Ole Miss, Godwin was again recruiting coordinator
as the Rebels won the SEC West, made three regionals and one super
regional and advanced to this year's College World Series.
In each of his positions, Godwin became known as an outstanding
recruiter.
In naming Godwin, Director of Athletics Jeff Compher said he had an
almost immediate bond with Godwin after meeting him for his
interview in Omaha during the Series.
Godwin wasted little time in getting the crowd of supporters into
his hand.
“I want to get Clark-LeClair rockin' again,” he told them, bringing
on cheers.
Godwin said he didn't expect things to happen overnight but his
goals were to win championships in the American Athletic Conference,
earn regional berths, win them, win super regionals and win the
Series.
Calling himself a “relentless recruiter,” he said he would be
embarking on that road immediately.
He also spelled out what he expected from himself, his staff and his
players — using “Pirates” as an acronym.
“P” stands for purpose, both on the field and off. He expects his
charges to be their best on the field and off, including in the
classroom.
“I” is for integrity, performing on every platform of their lives in
a way that shines light on themselves, their school and their
program.
“R” is for responsibility, taking on the task of improving as
players and students, and going into the community to help wherever
possible, at elementary schools, for the underprivileged and in
other ways.
“A” is for attitude, again both on and off the field, performing in
a way that lets players learn in their sport and in the classroom.
“T” is for toughness, saying his teams might not be as talented as
others, but they would tougher than anyone they play.
“E” is for excellence, striving to be the best they can in all
areas.
And “S” is for selflessness, putting team before themselves, playing
for the name on the front of their jerseys and not the name on the
back.
Sounds like a good thing. Welcome home, Coach Godwin.