Sep 16, 2022 | Featured , Athletics , Baseball

Columbia State Announces Head Baseball Coaches

Pictured (left to right): Cody Crutcher, interim co-associate head baseball coach; Katie Willingham, Columbia State director of athletics; and Desi Ammons, Columbia State interim co-associate head baseball coach.
Pictured (left to right): Cody Crutcher, interim co-associate head baseball coach; Katie Willingham, Columbia State director of athletics; and Desi Ammons, Columbia State interim co-associate head baseball coach.

Columbia State Community College announced Desi Ammons and Cody Crutcher as interim co-associate head baseball coaches.

“I am thrilled to have Coach Ammons and Coach Crutcher step into their new roles,” said Katie Willingham, Columbia State director of athletics. “Their commitment and dedication to the Charger baseball program and student-athletes is exactly what any athletic director wants to have on staff. Their knowledge of the game and many years of experience will help our young men be successful on and off the field. I know they will continue the winning tradition that Charger baseball has established, and I look forward to this season.”

An Alaska native, Crutcher majored in sports management and played collegiately at both Columbia State and Southwest Baptist University in Missouri. He then served as assistant coach at Southwest Baptist University during the 2013-2015 seasons. Crutcher has been with the Columbia State baseball program as an assistant coach for the past seven years. His tenure at Columbia State saw the program post six winning seasons along with producing 28 All-Conference selections, 37 players that went on to play at NCAA Division 1 programs and four players in professional baseball.

“I’m excited to continue to be a part of the tradition of excellence that is synonymous with Columbia State baseball,” said Crutcher. “Columbia State is known as a top program throughout the state of Tennessee and nationally. I am looking forward to working with Coach Ammons in the associate head coach capacity and continuing to build the already well-respected entity that is Columbia State baseball.”

A Hohenwald native, Ammons played at Columbia State during the 2013-2014 seasons and was a member of the 2014 Junior College World Series team. He then attended Belmont University, where he played collegiately during the 2015-2016 seasons and majored in exercise science. Upon graduating in May 2016, he began his coaching career at Columbia State in Fall 2016 and was hired on as full-time baseball assistant/student affairs associate in 2019. He specializes in coordinating catchers and working with the hitters.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue shaping young men’s lives on the field and in the classroom,” said Ammons. “This institution holds a special place in my heart, and I look forward to carrying on the rich baseball heritage here at Columbia State.”

“While we will miss Coach Corn and the excellence he brought to our baseball program, we are pleased that we have these two young coaches with valuable experience to step in and continue moving our program forward,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “Both have been integral to the recruitment and development of our team, and I anticipate through their leadership we will have an exciting and winning season.


For more information about Columbia State baseball, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Baseball.