Jonathan Estes enters his third season as skipper of the Freed-Hardeman University baseball program. The Lions look to build on their previous two seasons that saw them win a combined 60 games and advance to the conference tournament each year. The Lions return eight starters from last year along with 80% of the innings pitched.
Prior to coming to FHU, Estes spent three seasons as the head coach at Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.). At Harris-Stowe, Estes helped rebuild a team that had been to post-season play just twice in 12 years. In his first two years at the helm, Estes led the Hornets to consecutive post season berths including a second place finish in 2007, their highest since 1994. That 2007 squad swept conference doubleheaders from four or five teams helping Estes earn American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year. In 2008, the Hornets rallied to win seven of their final eight conference games to earn a return trip to postseason play.
Estes' first five recruiting classes have yielded 20 All-Conference selections, five Gold Glove winners, four conference Freshmen-of-the-Year, one conference Player-of-the-Year, a national Pitcher-of-the-Week, and a national Player-of-the-Week. This year's class includes several freshmen and transfers that figure to get into the mix early for the Lions.
Estes' teams have also excelled in the classroom. His programs have produced 11 All-American Scholar Athletes and earned NAIA Scholar Team Awards in 2008 and 2009. During his five years, his squads have placed 66 total players on the academic all-conference teams.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Estes spent parts of three seasons in professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. The Cardinals drafted Estes after his senior year at FHU in the 2002 Major League Baseball amateur draft. Estes was 7-3 with a 3.54 ERA during his career pitching as both a starter and reliever.
Estes spent three years at FHU as a pitcher from 2000-2002 after transferring from NCAA division 1 St. Louis University. Estes earned All-Conference honors each season as a Lion and NAIA Scholar Athlete as a junior and senior. Upon graduation, Estes was in the top five in 16 of 18 single season and career pitching records at FHU, holding nine. Estes still holds pitching records for single season innings pitched, single season and career complete games, career batting average against and career ERA.
Estes holds a degree in Marketing from FHU graduating Magna Cum Laude and a Masters in Teaching from Lindenwood University. Estes is married to the former Ashley Bennett and they have two sons, Dean (5) and Lane (3).
J.D. Flowers is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach of the Lion baseball team after serving three years as the graduate assistant coach and playing for the Lions for four years.
In 2006, Flowers coached first base and assisted with the work of the infielders. On top of his coaching duties, he also assisted with the upkeep of the baseball field as well as the soccer and softball fields.
In 2007, Flowers took over full-time duty with the infielders. During the 2007 campaign, the Lions' infield fielding percentage improved by seven points, with the returning infielders raising their fielding percentage by an average of 33 points.
In 2008, Flowers helped the Lions lead the conference in chances per game (34.92), putouts per game (23.31), and assists per game (9.77).
In 2009, Flowers helped the Lions defense post a .954 fielding percentage, the highest since 2003. Along with his varsity duties, he also took over as the first head coach of the junior varsity program.
In 2010, Flowers saw his responsibilities step up tremendously. Along with coaching the infield, he also took over as the hitting and base-running coach. Under Flowers' direction, the Lions hit .318 as a team, with a .480 slugging percentage, .405 on-base percentage, .885 OPS, while stealing 74 bases. Along with his on-field duties, he also took over as the head groundskeeper for the baseball, soccer, and softball fields at FHU.
Flowers joined the coaching staff after playing for the Lions from 2002-2005. For his career he hit .365 with 44 doubles, 94 RBIs, 10 homeruns, and 59 stolen bases while playing at six different positions. He ranks in the top 10 in 6 categories of career records including batting average, runs scored, doubles, triples, stolen bases, and games played. He also holds the single season record for at-bats (203) and is second on the all-time single season hits list (82). As a sophomore in 2003, Flowers earned team MVP honors while hitting .388, with 10 doubles, three homeruns, a slugging percentage of .592, and a .471 on-base percentage. During his senior season in 2005, he earned 2nd team All-TranSouth honors when he hit .404 with 18 doubles, three homeruns, 44 RBI, 27 stolen bases, and an on-base percentage of .483.
While playing for the Lions, Flowers helped a team climb to a fourth place finish in the TranSouth Conference his senior year after years of struggling. Along with that fourth place finish in 2005, the Lions finished above .500 (8-7) in the conference for the first time since 1999, and earned its first postseason win since the same year.
Flowers earned his degree in Physical Education as well as an add-on endorsement in Special Education from FHU in 2005. He earned a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from FHU in 2008.
Coach Gallagher returns for his third season on the staff for the Lions. His responsibilities have increased for the 2012 season after serving as outfield instructor in 2010 and catching instructor in 2011. Coach Gallagher's main responsibilities include high school recruiting, working with the catchers, academic coordinator, and first base coach. Gallagher graduated from Freed-Hardeman with a degree in Psychology and is currently working on his MBA.
