Jonathan Estes takes the reins for his first season with the Lions after a three-year stint as head coach at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, MO. Estes takes over a team that looks a lot different from one season ago. The Lions lost 27 players from a year ago including four 1st Team All-Conference selections. Estes got right to work signing 12 new players in just over a month. Several of Estes' signees look to play significant roles right away for the Lions.
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 back to back post season berths including a second place finish in 2007, their highest since 1994. That 2007 squad swept conference doubleheaders from four of 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.
The Hornets improved in several areas under Estes' guidance. The offense saw increases in batting average and runs per game each year. Team ERA and fielding percentage bettered previous marks as well.
Estes' first three recruiting classes have yielded 16 All-Conference selections, four Gold Glove winners, three Conference Freshmen-of-the-Year, one Conference Player-of-the-Year, and a national Pitcher-of-the-Week. This year's class includes several freshmen and transfers that figure to get right into the mix early for the Lions.
Estes' teams at Harris-Stowe also excelled in the classroom. His program produced five NAIA Scholar-Athletes in 2009 and earned the NAIA Scholar Team Award in 2008 and 2009. During his three years, his squads placed 52 total players on the academic all-conference teams.
In addition to his experience at Harris-Stowe, Estes also spent two summers as the head coach of the O'Fallon, Mo., Legion team and one summer as the head coach of the Union City Greyhounds of the KIT Collegiate League, a summer league that includes players from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III as well as NAIA and JUCO athletes.
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 7-4 with a 3.54 ERA during his career making five starts and 47 relief appearances at three different levels.
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 All-American Scholar Athlete as a junior and senior. Upon graduation, Estes was in the top five in 15 of 17 career and single season pitching records at FHU, holding eight. Estes still holds pitching records for single season innings pitched, single season and career complete games, and career ERA.
Estes holds a degree in Marketing from FHU graduating Magna Cum Laude and a Masters of Teaching degree from Lindenwood University. Estes is married to the former Ashley Bennett and they have two sons Dean (3), and Lane (1). They reside in Beech Bluff.
J. D. Flowers is entering his second season as an assistant coach of the Lion baseball team after serving three years as the graduate assistant coach.
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 will see his responsibilities step up
tremendously. Along with coaching
the infield, he will also take over as the hitting and base-running coach, as
well as the junior college recruiting responsibilities. He will also maintain his position as
the head junior varsity coach. Along with the on-field duties, he will also take 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 9 categories of career records including batting average, runs scored, doubles, triples, stolen bases, hits, games played, walks, and slugging percentage. 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.
