Josh McDonald is completing his eighth season at the helm of the Georgia Southwestern State University program.
The Hurricanes finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 29-23 and 16-11 in PBC play. The program had five players named to the 2025 All Peach Belt Conference team. Cory Lee, David Hernandez and Andrew Geiger earned first team distinction. George Davis and James Fordham were named to the second team. Also, the Hurricanes were named a recipient of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award. This is the sixth consecutive award.
In 2024, the Hurricanes went 35-18 overall and 16-11 in PBC play. GSW had eight players named to the 2024 All-Peach Belt Conference team. Cory Lee, Kalvin Alexander, Brant Deerman, Nick McCollum and Rijnaldo Euson earned first team distinction. George Davis, Jake Blinstrub and Andrew Geiger were named to the second team. Euson was named the Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, marking the fifth consecutive season GSW has brought home the league's top pitching honor. The Georgia Southwestern State University baseball team placed three players on the All-Southeast Region teams released Wednesday afternoon by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Starting pitcher Rijnaldo Eusion was the first team selection. Catcher Kalvin Alexander and starting pitcher Nick McCollum received second team honors. The 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings announced their NCAA Division II All-America Teams and Georgia Southwestern State University pitcher Rijnaldo Euson was named to the second team. Kalvin Alexander has been named one of nine NCAA Division II recipients of a 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Award. In addition, Alexander was named to the 2024 ABCA NCAA Division II All-Defensive Team for the Southeast Region. This is the program’s second ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
The Hurricanes historic 2023 season concluded with a 34-19 overall record and 22-8 mark in Peach Belt Conference play. GSW won the program’s first regular season PBC Championship and first PBC Tournament Championship. The Hurricanes also received a bid to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history. McDonald was name PBC Coach of Year for the accomplishments during the season. GSW set a school record with most regular season wins and most PBC wins in the NCAA era. Nick McCollum was name PBC Pitcher of the Year and this was the fourth straight year GSW has won this award. Ray Euson, Miles Hartsfield and Jake Blinstrub all received PBC All Conference honors as well. Nick McCollum and Ray Euson both received honors for the ABCA/Rawlings Division II All-Region First Team and the NCBWA Southeast All-Region Team. Paul Hegeman won the program’s first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a first baseman. Also, McDonald surpassed the 100 career win mark during the 2023 campaign.
During the 2022 season, GSW finished the year with 27-27 record and 17-10 in PBC play which resulted in a 3rd place finish in the league. This was the highest finish in the history of the program and the Hurricanes also set a new record in PBC wins with 17-10. There were 4 PBC All Conference selections in the 2022 season. Jared Donlason was name PBC Pitcher of the Year as well as D2CCA All-Southeast First Team selection giving GSW their third consecutive PBC Pitcher of the Year award.
In 2021, GSW finished the year with a record of 19-21 and set a school record in PBC wins with 16. During 2021, the program had two PBC All Conference selections. Tucker Smith was selected as PBC Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The 2020 season was cut short due to COVID -19. At the time of stoppage, the Canes were 8-12.
In the inaugural season under McDonald’s leadership, the program finished with a 23-30 record and went 14-16 in PBC play. The 14 wins set a new school record in PBC wins. Tucker Smith was named PBC Pitcher of the Year.
Prior to GSW, McDonald spent seven season as an assistant coach under Rodney Hennon at NCAA Division I Georgia Southern University where he worked primarily with the catchers and hitters, he also coached first base and helped coordinate the Eagle baseball camps. Georgia Southern finished with 30 or more wins in six of the seven seasons McDonald was on staff and 270 victories overall.
Prior to his work at Georgia Southern, McDonald served as hitting instructor, worked with the catchers and held third base coaching responsibilities at Louisiana State University Eunice (2008-11). In three seasons, the LSUE Bengals went 148-40 and captured a national championship in 2010 and a third place finish in 2009 at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series. LSUE finished the 2011 season with a 45-15 record and fell one win short of returning to the World Series as the Bengal squad finished the season with a team batting average of .325. In the 2010 championship season, the Bengals posted a 52-13 record and a .359 batting average. In 2009, the Bengals went 51-12 en route to their 3rd place finish at the NJCAA Division II World Series and hit .368 as a team.
In the summer of 2008, McDonald served as an assistant coach for the New Market Rebels of the Valley Baseball League. He worked with hitters and infielders and also served as third base coach.
GSW is Mcdonald's second stint in the Peach Belt Conference as he served as an assistant coach at Georgia College from 2006-08. During his two seasons, McDonald served as first base coach and worked with outfielders and hitters. He was also involved in the recruiting efforts for the Bobcats. The team was 79-40 over his two seasons, including a PBC regular season title in 2007.
McDonald, originally from Fitzgerald, Ga., completed his playing career at Georgia Southwestern where he earned a degree in Health and Physical Education. He was a four-year letterman for the Hurricanes, playing first base and was a three-time All-Academic selection. He also helped lead the Hurricanes to two regional appearances in 2005 and 2006.
McDonald completed his graduate work at Georgia College where he earned a master's degree in Health and Physical Education.
McDonald is married to the former Christi Jenkins of Marietta, Ga. The two married in August of 2013 and have two daughters, Lanier (8) and Maddi (5).
