Faulkner University

Patrick McCarthy is entering his 17th season as the Eagles' head coach and in that time has turned the baseball program into one of the nation's elite. His Eagles won the program's first-ever NAIA World Series title in 2013 and were the national runner-ups in 2016 and 2017. 

He's taken his teams to the NAIA national tournament 12 times with World Series appearances in 10 of the last 13 years. Faulkner has posted a record of 646-274 (70.22%) under his leadership. The national champions were 56-11 in 2013, setting a program record for wins. 

The Eagles have won seven SSAC regular season titles and four SSAC tournament titles under McCarthy's tutelage. Faulkner has won seven of the last 11 regular season league titles. 

McCarthy was named the ABCA NAIA Coach of the Year in 2013, the SSAC Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024, a nine-time ABCA Regional Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year presented by the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. 

He started his coaching career in 2000 when he was hired as a graduate assistant at Mississippi College. In 2001, he was hired as an assistant at Freed-Hardeman University where he was promoted to head coach in 2005. There he compiled a 158-108 record which included a 58-47 tally in the TranSouth Conference and postseason record of 4-10.

His career head coaching record stands at 804-382 entering the 2026 season placing him in the top 25 in wins for active NAIA baseball coaches.

A native of Brockton, Mass., McCarthy was a two-year letterman at North Florida Community College and a two-year letterman at Freed-Hardeman, all as a catcher. He earned a bachelor's degree from Freed-Hardeman in 1999 and a master's degree in social science from Mississippi College in 2002. 

McCarthy and his wife Katie Beth were married in 2000 and have three sons - Miller, Andre and Keenan - and a daughter, McKenzie. The McCarthy's are active members of Landmark Church of Christ where he serves as a deacon, small group leader and Bible class teacher.