Darren Hodges rejoined the Ferrum baseball staff in January 2025 and will work with first-year Head Coach Eric Owens, who began in June 2024.
Hodges originally joined the Panther athletic staff in August 1998 as assistant baseball coach. He was promoted to head baseball coach in April 2007, and remained in that position through the 2013 season. In six years as head coach, Hodges compiled a 100-106 career coaching record. His best season came in 2010, when Panthers finished with a 25-13 record.
Ferrum had 20 All-Conference and 32 Academic All-Conference selections under Hodges. He also coached 2012 USA South Baseball Player of the Year Paul Jaglowski, who went on to earn Academic All-America and was Ferrum's 2012 President's Cup recipient.
Hodges began his collegiate baseball career at Carson Newman University, but after his freshman season in 1988, transferred to Ferrum. Hodges earned USA South Athletic Conference All-Conference in 1989, and in 1990 was All-Conference and Academic All-Conference.Â
He played two seasons for the Panthers, 1989 and 1990, then was drafted in the 10th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the New York Yankees. Hodges spent five seasons in the minor leagues with the Oneonta Yankees, Prince William Cannons and Albany-Colonie Yankees. He was a Carolina League All-Star in 1991 and was named to the Prince William Top-50 franchise list. Hodges was also inducted in to the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. He earned his bachelors degree from Ferrum in 2002.
