MEEt j.R.

With over 30 years of coaching experience, J.R. Perdew has impacted athletes at every level of the game.

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From Little Leaguers to Major Leaguers, players have flourished under the former pitcher’s guidance. During his own playing career, after finishing their season with a 41-11 record, J.R.’s Allegany College of Maryland team finished third in the 1984 JUCO World Series. His elite performance with Allegany then earned him a Division 1 scholarship to George Mason University where he ultimately finished his college career with a 30-6 record. After graduation, J.R. was called to pass on his love of the game to others.

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In his hometown of Short Gap, West Virginia, J.R. has held camps and given lessons to over 1000 area children and 22 of them have gone on to play college baseball. J.R. has also coached teams of 13-15 year-olds that went on to win two championships and finish as runners-up over four years; eight of those kids also went on to play college baseball. In addition, J.R. has experience coaching three years of middle school softball, as well as two years of travel softball, helping young ladies develop their talents on the diamond.

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At the collegiate level, as assistant coach for his alma mater, J.R. helped lead the Allegany College Trojans to six NJCAA World Series appearances in his eight years with the school. During his tenure, 17 pitchers also received D1 or D2 scholarships and 11 signed professional contracts, with two making it to the Major Leagues.

In 1997, J.R. made the leap from amateur baseball to the pros, joining the Chicago White Sox organization as a pitching coach. In addition to four minor league titles with the organization, he became a World Series Champion in 2005. During his illustrious career, J.R. has helped develop 130 pitchers and 17 catchers who have made that same leap, achieving their dream of playing in the Major Leagues.

In addition to teaching the nuances of baseball, J.R. also has a Masters of Education from Frostburg State University and serves as instructional assistant/substitute teacher in the offseason for the Allegany County School system, focusing on physical education and health, Spanish language and special needs classes.

J.R.’s resume also boasts international accolades. While serving as a pitching coach in Venezuela for three years, J.R. led the team to two division championships and won the heart of Reina, who would become his wife.

The couple has three children who are flourishing in the sport under the tutelage of Coach Dad: Marié, 15, who was All-State as a freshman in softball; 11-year-old Jesús, whose baseball team recently won a state championship and finished third in the nation; and Mariela, 7, a budding Little League softball star.

And, while a love of America’s pastime runs in the Perdew family, pride for his country is something that has also played a very important role in shaping J.R.’s life.

Thanks to his family’s presence in the military, he knew from a young age that he wanted to help defend the United States. His father, Russell, was an Army ranger in World War II, his mother served as an Air Force instructor, one of his uncles fought in three wars as a member of the Navy and another was a crew chief in the Air Force.

J.R. completed the family superfecta when he entered the Marines in 1987. During his time with the Marine Corps, he served as a rifleman, fire team leader, machine gunner and anti-terrorism security member, among other jobs.

J.R. carried out the principles of discipline, work ethic and teamwork during his service, while upholding the core values of the Marines: honor, courage and commitment.

And it is these principles and values that J.R. instills in his students—on and off the diamond.

A true veteran in every sense of the word, J.R.’s natural talent, coaching success at all levels of the sport, educational background and military experience combine to make him uniquely qualified to help one reach his or her goals in the game.