J. D. Flowers is entering his first 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).This season, Flowers will continue working full-time with the infielders and coaching first base for the varsity team. Along with his varsity duties, he will also be the head coach of the junior varsity program.
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 10 categories of career records including batting average, runs scored, doubles, triples, stolen bases, hits, at-bats, 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, 3 homeruns, a slugging percentage of .592, and a .471 on-base percentage. During his senior season in 2005, he earned second team All-TranSouth honors when he hit .404 with 18 doubles, 3 homeruns, 44 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, and an on-base percentage of .483.
While playing for the Lions, Flowers helped a team that had finished in last place of the TranSouth Conference for five years in a row climb to a fourth place finish his senior year. 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.
