Barry Shelton enters his third season at the Institute in 2008, serving as the team’s hitting coach while handling third-base coaching duties for the Keydets.
Over his first two seasons with VMI, the Keydet bats have established new school records, earned numerous accolades and have seen a pair of players go on to the professional ranks.
In 2008, the Keydets established a new school record for both hits and total bases in a season, while the 2007 squad tied the standard for doubles in a season. In each of Shelton’s two seasons on post, the Keydets have boasted First Team All-Big South hitters, while also producing MLB draft picks.
Shelton joined the Keydet coaching staff following a three-year stint at Ferrum College. In his years in Rocky Mount, Shelton helped lead the Panthers to a USA South Conference regular season title in 2004 and a tournament championship in 2005.
The Roanoke, Va. native played his high school ball at Patrick Henry High School before attending West Virginia State. At WVSU, Shelton earned All-American and Regional Player of the Year honors as a third baseman. He was selected in the 21st round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox, and played professionally for four seasons.
Shelton began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach at WVSU for four seasons. During his tenure, the Yellow Jackets won three West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) championships, while the 1999 team placed 3rd at the NCAA Division II World Series. He then moved to Hartwick (N.Y.) College, directing the program as head coach for three seasons before moving to Ferrum in the summer of 2003.
Ikenberry on Shelton- “Having Barry around for a third season has added to the continuity of our program and our hitters. He has done a great job of developing our hitters, and we’re looking forward to seeing the success we can achieve in his third year.”
