Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

1/22/2007 
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC’s Shelley to be inducted to Baseball Hall of Fame

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association recently announced its 2007 class for induction into its Hall of Fame, and the list includes  Johnson County Community College head coach Kent Shelley. Joining him on the list are Jerald Blemker of Vincennes University and Dave Grant of  Glendale Community College, two long-time NJCAA baseball coaches.  The ceremony will take place in late May, 2007, at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series banquet in Grand Junction, Colo.

In 1987, Kent Shelley became just the second head baseball coach at Johnson County, replacing JCCC Hall of Famer Sonny Maynard.  In 19 seasons as head coach at JCCC, Shelley has become the winningest coach in the program’s history, compiling a 525-355-1 mark (.596).  He has also led four teams to Eastern Sub-regional championships and two squads to NJCAA Region VI titles.   During his tenure he has produced nine teams with 30-plus wins, and 18 teams with 20 or more season victories.

Shelley has also coached three NJCAA All-Americans, five USA Junior College All-Stars, nine All-Region VI performers, 65 All-East Jayhawk Conference recipients and 11 NJCAA Academic All-Americans, including eight in the last five years.  To date, 20 of his former Cavalier players have been drafted or signed as free agents by the Major Leagues since he took over the reigns of the program.  Also, a total of 138 student-athletes under direction have transferred to four-year institutions, 113 at the NCAA D-I or D-II level.

On the national baseball stage, Shelley served as head coach for Team USA 1994, a select NJCAA team from the United States that played host to a select team from Japan.   In 1990, Shelley served as an assistant coach on the first NJCAA team to participate in international competition. The USA All-Stars from the NJCAA competed in the Friendship Games in Las Tunas, Cuba.  He also has been selected as head coach of the Kansas Region VI Eastern Division All-Stars three times. Shelley also has the distinction of earning the first Louisville Slugger/Region VI coach of the year honor, after his team captured the Region VI title in 1993.

Shelley’s service to baseball also includes representing the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association on the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Executive Committee.  He has also represented the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association on the NCAA Division I baseball rules committee.  Most notable, in 2002, Shelley was selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the ABCA, becoming the second coach from the community college ranks to earn such an honor.  Through his dedication to the ABCA and the sport of baseball, he advanced in the organization and recently assumed the role of President.

As a player, Shelley was a collegiate standout catcher at Pratt Community College and the University of Kansas.  At Pratt, he was co-captain and most valuable player in 1980.  At the University of Kansas, Shelley was elected co-captain in 1982. Following his senior year, he served as graduate assistant for the Jayhawks.

In addition to his coaching duties at JCCC, Shelley serves as a professor in the physical education department.  He is also an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals.  

Shelley earned his bachelor’s degree in personnel administration at KU and completed his master’s degree in student/personnel administration at Emporia State University.  

Shelley, and his wife, MargE, have two daughters:  Mandi, 18, and Madison, 12.