Nate Underwood returns to Marian University for his third season after a two-year hiatus. At Marian, Underwood serves as the hitting instructor, while also working with the outfielders and corner defense. Nate also is in charge of the offensive strategies and team base running. On game days, he directs the offense from the third base coaching box. He also does scouting reports and defensive alignments on game day. Underwood is in charge of the Knights baseball fall program and maintains the athletic complex for all of the Knights sports teams.
In his first year, 2009, he saw the team batting average - along with eight other offensive categories improve from the 2008 season. Most notably the team scored 68 more runs, recorded 89 more hits, tacked on 35 more doubles and stole 40 more bases. The Knights saw their overall record improve by 11 wins in Underwood's first year with the program.
Before moving to Indianapolis, he served as the head varsity coach at Waggener Traditional High School in Louisville, Ky.
Prior to Waggener, Nate was the assistant coach / recruiting coordinator for NCAA Division II member Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. While at Flagler, he directed the offense that batted well over .300 and improved in six other offensive categories from the previous year, with nine players batting over .300. Defensively Nate worked with the outfielders and corner infield. He also directed the Saints strength and conditioning program. The Saints had two players drafted in the 2007 draft.
Before his experience in Florida, Underwood was an assistant coach for NJCAA member Kaskaskia College, in Centralia, Ill. Nate directed the hitters, who hit .344 as a team and worked with the corner infielders, while also directing the Blue Devils strength and conditioning. Kaskaskia finished second in the well-respected Great Rivers Athletic Conference and tournament. The Blue Devils set many school records during Underwood's tenure, including a record of 44 wins in a season. Underwood coached three players at KC that were drafted in the Major League Baseball draft.
While finishing up his degree at Purdue University, Nate was named the head coach at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana. While at Harrison he directed the Raiders and second round draft pick Josh Lindblom who was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the fall of 2003, Underwood was a volunteer assistant for Purdue University, before being named the head coach at Harrison.
Nate has coached over 35 players that have gone on to play at the professional level, most notably the 2002 No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft - Bryan Bullington (Blue Storm 1999). Nathan's younger brother, Daniel Underwood (Blue Storm 1999), was the 1st player in Big Ten history to be named Big Ten Player of the Week three times in one season (2003) and went on to play three professional seasons, one in the Colorado Rockies minor league system.
Coach Underwood graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Health and Fitness. He resides in Indianapolis.
