TJ Lanning

The Montreat College athletic department hired TJ Lanning as an assistant coach for the Montreat baseball program in July of 2021. As a part of the coaching staff, Lanning's responsibilities include assisting with both the varsity program and the junior varsity team. Lanning enters his third season with the Cavaliers in 2023-24.

PRIOR TO MONTREAT

The Jacksonville, Fla. native came to Montreat following a year as a volunteer assistant with NCAA Division I Ohio University. While with the Bobcats, Lanning primarily oversaw the development of the outfielders. During his stint with the team, he also helped with hitting development, handling technology that tracked players' hitting data.

Before his time at Ohio, Lanning spent a year and a half at Olivet Nazarene University. As an assistant and recruiting coordinator, he worked with outfielders, catchers and hitters. Lanning, who coached first base, saw numerous players achieve significant honors under his care.

With Lanning's assistance, two Tigers earned First Team All-Conference recognition, three collected Second Team All-Conference awarding, one player went on to be named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Player of the Year and a pair of athletes notched All-American honors. Under Lanning, outfielder Terry Daniels won a Gold Glove and signed to play professionally in the Pecos League.

Prior to ONU, Lanning held a similar position at Toccoa Falls College, assisting with the same player groups and coordinating recruiting efforts. The Screaming Eagles made the 2019 NCCAA World Series and registered the most World Series wins in program history with Lanning as an assistant (2). Two TFC players that Lanning coached also went on to sign professional contracts, the first Screaming Eagles to play professionally. He finished his year at Toccoa Falls having coached a trio of All-Americans, four All-Region players and an NCCAA Player of the Year.

Lanning also coached the Southern Ohio Copperheads, who participate in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League, in addition to his duties at Montreat.

As a collegiate athlete, Lanning played three years at Trinity Baptist College, where he was a team captain before transferring to TFC. While at Toccoa Falls, he also served as a team captain as he earned his associate degree.

Lanning, who went on to collect his bachelor's degree in communications from Olivet Nazarene in 2020, now resides in Black Mountain, N.C.