John O’Neil has solidified his commitment to Presbyterian College (PC) Blue Hose baseball, stepping into the role of Associate Head Coach after six impactful seasons with the program. This promotion, announced prior to the 2025 season, recognizes O’Neil’s significant contributions to the team’s offensive prowess and player development since joining in the spring of 2024. His journey to PC is marked by a consistent track record of enhancing baseball programs, making him a key figure in the Blue Hose’s continued growth.
O’Neil’s arrival at Presbyterian College followed a year as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin. During his tenure there, he showcased his versatility by working across various aspects of the game. His responsibilities encompassed coaching infielders and base runners, contributing to the team’s offensive strategies, and coaching third base. Beyond on-field coaching, O’Neil managed crucial logistical and operational tasks, including team travel arrangements, field upkeep, and the development of scouting reports. This comprehensive experience underscores his deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of college baseball program management.
Since joining the Blue Hose in 2024, John O’Neil has been instrumental in shaping the team’s offensive identity. Focusing primarily on infielders and base running, he has also played a vital role in the team’s overall offensive strategy. His coaching acumen was evident in the remarkable 2024 season of junior player Joel Dragoo. Under O’Neil’s guidance, Dragoo achieved a historic offensive performance, setting new program Division I records in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, total bases, on-base percentage, and walks. Dragoo’s exceptional season culminated in being named Big South Player of the Year, a testament to O’Neil’s coaching influence.
The preceding 2023 season also highlighted O’Neil’s ability to cultivate offensive talent. Junior Brody Fahr had a standout year, delivering the most potent offensive output by a PC player since 2015. Fahr’s impressive .361 batting average, team-leading 73 hits, and 12 doubles underscored the offensive improvements within the program. Furthermore, the Blue Hose offense saw widespread recognition with three players earning Big South weekly honors: Trey Fenderson and Amman Dewberry as Freshmen of the Week and Dalton Reeves as Player of the Week. This collective success reflects O’Neil’s capacity to develop players at different stages of their collegiate careers.
In 2022, John O’Neil contributed to the success of senior Eric Toth, who achieved the program’s first first-team all-conference selection since 2018. Toth’s outstanding season placed him prominently in the program’s single-season Division I record book, ranking first in runs scored (54), fourth in on-base percentage (.422), tied for fourth in stolen bases (16), and fifth in batting average (.351). This individual accolade further demonstrates O’Neil’s positive impact on player performance and recognition.
The 2021 season marked a historic milestone for Presbyterian College baseball, with the Blue Hose securing their first-ever Big South Championship under the guidance of the coaching staff, including John O’Neil. Victories over Campbell and Gardner-Webb propelled them to the Nashville Regional of the NCAA Tournament, where they competed against Vanderbilt and Indiana State. The team’s offensive power was also on display, hitting 47 home runs, tying for second-most in the Blue Hose’s Division I era record book. Zacchaeus Rasberry led the team with 10 home runs, followed by Eric Toth and Sean Klein. Rasberry also concluded his PC career as the program’s Division I leader in stolen bases with 41, another area of success influenced by O’Neil’s coaching.
During the shortened 2020 season, John O’Neil helped the Blue Hose rank third in the Big South Conference in home runs, despite the limited games. In 2019, O’Neil’s impact on the offense was undeniable as the Blue Hose achieved their highest run total in the Division I era, scoring 327 runs. The team also set a Division I record with 90 stolen bases and drew a Division I record 218 walks, indicating a strategic and aggressive offensive approach instilled by O’Neil and the coaching staff.
Before his tenure at Presbyterian College and the University of Tennessee at Martin, John O’Neil served as the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2017. In this role, he oversaw all recruiting activities and managed the team’s offense and infielders. Prior to this associate role, O’Neil was the Interim Head Coach at Maryland Eastern Shore from January 2015 to August 2016. During this period, he led the Hawks to their highest number of non-conference wins in 2016 and conference wins in 2015 in recent history. Under his leadership, the program achieved its best two-year win total in over two decades, while also prioritizing academic success and community engagement.
John O’Neil’s initial role at Maryland Eastern Shore was as an assistant coach starting in August 2011. In 2012, he contributed to the Hawks achieving a then program-best 11 conference wins and a third-place finish in the MEAC Tournament. His coaching experience extends to summer baseball leagues, where he coached the Middlesex Rays in their inaugural season in the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League in 2011.
Earlier in his career, John O’Neil was the top assistant at the University of the Sciences during the 2010-11 season, assisting the NCAA Division II team to several firsts in program history, including most conference wins, a conference tournament appearance and win, and developing multiple all-conference and all-region players. From 2008-10, he was the lead assistant at Colby-Sawyer College, a NCAA Division III program, where he helped the team reach a conference tournament and coached numerous all-conference and all-region players.
John O’Neil’s foundation in baseball was built during his collegiate playing career at Colby-Sawyer College from 2004-08, where he was a starting catcher and designated hitter. He also earned state-level recognition as an infielder in high school at Burrillville High School in Rhode Island. O’Neil holds a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Sciences from Colby-Sawyer College and a master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management with a coaching focus from New England College.
John O’Neil’s promotion to Associate Head Coach at Presbyterian College is a clear indication of his value to the program. His extensive experience, demonstrated success in player development, and commitment to building strong baseball programs make him an invaluable asset to the Blue Hose as they look towards future success.
