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Thompson adds Nonemaker to staff

AUBURN | It’s a homecoming of sorts for Karl Nonemaker.

The former Vanderbilt All-SEC outfielder and Auburn assistant is returning to the SEC and Tigers as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Nonemaker was hired by Auburn third-year coach Butch Thompson to replace Brad Bohannon, who was named Alabama’s head coach last week.

“We got everything we were looking for in Karl Nonemaker,” Thompson said. “We wanted someone with experience coaching and playing in the SEC, someone who is a great recruiter that could work with our hitters, and someone who is a great family man. Karl is all of that.

“He was an outstanding hitter in the SEC, he has a brilliant mind and he has been a successful recruiter and offensive coach. Karl has been at Auburn, and understands Auburn. That’s very important. We’re very excited to welcome Karl and his family to Auburn.”

Nonemaker will be a key recruiter for the Tigers.
Nonemaker will be a key recruiter for the Tigers. (ODUSports)

Nonemaker, who spent the previous six seasons at Ole Dominion, got his coaching career started at Auburn from 2004-06 on Tom Slater’s staff, which included Thompson as pitching coach. He also spent two years at Monmouth and two years with Louisville Slugger.

“I am extremely grateful to Auburn University for giving me this opportunity and to Coach Thompson for believing in me,” Nonemaker said. “It is kind of surreal that I get to come back to Auburn, the place where I got my first coaching job, at such an exciting time. I understand the expectation at Auburn and can assure the players, coaches, and Auburn family that they will get my very best.”

A four-year starter at Vanderbilt from 1999-02, Nonemaker was a freshman All-American in 1999 and first-team All-SEC outfielder in 2000. His .415 batting average as a freshman in 1999 is the 15th best single-season average in SEC history (min. 200 AB) and ninth-best mark in the conference in the last 20 years (min. 200 AB). Nonemaker ranks second in career batting average (.369) and hits (283) for the Commodores.

A 20th-round draft choice of Philadelphia in 2002, Nonemaker went on to be a member of the Phillies Gulf Coast Championship team in 2002, and in 2003, split the year between the Lakewood Blue Claws (Single-A) and the Reading Phillies (Double-A).

A native of Roxbury, N.J., Nonemaker was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in Human and Organizational Development in 2002. He and his wife Katie have two daughters, Ellie and Ainsley.

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