COLUMBUS, Ohio -- University of Central Missouri head baseball coach
Kyle Crookes will be a main-stage clinic speaker at the 2026 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Convention, which will be held January 9-11 in Columbus, Ohio.
Crookes' ABCA Convention clinic is entitled: Winning 90-Feet at a Time: A Systems Approach to Aggressive Baserunning.
Entering his 12th season as head coach of the Mules, Crookes has been named the ABCA Central Region Coach of the Year six times, MIAA Coach of the Year four times, and was the 2022 ABCA Division II National Coach of the Year.
Crookes led the Mules to a runner-up finish at the 2025 NCAA-II Baseball Championships this past season after capturing their second consecutive regional title and 21st in program history. With a record of 48-14 overall, including 29-7 in MIAA play, the Mules won their 31st conference regular-season title while Crookes became the winningest coach in program history, ending the season with 446 victories.
The world-renowned ABCA Clinics are the highlight of the annual ABCA Convention. Over three days, they cover a wide range of baseball topics. The 2026 ABCA Convention clinics, presented by ATEC, will run from Friday through Sunday, January 9-11, 2026, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
About the ABCA
The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel Baseball.
