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Baseball

Johnny Cardenas
Johnny Cardenas
  • Title:
    Head Coach
  • Email:
    cardenasjr@sfasu.edu
  • Phone:
    936-468-5982

Johnny Cardenas is entering his 16th season as the head baseball coach for the Lumberjacks. This season marks his third season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).  Last season the Lumberjacks finished with a 22-28 overall record, 12-18 in the WAC.
 
He is the all-time winningest coach with a career record of 254-439. He has coached 13 of the program’s MLB Draft picks and has three seasons winning 30 or more games.
 
Cardenas previously spent time as a head coach in the Texas Collegiate League, was head coach at Greenville High School in Greenville, Texas and coached the Colbert High School baseball team in Oklahoma. The Amarillo, Texas native began his collegiate playing career at Seward County Community College then transferred to Texas Christian University and graduated in 1998 from TCU. Johnny then continued his baseball career spending time with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and Texas Rangers organizations.
 
Cardenas captured his 250th win in a 12-11 win over UT Arlington on April 22, 2023. He was voted the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading the team to a 34-20 overall record and TCL Coach of the Year in 2007. Cardenas has also been awarded Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Player of the Year in 1993 and won the AAA American Association Title with the Oklahoma City 89ers.
 
Johnny is the husband to Natalie Cardenas and the father to Zoe, Easton, and Cruz.

The Cardenas File
Hometown:
  Amarillo, Texas
Colleges: 
Seward County Community College, Texas Christian University
Playing Experience: 
Seward County Community College, Texas Christian University, Seattle Mariners, Class A Bellingham, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oklahoma City 89ers, Duluth Superior Dukes
Family: Natalie (wife), Easton, Cruz (sons), and Zoe (daughter)


Coaching Experience
2008-Present:
 SFA | Head Coach
2005-08: SFA | Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
2006-07: Texas Collegiate League | Head Coach

2003-06: Greenville High School | Head Coach
1998-03: Colbert High School (Okla.) | Head Coach

Accomplishments
Captured career win number 200 in a 17-3 home triumph over Texas Southern (2016)
Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2010)
• 
TCL Coach of the Year (2007)
Bryan County Coach of the Year honor (2003)
• SEOBCA Eastern Region Coach of the Year (2002)
Earned team MVP and GTE Academic All-American (1993)
Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Player of the Year (1993)
AAA American Association Title with Oklahoma City 89er