Bio

Jimmy Brenneman was named head baseball coach at Dallas College Richland in October 2022. 

The 2025 Thunderducks' season concluded in Auburn, New York, where Richland finished third at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series. The Thunderducks knocked out No. 1-ranked SUNY Niagra 8-6 in 11 innings to eliminate the top seed in the tournament, giving Niagara just its second loss of the season. The Thunderducks bowed out in the national semifinals against Century College for a third place finish. The Thunderducks finished 38-24 on the season, including a second consecutive NJCAA DIII South Central District Tournament Championship. Brenneman was named the 2025 American Baseball Coaches Association/ATEC NJCAA Division III South Central Regional Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. First baseman Trey Smith was named an NJCAA Division III First Team All-American for the second straight year. Pitcher Bron Farr was a Third Team All-American. Richland swept the DAC Player of the Year awards, with Smith earning the league's Most Valuable Player and Farr collecting the Pitcher of the Year honor. Smith became the second player to be named the DAC Most Valuable Player in Brenneman's era at Richland, while Farr is the first DAC Pitcher of the Year outright winner. Jacob Blaede was named DAC Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2023. The Thunderducks' offense ranked among the nation's best in several categories: walks (1st), hit by pitch (1st), home runs (4th), hits (5th), total bases (6th), extra base hits (7th), runs (8th), doubles (8th) and RBIs (9th). 

The 2024 season was highlighted in Auburn, New York for the Thunderducks as they made their first appearance in the NJCAA World Series since Richland's last national championship in 2009. Richland finished third in the NJCAA Division III semifinals. Richland finished the 2024 campaign 42-20, capturing the NJCAA Division III South Central District Tournament Championship. Brenneman was selected as the 2024 ABCA/ATEC NJCAA Division III South Central Regional Coach of the Year  The Thunderducks finished in the top 10 in several categories including: runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, extra base hits, total bases, walks, hit by pitch, stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage. Outfielder Nick Hockemeyer and designated hitter Trey Smith were both selected as First Team All-Americans. Hockemeyer was also selected as the DAC MVP. First team All-DAC selecdtions included Bron Farr, Jacob Smoot, Dan Norris, Kelton Phillips and Smith. Second Team All-DAC selections were Jouseph Gelpi and Robby Lopez. The Thunderducks' offense ranked among the nation's best in several categories: hit by pitch (1st), hits (2nd), doubles (4th), runs (4th), on-base percentage (6th), walks (7th), home runs (7th), batting average (8th) and stolen bases (9th).

In his first year at the helm in 2023, Brenneman guided the Thunderducks to a 37-22 overall record. His team climbed to as high as No. 8 in the NJCAA Division III national poll. The Thunderducks had their best finish in conference (21-9) since the National Championship team in 2009. The Thunderducks advanced to the championship round of the South Central District Tournament, falling shy of two needed wins to advance to the NJCAA World Series.  In 2023, Richland ranked near the top in the country in many offensive statisical categories, including leading the country in doubles (147) and hit-by-pitch (108). The T-Ducks finished in the top 10 in hits (third), runs (fifth), home runs (third), RBI (fifth), extra-base hits (third), total bases (third), stolen bases (ninth) and slugging percentage (fifth). Jacob Blaede was named DAC Co-Pitcher of the Year after sitting atop many statiscial categories. Aaron Biediger, Jadon Fratus, Gelpi, Jason Scrantom, Nick Chalman and Blaede earned First Team All-DAC honors. Seth Markham, Carson Caudill, Wes Flatt and Taylor Hendrix were all named Second Team All-DAC. 

Brenneman spent five years at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Illinois, including four as an assistant before being elevated to head coach. He assumed the role as head coach in the fall of 2020, and had two seasons in the lead role of the Bobcats. In 2021, Frontier went 36-23, advancing to the postseason for the first time in school history. The school-record 36 victories signaled the biggest turnaround in the NJCAA Division I during the four years he spent in Fairfield. He took the job as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach in 2017, following a 3-35 season prior to his arrival. Frontier sent 34 players on to four-year schools, with 18 players moving on to the NCAA Division I level during Brenneman’s two years as head coach at Frontier. Three players signed professional contracts. The Bobcats had a team grade point average over 3.0 during his five seasons at Frontier.

Prior to Frontier, Brenneman spent two seasons at Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas, as the hitting, outfield and baserunning coach. The Bulldogs finished 34-21 in 2016, hitting .362 as a team, which ranked ninth in NJCAA D1. They stole 126 bases, which was 13^th in the country. Hosea Nelson was drafted in the ninth round by the Cleveland Indians after finishing as runner-up for NJCAA DI Player of the Year. The Bulldogs had three NJCAA All-Americans during the two years Brenneman spent at Clarendon.

Brenneman played at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, from 2011-12, and was a member of the first 40-win team in the history of the Camels’ program. He ranked in the top 20 in NCAA DI in stolen bases (30) and hit by pitch (27) in 2012. He led the nation in hit by pitch (31) as a junior. Brenneman batted .323 as a junior, and finished his two-year Campbell career with a .306 average.

He also played at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois, from 2009-10. Brenneman was a First Team All-Region 24 selection after hitting .446 as a sophomore. The Statesmen were ranked in the top 25 in the NJCAA D1 rankings multiple times throughout the 2010 season.

Jimmy Brenneman Head Coaching Career Record

2021: 36-23 (Frontier CC)

2022: 23-31 (Frontier CC)

2023: 37-22 (Dallas-Richland)

2024: 42-20 (Dallas-Richland)

2025: 38-24 (Dallas-Richland)

Overall: 176 - 120

*Brenneman has won at least 36 games in four of the five seasons as a head coach

*Two NJCAA DIII World Series appearances (two 3rd place finishes)

*Two NJCAA DIII South Central District Tournament Championships

*NJCAA DIII South Central District Coach of the Year twice (2024, 2025)