Billy Godwin
Head Coach
In January of 2024, Billy Godwin returned to the New York Yankees as an ametuer scout, after spending 4 1/2 years as Head Baseball coach at UNC Greensboro Prior to UNCG, Godwin spent 2014-19 with the Yankees as an amatuer scout in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Prior to his time with the Yankees, Godwin was the head baseball coach at East Carolina from 2005-14.
“Billy Godwin cares about student-athletes as people and as baseball players. His North Carolina ties, NCAA success and MLB experience provides our team with the tools to build on an already strong baseball foundation," said Director of Athletics Kim Record. “Beyond the diamond, he seeks excellence in academic success and service. We are confident that our baseball team will consistently compete for championships under Billy's leadership."
“I am honored to be the head baseball coach at UNCG,” Godwin said. “I look forward to building on the success that Coach Jarrett and the program has established. We plan on competing for championships in the classroom, community and on the field. This is an exciting time for Spartan baseball.”
Success At ECU
During his nine years at the helm for the Pirates, Godwin won 334 games while leading ECU to five NCAA Regional appearances. In 2009, the Pirates won the Conference USA championship before advancing to the NCAA Super Regional. He was named the 2009 C-USA Coach of the Year as well.
Between the 2009-10 seasons, Godwin guided ECU to a school-record 29 straight weeks appearing in the national polls climbing as high as 10th.
In 2007, Godwin was named North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year after leading the Pirates to a 40-23 overall record.
Godwin was also instrumental in the Pirates signing two-time American League MVP Mike Trout to a National Letter of Intent before he was selected in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.
In total, 35 ECU student-athletes were selected in the MLB Draft from 2006-14, with seven having tallied playing time at the MLB level.
Additional Leadership Experience
Godwin served as athletic director and head baseball coach at Cary (N.C.) Academy.
In 1991, Godwin was named athletic director and head baseball coach at Enfield (N.C.) Academy where he guided the Patriots to a 131-57 overall record, with five consecutive conference championships, four straight Final Four appearances and a state title in 1994.
Godwin spent two seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1989 and 1990, working under the direction of current UNC-Chapel Hill Head Coach Mike Fox. His efforts helped guide the Bishops to the 1989 Division III National Championship and a third place finish a year later.
After starring in baseball at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, N.C., Godwin signed an athletic scholarship to pitch at Atlantic Christian College in 1982. He captured 19 wins during his career with the Bulldogs, helping to lead them to two District 26 regular season crowns. He was named team captain in his senior year and won the Kiwanis Award for the Most Outstanding Male Student-Athlete in 1986. While at Atlantic Christian, he played for Dave Jauss, who has served as a coach at the Major League level and is currently with the New York Mets.
Godwin earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Atlantic Christian in 1986 before following with a master's degree in education from East Carolina University in 1995.
He lives with his wife Melissa Godwin. The pair were married November 2019.
