Darren Munns enters his 10th year as the Columbia College head baseball coach Fall 2025. During his tenure as head coach for the Cougars, Munns has earned an overall record of 311-128. He has coached 52 AMC All-Conference selections, 226 AMC Academic All-Conference recipients, 75 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, 11 NAIA All-Americans, and two MLB draft selections.
Munns led the 2025 squad to a program-best winning percentage of 79.6 and their highest ranking of #20 in the National Association of Intercolleiate Athletics (NAIA). The Cougars achieved a 43-11 overall record and a 31-5 AMC record, finishing second in the AMC. The Cougars also tied a program record for the fewest losses in a season with 11.
During the 2024 season, the Cougars made a run to their second-straight NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Championship Game and their fifth NAIA Championship venture in program history. With that, Columbia is one of 12 NAIA programs to appear in each of the past five National Tournaments. Columbia posted a 39-16 overall record while putting up a program-best 17-game winning streak, accumulating a 19-2 record in the AMC. The squad finished runner-up in the AMC regular season. Columbia's Cayden Nicoletto put up impressive numbers, breaking multiple school records including 27 home runs (third in the NAIA), 87 hits, and 81 RBI. The Cougars placed ten on the All-Conference teams, two NAIA All-Americans, 37 Academic All-AMC, 12 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, three Academic All-District® honorees, and one Academic All-America® selection. For the second time in program history, Columbia's Brayden McGinnis was named to the ABCA-Rawlings NAIA Baseball Gold Glove Team.
In 2023, Columbia claimed their second-ever AMC Tournament title, staying undefeated through tournament action. The Cougars posted the most wins in program history at 40-15, while producing a 17-4 AMC record. Columbia accumulated a program-best of 411 strikeouts, 13 saves, and a fielding percentage of nearly 98 percent. The Cougars added 11 on the All-AMC teams, one NAIA All-American, 33 Academic All-AMC, 12 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, four Academic All-District® honorees, and one Academic All-America® selection.
During the 2022 campaign, Munns carried the Cougars to a 38-14 season record and 15-6 in the AMC. Columbia also managed to go on a 12 game winning streak. The Cougars placed nine Cougars on the All-AMC teams, produced one NAIA All-American, 36 Academic All-AMC and earned a 3.3 team GPA. There were 16 student athletes that were awarded Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete status.
In 2021, Munns led the Cougars to their second-consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars finished the season with an overall record of 37-11, which was the 11th-best winning percentage in the country and set a new program record for most victories in a season. CC won the AMC Regular-Season title with a 22-6 record and defeated Missouri Baptist in the AMC Tournament to claim their first AMC Tournament. The Cougars placed seven players on the All-AMC teams, three on the NAIA All-America list and academically they produced a 3.3 team GPA, 30 Academic All-AMC and eight earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete status.
In 2019, Munns led the Cougars to their first ever NAIA National Championship Opening Round appearance. Under the guidance of Munns, the Cougars finished the season with an overall record of 31-23 with a 21-9 conference record. In the 2019 season, Munns coached five AMC All-Conference players and an NAIA All-American. Equally as successful in the classroom, the Cougars produced 28 AMC Academic All-Conference selections and six NAIA Scholar Athletes.
During his first season as head coach, Munns led the first Cougar baseball team in 35 years to a 34-17 record on the season and a 24-6 mark in AMC play which was good enough for a share of the regular season conference title. For his efforts in the 2017 season, Munns was named the AMC Coach of the Year while coaching three AMC First Team All-Conference selections and an NAIA First Team All-American.
Darren joined Columbia after a successful stint at fellow American Midwest Conference (AMC) institution, William Woods University. Munns served as the head coach of the Owls since 2005. In his ten seasons he put together a record of 333-183, averaging just over 33 wins per season, and finished in the top three of the AMC standings each year. Darren led William Woods to five consecutive AMC Postseason tournament championship games and seven total in his tenure. The Owls earned four NAIA National Championships appearances under his guidance and were equally as successful in the classroom, claiming NAIA Scholar Team accolades three consecutive years. Munns also was inducted into the 2023 William Woods Athletics Hall of Fame.
Prior to his time at William Woods, Munns enjoyed back-to-back record setting seasons in his two years at Harris-Stowe State University, culminating with 34 wins in the spring of 2005. Harris-Stowe made a 23-game improvement from 2004 to 2005 under coach Munns. 2005 also marked the first time in school history that the Hornets appeared in the AMC Tournament. His first recruiting class produced four First Team AMC All-Conference players, one of whom made First Team All-American.
Before taking the helm at Harris-Stowe, Munns served as Assistant Coach at Central Methodist College (1999-2001) in The Heart of America Athletic Conference. While at Central Methodist, he served as hitting, infield, and third base coach. The 2000 team broke numerous offensive records, appeared in the conference championship game, and qualified for the NAIA Regional Tournament.
Immediately before joining Central Methodist, Munns served as Associate Head Coach at Drexel University (1991-1998), in Philadelphia. His primary duty at Drexel was serving as recruiting coordinator, and pitching coach. During his tenure, Drexel had their strongest recruiting classes in school history, including three freshmen All-Americans.
Darren, a native of Mexico, Missouri, received his undergraduate degree in physical education from Missouri Western State College (1991) in St. Joseph. He received his master's degree in athletic/activities administration from William Woods University in the fall of 2009.
Darren and his wife Sarah reside in Columbia with their daughter Mary Ellen.
Updated 8-5-2024
