PITTSBURGH, Pa. – August 5, 2021 – Head Coach DJ Cannon has announced his departure from the Chatham Baseball program upon accepting a new position.
 
Cannon spent two years with the Cougars, compiling a 14-33 overall (10-17 PAC) record in that time. In the 2021 season alone, he led the Cougars to two program wins records with 10 in conference and 12 on the season, marking the first time the team had reached double-digit wins in a single season. Chatham dealt PAC Champion Washington and Jefferson their only loss of the regular season in April, snapping a 22-game win streak and recording the program's first-ever win against the Presidents.
 
With Cannon's pitching guidance, senior Austin Andonisio was the first in program history to be named to the All-PAC Second Team after setting a new single season wins record (5) and striking out 31 batters. Junior Erik Napolitano received PAC Pitcher of the Week accolades as well after registering two wins in one week against conference opponents Waynesburg and W&J.
 
Junior catcher Caleb Lehman also earned a spot on the Second Team after leading the conference in stolen bases (19) and topping the team charts in batting average (.393), RBIs (19), on-base percentage (.470), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.026), and hits with 46 (10 doubles, three triples, one homerun).
 
Cannon was instrumental in building the program throughout his tenure, bringing in 11 student-athletes for the 2020-21 academic year alone including nine first-years and two junior transfers. His influence exceeded on-field development, but also academic success as the Cougars placed 18 student-athletes on the 2020-21 Presidents' Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll, requiring a grade-point average of at least 3.6.
 
Cannon's incoming class of 2025 consists of 16 student-athletes, the largest recruiting class in program history since the first team fielded in 2016-17.
 
"Coach Cannon was instrumental in moving our program forward," said Leonard Trevino, Director of Athletics. "We thank him for all his efforts and wish him the best. We will begin a nationwide search immediately."