David Canary 
Assistant Coach
JCCC '03
Union Univeristy '05
3rd season at JCCC

David Canary returned to his alma mater two years ago to serve as an assistant coach for the JCCC baseball team.  Canary, who played middle infield for coach Shelley during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, will serve his third campaign as the  Cavaliers first base coach in 2010.  He will also handle the infielders and hitting instruction, and serve as a recruiting coordinator.

In his first campaign, Canary has helped guide the Cavaliers to its best season in the team’s history.  The Cavaliers won 41 games, won a Region VI title, and earned a berth to the NJCAA JUCO World Series, the first for the program.  At the plate, the Cavaliers ranked among the top hitting clubs in the country.  Canary played a vital role in the turnaround season of Doug Otto, helping  him go from a .231 average as a freshman to over .400 and a conference MVP and first-team All-America selection his sophomore campaign.  Canary also coached all-conference outfielders John Lenherr and Parker Amos.  

Last year, Canary helped JCCC to another 40-win campaign with 43, the highest total in Shelley’s 22 seasons at JCCC. The Cavaliers also posted a runner-up finish in the KJCCC, and earned a Region VI Championship berth.  Under Canary’s tutelage, the Cavaliers posted a team batting average of .356, wich led the Jayhawk Conference and ranked ninth in the NJCAA.  In addition, John Lenherr was selected as an All-American and received Rawlings Big Stick Award for the top batting average in the Central District.  Addtionally, Canary coached five all-conference and two All-Region VI selections in 2009.

While new to the Cavaliers staff in 2008, Canary was not a stranger to coaching at the collegiate level.  He joins the staff after serving three years as an assistant for Union University in Jackson, Tenn.  Canary served as a hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs.  In his three seasons on staff, Canary helped the Bulldogs post back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2006 and 2007, and hit collectively  .299 as a team over those three years. The 2006 squad belted 607 hits,  hit .312 overall and earned a spot in the NAIA Region XI Tournament.  Additionally, Canary help foster the career of Jud Powers, who earned NAIA All-America accolades following the 2006 campaign.  Canary also helped coach 11 all-conference players, three Rawlings Gold Glove winners and two all-region selections.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Canary played two seasons at Union.  As a junior in 2003, Canary was the Bulldogs staring shortstop.  He played in 51 games, 48 as a starter.  He collected 27 hits with five doubles, a triple and 14 runs batted in.   His senior year, Canary was moved to the bullpen where he became a successful reliever for the Bulldogs in 2004.  He posted a 4-0 record with one save in 21 appearances.  Canary threw just over 35 innings and had an earned run average of 5.80.

Canary began his collegiate playing career at JCCC.  In  his two seasons, Canary ripped 52 hits with four doubles, a triple, a home run and 21 RBI.  He also scored 74 runs and stole 19 bases.  His sophomore season, Canary was second on the team with 14 steals, and led the squad with eight sacrifices.  His eight sacrifices tie the sixth highest season mark in team history.

Before his college career, Canary was a two-sport athlete at Cookeville (Tenn.) High School where he lettered four years in baseball, and two in football.  

Canary earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Union University in 2005, and his master’s degree in education in 2007.