The 2026 season will mark the the eighth season for Matthew Kinney at Southeast Missouri and the seventh as the Redhawks pitching coach.
In 2025, the SEMO Pitching Staff recorded a historical season on the mound and were among the nation’s best in many statistical categories. The Redhawks finished fourth in the nation in Walks-Per-Nine-Innings (3.09), 13th in Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (2.79), 27th in WHIP (1.34), 41st in ERA (4.67), 64th in Hits-Allowed-Per-Nine-Innings (8.95), and third in overall strike percentage (65.2%). These rankings all marked a program record in their respective categories in the program’s DI era.
Three Redhawk pitchers landed on the 2025 All-OVC Postseason Team including two first teamers and a second team selection. RHP Nathan Mertens and LHP Jackson Kranawetter both landed on the First Team, with LHP Haden Dow landing on the Second Team.
Mertens finished the 2025 campaign ranked first in the nation in walks-allowed-per-nine-innings (0.91) and third in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.38). He also ranked 18th nationally in WHIP (1.00).
Kranawetter finished with a team high eight saves, ranking him 29th in the country and first in the OVC in saves. He led the bullpen staff with 23 appearances in relief, the fourth most in the OVC.
Dow finished his final season under Coach Kinney amongst the nation’s best; ranking 12th in WHIP (0.97), 21stin walks-allowed-per-nine-innings (1.61), 38th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.79), and 68th in hits per nine innings (7.12).
Coach Kinney led the Redhawks pitching staff to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title during the 2024 season and advanced to the Fayetteville Regional. The Redhawks then knocked out #5 national seed, Arkansas, en route to the first NCAA Regional final appearance in school history.
As a staff, SEMO ranked among the top 50 in the country in several statistical categories including overall strike percentage (11th), first pitch strike percentage (14th), and fewest walks allowed per nine innings (43rd). During the campaign, the Redhawks also led the OVC in saves headlined by Kyle Miller.
Under the guidance of Kinney, RHP Kyle Miller became the all-time appearances leader in a Redahwk uniform. He also broke the saves record, becoming the the all-time saves leader in program history.
During the 2023 season, SEMO’s pitching staff ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation in fastball strike percentage (2nd), first pitch strike percentage (4th), overall strike percentage (10th), fewest walks allowed per nine innings (16th), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (28th). The Redhawks also led the OVC in strikeouts per nine innings, fewest walks per nine innings, fewest hits per nine innings, and batting average against.
Noah Niznik (current Savannah Banana LHP) and Haden Dow garnered first team and second team All-OVC honors respectively. Freshmen, Gavin Johnston and Eddie White, were both named All-OVC Newcomers. Kyle Miller finished the season with six saves, becoming the all-time saves leader in SEMO Baseball history.
Kinney spent the 2022 season as the pitching coach at Army West Point. The Black Knights won the Patriot League regular season and tournament championships and competed in the Hattiesburg Regional. At Army, Kinney oversaw a pitching staff that led the Patriot League in ERA, WHIP, shutouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio, fewest hits allowed per nine innings, and batting average against.
The staff featured three All-Patriot League team members. First Team member, Tanner Gresham; Second Team member, Brian Dawson; and Pitcher of the Year, Connelly Early. Early was also selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Northeast Region Second Team. He led the Patriot League in strikeouts and averaged the fewest hits allowed per nine innings. He was recently selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2023 draft after transferring to the University of Virginia.
In 2021, Kinney was part of the SEMO team that won both the OVC Regular Season and Conference titles and advanced to the Oxford Regional. As a pitching staff, the 2021 Redhawks led the league in saves, ground ball percentage and fewest walks allowed. The Redhawks also ranked among the nation’s leaders in fastball strike percentage (4th) and overall strike percentage (28th).
To go along with the overall success of the pitching staff, Kinney mentored the freshman duo of Kyle Miller and Collin Wilma, who landed on the All-OVC Newcomer Team; as well as OVC Pitcher of the Year Dylan Dodd. The southpaw led the conference in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins and games started and checked in at second in ERA. Dodd earned Second Team All-America honors and went on to be the highest draft pick in program history when he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Dodd made his MLB Debut with the Braves against the Cardinals on April 4th, 2023.
During SEMO’s 2020 campaign that was shortened to 17 games due to COVID-19, Kinney oversaw a pitching staff that led the Ohio Valley Conference in fewest walks allowed. Left-handers Dylan Dodd (2-1, 36 Ks) and Noah Niznik (3-0, 15 Ks) were a combined 5-1 with 51 strikeouts and two complete game shutouts through four starts in 2020.
2019 marked Kinney’s first season as the Redhawk pitching coach. He helped guide Noah Niznik to All-OVC Newcomer honors. Niznik started 13 games and led the team with a 3.63 ERA, ranked second in innings (62) and third in both strikeouts (49) and wins (3) that season.
Kinney first joined the SEMO coaching staff as Volunteer Assistant and Director of Operations. Prior joining Andy Sawyers' staff at Southeast Missouri in 2017, Kinney worked as the pitching coach for the Cape Cod League’s CotuitKettleers. Kinney served on Mike Robert’s staff after playing for Cotuit in 2015.
Before getting his start in coaching, Kinney enjoyed a successful baseball career as a player. At Belmont University, he helped the Bruins to the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament championships, as well as a berth to the Baton Rouge Regional. He split time as a pitcher and outfielder before pitching full-time in 2015, when he posted a 1.80 ERA, struck out 62 in 35 relief appearances, and notched 2 saves against eventual College World Series Runner-Up, Vanderbilt.
After earning a bachelor’s in finance from Belmont in 2015, Kinney graduate-transferred to national powerhouse Florida State. As a Seminole, he went 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA and helped the team secure an NCAA Super Regional Berth. Additionally, he was named to the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year List and earned a master’s degree in sport management.
A Johns Creek, Ga. native, Kinney’s interest in the sport of baseball was originally sparked by his family. His grandfather, Jack Krol, was a long time major and minor league coach for the Cardinals and the Padres.
Kinney is married to the former Allyson Bradshaw, who played basketball at SEMO. They have two sons, Davis and Jace.
