Benjamin K. Reel is currently entering his 15th season as the head coach for his alma mater, Indiana University Southeast. He also serves as an Associate Scout with the Houston Astros.
At the age of 39, Reel has compiled an overall record of 515-244-1. He is one of the youngest coaches in collegiate baseball to reach the 500-win milestone. His overall career winning percentage (.677) remains atop the 42-year history of baseball coaches at IU Southeast. During the 2022 season, Reel became the school's career wins leader as well. Under Reel, IU Southeast holds a 254-55 record in the River State Conference (RSC) with nine regular season titles and four tournament championships.
Reel has recruited, coached, and mentored 22 players to reach the professional ranks including IU Southeast’s first-ever Major League Baseball draft pick in 2010 when the Kansas City Royals selected Cameron Conner in the 20th round.
During the 2022 season, the Grenadiers were ranked as high as No. 7 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll and won the River States Conference regular season championship for the fourth consecutive season, finishing 20-4 in conference play. The Grenadiers went 4-0 during the conference tournament to claim their second-straight RSC Tournament championship. Nine Grenadiers were named to the RSC All-Conference teams and Reel won his second-straight Coach of the Year award.
IU Southeast advanced to the NAIA Opening Round for the sixth-straight NAIA Opening Round appearance. During Opening Round play, IU Southeast tied the NAIA Opening Round single-game record with four combined home runs and Marco Romero tied the NAIA single-game Opening Round record with three home runs in a 22-4 win over Olivet Nazarene. RSC Player of the Year Trevor Campbell and catcher Brody Tanksley were both named NAIA Second Team All-Americans and pitcher Hunter Kloke was a Honorable Mention selection.
Reel was named 2021 NAIA-Ball National Coach of the Year after their historic run of making the programs first trip to the 2021 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. For his efforts, Reel was also awarded 2021 ABCA Kingsport Opening Round Coach of the Year Award along with the 2021 River States Conference Coach of the Year award. Over the past 13 seasons, Reel has been named RSC Coach of the Year nine times.
2021 season will forever be etched into the record books of IU Southeast Baseball history. The 2021 campaign included finishing 50-16 and a sparkling 26-1 record in RSC conference play which placed them at the top of the regular season standings. This was the eighth regular season conference title in last 13 seasons. The Grenadiers followed up the regular season title with going 5-1 in the conference tournament and bringing home Reel’s third RSC Tournament Championship. Next the Grenadiers made their fifth straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament and were sent to the Kingsport Bracket. After winning their first two games in dramatic fashion via two walk-off homeruns, the Grenadiers took down the #1 national seed Tennessee Wesleyan University by a final score of 16-10 in the Championship Game of the NAIA Kingsport Bracket. The Grenadiers would roll thru the Kingsport Bracket with a sparkling 3-0 record with two wins over #1 Tennessee Wesleyan who had only lost 4 games all season. The surge in postseason prowess for the Grenadiers would be enough to punch their ticket to the 2021 NAIA World Series at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho for the first time in the 42 year history. The Grenadiers would knock off Concordia University and Keiser University to win two games at NAIA World Series and eventually finish 5th place. The historic season included a program record for wins in a single season (50), highest ever program ranking in NAIA Coaches Poll (6th) along with Matt Monahan and Brody Tanksley being named to All-American teams. Clay Woeste was named to the NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team as the top second-baseman. Monahan was named River States Conference Male Athlete of the Year as well as RSC Baseball Player of the Year along with Cade Reynolds being named RSC Freshman of the Year. The Grenadiers finished the season ranked #6 in the NAIA Coaches Poll with an overall record of 50-16 and were ranked top 5 in the country in total hits (707), stolen bases (155), doubles (146) and total runs scored (554).
The 2020 season was the set to be another historic year for the Grenadiers as Reel guided them to a school record 18-1 start, #12 national NAIA ranking and a conference leading 6-0 record, all in which ended abruptly due to COVID-19. The Grenadiers proved to be one of the most dynamic teams in the country by being ranked #1 in doubles per game (2.84), #2 in hits per game (11.42) and #3 in batting average (.362). The highly potent offense was also strengthened by adding a nations 13th best 65 stolen bases, in just 19 games, another staple of Reel’s offenses in his tenure at the helm. The Grenadiers also flashed the leather while fielding an impressive .978 which ranked #2 in the country out of 198 teams.
The 2019 season was another stellar season as the Grenadiers won their seventh River States Conference regular season title and punched their ticket to a fourth consecutive NAIA National Tournament. Reel was named RSC Coach of the Year for his efforts while Grenadiers won their seventh conference title in past 10 seasons. The year was highlighted by being top-25 in stolen bases, fielding percentage and earned run average. The Grenadiers ranked as high as 24th in the NAIA Coaches’ poll and finished the year with an overall record of 37-20 and 21-6 in conference play.
The 2018 season proved to be another exciting year as Reel led the Grenadiers to their sixth River States Conference regular season title in the past nine seasons. For his efforts, Reel was named RSC Coach of the Year, collecting this honor for the sixth time in the past nine seasons. The Grenadiers made a third consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament and won their opening game against #20 Westmont (CA) in impressive fashion by a score of 11-1. The Grenadiers finished the season being ranked in the top 30 in every NAIA Coaches’ Poll and were ranked as high as 11th by Perfect Game. After another historic year the Grenadiers finished with an overall record of 41-14 and 23-4 in conference play.
The 2017 season did not disappoint with the Grenadiers setting the new school record for wins (48) and winning percentage (.762), the highest ever top 25 ranking NAIA Coaches’ Poll (No. 15 in the nation) and advanced one win away from the NAIA-Avista World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Grenadiers impressive postseason run in the NAIA Opening Round Championship, involved two wins against a former NAIA World Series Champion and national juggernaut #10 Tennessee Wesleyan, and one win against the nations top pitching staff, #5 national seed Keiser University, before being eliminated in the championship game of the opening round bracket in Kingsport, Tennessee. After an amazing season the Grenadiers finished with a win-loss record of 48-15.
During the 2016 season, the Grenadiers set the school record for wins (43) and won the KIAC regular season championship for the fifth time in Reel’s tenure. IU Southeast earned its first top 25 ranking in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll and were ranked as high as No. 19 in the nation, the Grenadiers’ highest ranking ever.
In the last 12 years, Reel and his staff have recruited, mentored, and coached over 120 players to be named to the All-Conference teams and 36 All-Conference Gold Glove winners.
This impressive list includes four NAIA All-Americans, four RSC Pitchers of the Year, three RSC Freshmen of the Year, along with three RSC Players of the Year and two RSC Male Athlete of the Year.
Reel has also produced five IU Southeast Male Athletes of the Year along with three IU Southeast Champions of Character award winners.
In the classroom, the Grenadiers have boasted over 110 players earn IU Southeast academic honors and 23 NAIA Academic All-Americans in just 12 seasons.
Also during his 12 seasons at the helm of IU Southeast Baseball, Reel has coached in 11 conference tournament championship games, competed in six NAIA Opening Rounds, while also holding the IU Southeast record for most wins in a single season (48 - 2017), most consecutive wins in a single season (23 -2011) and the highest winning percentage in a single season (.762 - 2017).
Reel was inducted in the IU Southeast Athletics Hall of Fame for his efforts on the field and in the classroom. He led IU Southeast as team captain, was named a First Team All-Conference Selection, and All-Region Selection as a catcher for the Grenadiers while also receiving recognition as an NAIA Academic All-American in the spring of 2006. His 19 doubles in a single season, still stands as most doubles by a catcher in school history.
Before his time at IU Southeast, Reel played at Cleveland State Community College for legendary coach Mike Policastro. During his sophomore year at CSCC, Reel posted a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate for the Cougars and helped lead them to a second place finish in the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association (TJCAA).
Originally a native of Dillsboro, Ind., Reel is a graduate of South Dearborn High School. He lives in Charlestown with his wife Morgan, and their two dogs, Leo and Oakley.
