Josh Keim
Head Coach & Academic Success Coach
Former Black Hawk College baseball player Josh Keim became the Braves’ Head Baseball Coach in August 2020, and is entering his third year. In two seasons, the Braves are 79-33 and his teams have been nationally inside the top-10 while making two regional tournament appearances.
In 2022, Keim’s Braves finished with a 35-20 record, won a Sectional Championship, and finished third in the NJCAA Region 4 Tournament. Under Keim, Payton Lawrence earned Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region as a pitcher. Freshman Lucas Spence earned First-Team All-Region honors, All-Conference, and was named a Rawlings Gold Glove recipient in the outfield. Chance Resetich earned Second-Team All-Region and All-Conference honors as a shortstop. Sebastian Cabeza, Brandon Roth, and Giacomo O’Neill earned All-Conference honors. This team was recognized as a NJCAA Academic Team of the Year and ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award winner. The team led all of Athletics posting a 3.35 2021-2022 Team GPA. To date, seven Braves have moved on to four-year schools.
In Keim’s first year in 2021, the Braves tied the program record for second-most wins posting a 44-13 overall record, were Arrowhead Athletic Conference Champions finishing with an undefeated 20-0 record, and advanced to the NJCAA Region 4 Tournament after winning a Sectional Championship. Keim’s team finished the season ranked ninth in the country, and as NJCAA Region 4 Runner-Up after losing in the Region 4 Championship game in Madison, WI.
Under Keim, Payton Lawrence earned Second Team All-American, First Team All-Region, and All-Conference honors as a starting pitcher. Cayle Webster was named Arrowhead Athletic Conference MVP, First Team All-Region, and was named a Rawlings Gold Glove Recipient as a third baseman. Chance Resetich earned First Team All-Region and All-Conference honors as a center fielder, and Drew Davis was Second Team All-Region, All-Conference, and was a Rawlings Gold Glove first baseman. Kyle Stoddard earned Second Team All-Region honors after leading the country in saves. Colin Bruce, Johnny Hernandez, and Brandon Roth earned All-Conference honors. This team was recognized as an ABCA All-Academic Team after posting a 3.21 GPA for the 2020-2021 academic year. Nine Braves moved on to the four-year schools following the season.
Keim has five years of NCAA Division II coaching experience and served as the recruiting coordinator at his two previous institutions.
Prior to taking over the Brave’s program, Keim spent one season at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, FL, as the Head Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Keim helped guide the Lions to seven wins prior to cancellation. Keim’s responsibilities also included hitting and infield.
Keim spent four years at the NCAA Division II powerhouse Quincy University (IL). He served in multiple roles for the Hawks, most notably Head Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Keim helped guide the Hawks to a 149-79 record, and the Hawks achieved a Top-10 national ranking all four years. From 2016-19, the Hawks advanced to four straight NCAA tournaments. The Hawks won the 2017 Midwest Regional Championship, advancing to the College World Series for the first time in program history, the 2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship, and the 2018 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship.
Keim spent two summers as the Field Manager of the Rockford Rivets (IL), a summer collegiate team in the Northwoods League. The Rivets 2020 roster ranked fifth among all collegiate summer league teams. Keim guided the Rivets to their second-most wins in franchise history with 33 in 2019. Prior to being elevated, Keim was the Rivets hitting coach in 2016.
Keim has coached 17 MLB Draft picks including a 2021 first-rounder, 19 players who have gone on to sign professional contracts, 30 All-Conference players and four All-Americans prior to Black Hawk College.
At Black Hawk College, Keim played infield and pitched for the Braves during the 2011-12 seasons under Arnie Chavera, current BHC Director of Athletics. Keim helped the Braves to two of the winningest seasons in program history with records of 44-9 in 2011 and 45-10 in 2012. The Braves were ranked Top 5 in the country both seasons, won two Arrowhead Athletic Conference Championships and two sectional championships, and appeared in back-to-back NJCAA Region 4 tournaments.
Keim went on to play at Illinois State University. After one year at Illinois State, he played two years at Saint Joseph’s College (IN), finishing with more than 100 hits in two seasons while earning First Team All-GLVC as an infielder.
A Quad-Cities native, Keim graduated from Rock Island High School and earned an associate degree at Black Hawk College. He completed a bachelor’s degree in sport management at Saint Joseph’s College and a master’s degree in leadership education at Quincy University.
In addition to his coaching career, Keim served as an adjunct professor of education for Saint Leo University.
Matt McDonald
Pitching Coach
Former Parkland College pitcher became the Black Hawk Braves Pitching Coach in August of 2021.
McDonald was drafted in 1994 by the Oakland A’s in the 16th round as a pitcher. He was coached by Gil Patterson who remains the Oakland A’s Pitching Coordinator. In 1995, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he was coached by Charlie Hough. He played
with the Dodgers until 1999.
After his playing career ended, McDonald began coaching travel baseball for the
Cangelosi Sparks and 29ers organizations. In 2015, he became the Pitching Coach for Hall
High School. From 2015-2021, Hall won six Conference Championships, three Regional
Championships, a Sectional Championship, a Super Sectional Championship, and a State Championship.
Through his coaching career, McDonald has helped numerous players continue their playing careers at the collegiate level.
Paul Sanders
Assistant Coach/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Former Knox College standout became an Assistant Coach for the Black Hawk Braves in August of 2022. Sanders will work with the outfielders, assist with hitting, and oversee all strength & conditioning for the Braves.
Paul was a graduate of Rock Island High School in 2013 and then went on to become a four-year starter at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. He was an All-Region and All-Conference selection in 2018 after leading all of NCAA Division III in stolen bases with 38 while also setting the single-season conference record. Paul is currently second all-time in the Midwest Conference for career stolen bases with 74, holds school career records for single-season stolen bases, career stolen bases, and career runs scored. Following his playing career, Paul trained as a sprinter for three years until 2021 and was the Head Coach of the Rock Island High School Freshmen baseball team in 2022.
Sanders currently serves as a paraprofessional in the Moline School District and is working on a master’s degree in education from Western Illinois University.