NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Head Baseball coach Chris Finwood announced on Friday that Jonathan Hadra has joined his staff as an assistant coach. Hadra, a four-year letterman and 2004 VMI graduate, served as the head coach for eight years at his alma mater recording 147 wins in his tenure.
"We're all so pleased to be able to add Hadra to our coaching staff," said Finwood on the new hire. "I have watched him from up close and afar develop into such a wonderful mentor, coach, husband, father as well as a fantastic role model for his teams. I think he is a fantastic coach and an even better person. He has a blue collar work ethic and an easygoing way about him that endears him to his players. We feel very fortunate to get a sitting head coach to join our program. It's great to welcome him and his wonderful family to Monarch nation."
Hadra was named the 20th head coach in VMI baseball history on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014. He had served as associate head coach for the Keydets previously and was the acting head coach for 10 days following the resignation of Marlin Ikenberry.
"Allison and I could not be more excited to move our family to the Norfolk area to join the ODU baseball family," said Hadra. "The last 13 years at VMI have been special and will always be a time that we look back on and cherish. We have this opportunity because of our current and former VMI players and staff members that I have worked alongside and it is because of all their time and hard work for the program that this is even possible to become a reality."
Hadra, the 2010 SE Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year, has spent seven seasons as an assistant coach where he rose from assistant to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2014 season. He has worked with the infielders and hitters during the majority of that time, as well as serving as the program's recruiting coordinator since 2011.
Prior to VMI, Hadra spent three years as an assistant at Western Kentucky under Finwood. He was part of a run that saw three of VMI's last four head coaches have ties as a coach or player to Finwood.
At WKU, Hadra oversaw outfield instruction, base running and bunting while coaching first base. In 2008, the Hilltoppers were picked seventh in the league's preseason poll and made just the third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after capturing the conference tournament championship. Also that season, the WKU defense ranked third in the nation with a .976 team fielding percentage.
As a cadet, Hadra was a four-year letterman who graduated with a degree in Economics and Business. Hadra served as team captain his senior year and helped the Keydets break the school record for wins during his junior season. His sophomore season, meanwhile, saw VMI finish with a 16-14 mark in the Southern Conference, breaking the program standard for most conference wins.
"ODU baseball is a brand in and of itself in the Tidewater and Mid-Atlantic region," continued Hadra. "Coach Finwood and his staff have done an amazing job growing the Monarch program into one that is consistently competing for championships and regional berths and I am looking forward to being a part of the continued growth as we transition into the Sun Belt. Many thanks to Coach Finwood for his confidence in me and we can't wait to get to work!"
Hadra is married to the former Allison Toth, and the couple has three children, son Colton and daughters Kennedy and Brynlee.