A former junior college player turned soldier, Kevin Kidder brings a different but no less valuable skill set to the Hillsdale College baseball team. Kevin was hired in the fall of 2022 and is entering his second year with the Chargers after retiring from 20 years active duty as a US Army Military Police Officer. He is bringing with him a wealth of knowledge from a myriad of experiences throughout his time in uniform, which he will use to enhance the team’s catching battery.

Kevin arrived at Hillsdale after a distinguished military career including six deployments, being recognized by the Secretary of Defense and the Sergeant Major of the Army, being inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (an award for Sergeants who display the highest caliber of leadership), being awarded the Order of the Marechausse for exceptional service to the Military Police Corps, being selected by his peers as the Leadership Awardee during Advanced and Senior Leaders courses, and earning the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Kidder started, as many coaches do, by coaching his children in baseball, football, and basketball. He also coached his unit’s sports teams to seven consecutive post/base championships, and a third-place finish in the 2014 Installation Management Command European Championships. He continued to develop and hone his coaching skills by volunteering for various summer baseball teams wherever he was stationed, and recently coached the last two years at Plymouth High School in Michigan.

"When I saw Hillsdale College was looking for an assistant baseball coach, I knew it was something I had to pursue,” Kidder said. “As an institution of higher learning, Hillsdale has an impeccable reputation for academic excellence and producing high caliber members of society, stands firm in its values and does not waiver in the face of social norms/pressure.”

“From a coaching perspective I knew I'd be dealing with some of the most intelligent college athletes in the country, athletes that I could pour my knowledge, heart, and soul into, and hopefully make a positive impact in their lives."

Kevin graduated from University of Maryland Global Campus with a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2019 and in May 2023 will graduate from Michigan State University with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.