Barrett Shaft comes into the 2011-12 school year as a first-year assistant coach, joining the Wildcats in working with the team's hitters and taking charge of B-CU's outfielders and first basemen.

"Being the all-time hits leader at Western Carolina, Coach Shaft obviously knows a lot about hitting," said Beverlin, "and what it takes to be successful from both a mechanical and approach standpoint. He's a tireless worker, and he'll be there until the last guy gets done in that cage to make sure our guys continue to get better; to get the most out of each player."

Shaft came to Bethune-Cookman from the University of Tennessee, where he was the volunteer assistant coach in the 2011 season and was previously a manager for the Volunteers.

Originally from Lilburn, Ga., Shaft enjoyed a spectacular collegiate career with the Catamounts of Western Carolina, finishing as the school's career leader in hits with 336 and eighth in the program annals with a .362 batting average. He also ranks among the top-10 in career at-bats, games played, runs scored, doubles, total bases, hit by pitches, sacrifice flies and sacrifice bunts.

Shaft wrapped up his very successful playing career in 2007, during which he earned a number of accolades, including being named to the 2008 preseason All-Southern Conference First Team, 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List and 2007 All-Southern Conference Second Team. Shaft was also tabbed as the fastest baserunner in the SoCon in the 2006 preseason issue of Baseball America.

Shaft received a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Western Carolina in 2008 and wrapped up his Masters in Sport Psychology at Tennessee before making the move to Daytona Beach.

Following his collegiate career, Shaft played professionally with the Midwest Sliders of the independent Frontier League in 2008.