Arcadia University Director of Athletics & Recreation Shirley Liddle announced that Kenneth M. Spangenberg ’08, who was an all-conference student-athlete at Abington Heights High School, is returning to Arcadia as the new Head Baseball Coach for Arcadia University’s NCAA Division III program.

Spangenberg, from Clarks Summit, Pa., also will serve as the Event Management Coordinator for Arcadia’s 15 athletic teams. He says his top priorities for Arcadia’s fourth season in the MAC’s Commonwealth Conference are “to bring pride to this program,” to recruit successful student-athletes, and to connect with alumni.

“I am invested in the growth and sustainability of the Arcadia University Baseball program,” says Spangenberg, who will build his team around “student-athletes of high character, who are ready to come to Arcadia and make sacrifices for the program. Those young men will allow us to compete at our fullest potential. No one can guarantee championships, but hard work, dedication and pride can and will be required.” Spangenberg’s recruiting efforts will focus on Eastern Pennsylvania and throughout New Jersey.

“Since I began coaching, this position has been my goal,” Spangenberg says. “Every sacrifice I have made in my coaching career was made with this position in mind. To have it now is truly a dream come true. I will take great pride in the future of this program, and that future starts today.”

Spangenberg will look to the alumni of Arcadia’s baseball program for support. “Another of my goals is to increase alumni involvement. Dedicating four years of your life to balancing athletics with academic pursuits is something to be commended. The alumni helped this program to achieve prominence, and I want them to be involved with the rebuilding process and feel invested in the program and University.

“Arcadia attracts well-rounded student-athletes who love baseball and who want to be a part of a great program, but they also care about their future beyond college,” he notes. “That is really what college is all about–developing as a person, a student and an athlete. That is the type of student-athlete that I will be recruiting to this University, young men who understand this vital concept.”

As a four-year starter at Arcadia, Spangenberg emulated the leadership of then-coach Stan Exeter, pursuing excellence as a Division III student-athlete and in the classroom. He earned All Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Second Team honors in 2008, All Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) First Team honors in 2007, and All PAC Honorable Mention in 2006. He achieved a career batting average of .355 and is the Arcadia record holder for career triples (16). He also is a three-time selectee to the All Academic Team. Spangenberg’s play helped the Knights to four consecutive playoff appearances: PAC playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and MAC Freedom Conference playoffs in 2008. In the classroom, A Business Administration major with an emphasis on Marketing, Spangenberg was treasurer of Arcadia’s Society for the Advancement of the Business Association.

After graduating from Arcadia in 2008, Spangenberg extended his playing career with the Tri-County League’s Limeport Bulls in Allentown, Pa., earning 2008 Rookie of the Year honors. After that he retired his bat and glove to focus on his professional coaching career. In his time spent at Keystone and Edgewood colleges, Spangenberg recruited and coached four players drafted into the Major League Baseball system, including two who signed professional contracts.

He was assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator at Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., serving as offensive coordinator and infield coach. From 2009 to 2011, he led an offense that broke 16 school records and a team that claimed the Northern Athletics Conference Championship. He guided eight student-athletes to All Conference accolades and three All Region performers.

Spangenberg served as an assistant coach at Keystone College in LaPlume, Pa., for the 2008-09 season, working with the infielders and hitters and assisting with recruiting. The Giants captured the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship, coming one game away from the College World Series and ranked as high as fourth in the country. Under Spangenberg, the Keystone offense was first in the nation in scoring, second in runs scored, fourth in batting average, fifth in slugging percentage, eighth in home runs, and 16th in stolen bases.

In the summer months, Spangenberg directed the Verona Summer Baseball Camp in Vernona, Va. from 2010-11 and Philadelphia’s All-Star Baseball Academy from 2008-09. During the summer of 2009, Spangenberg also took over an Abington Legion team in his hometown that was 4-16 and led them to a 19-6 turnaround and a district title.

Spangenberg graduated in 2004 from Abington Heights High School, where he was a three-year letter winner and two-time All Conference in both baseball and wrestling. His younger brother Cory was recently drafted by the San Diego Padres with the 10th overall pick in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft in June.

Spangenberg’s accomplishments off the diamond include serving as the assistant director of the Eagle Golf Outing, the largest fundraiser benefiting the Edgewood College Athletic Department, as well as co-founding of the Sports Marketing Association, geared toward increasing school pride and attendance at home contests. He recently attained certification as a strength and conditioning specialist and is working toward his master’s degree in education from Edgewood.

Coach Spangenberg will begin his new position immediately and can be reached at 215-572-4028.