Cody Pentecost, a former College of the Ozarks Bobcat Baseball standout and current assistant coach on the Bobcat coaching staff, has been named the ninth head baseball coach in program history.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Cody Pentecost, a former College of the Ozarks Bobcat Baseball standout and current assistant coach on the Bobcat coaching staff, has been named the ninth head baseball coach in program history. Pentecost will take the reins in 2026-27 as longtime coach Neale Richardson retires following the 2026 season.

Pentecost joined the Bobcat coaching staff in 2024 after serving as an assistant coach at Mission University, head coach and general manager of the Queen City Crush, and as an assistant coach at New Covenant Academy in Springfield, Missouri.

“We are excited to announce Coach Cody Pentecost as our next head baseball coach,” said College of the Ozarks Athletic Director Steve Shepherd. “Cody’s coaching philosophy models the College of the Ozarks mission to pursue excellence on the field of play and as a platform to glorify God. Along with continuing the tradition of Bobcat Baseball on the field, Cody will do a great job of investing spiritually in the lives of the young men in our baseball program and will be an asset to our campus community.  Cody has been a successful player and coach, and we are looking forward to his leadership and continued success of our baseball program.”

“It is an incredible honor to have the opportunity to be the head baseball coach at College of the Ozarks,” Pentecost said. “C of O is such a special place to me and my family, and we are grateful to lead the program that had such a transformational impact on me as a player. To be entrusted to take the torch from Coach Richardson – one of the greatest coaches in Southwest Missouri – and lead this program is the opportunity of a lifetime. We are excited to continue pouring into the team and campus, building on the rich traditions that will allow us to have a bright future.”

Pentecost is a graduate of Lebanon High School (Lebanon, Missouri) where he was 1^st Team All-State, and his .512 batting average and defensive abilities earned him District 10 Player of the Year and Ozark Conference Player of the year honors in 2011. With multiple opportunities to continue his playing career, Pentecost returned to his roots, having grown up spending much time on the College of the Ozarks campus. With a deep family heritage at C of O, and many personal connections as well, Bobcat Baseball was a natural fit.

As a Bobcat, Pentecost was a four-year starter in centerfield and was recognized as a premier defensive outfielder who also turned in a career batting average of .337, including .412 during his senior campaign, ranking in the top 25 in the NAIA. He also ranked in the top 40 in the NAIA for hits per game in 2015. He led the Bobcats in batting average, on-base percentage, walks, and stolen bases in three of his four years, runs scored two years, and slugging percentage, doubles, and OPS in 2015. He was named 1^st Team All-MCAC, MCAC Gold Glove Outfield, and was honored as the NAIA Champion of Character in 2015. 

In his career after C of O, Pentecost remained connected to the athletic scene as an area director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the greater Springfield, Missouri, area and most recently the director of college ministry with FCA for all the colleges and universities in Springfield. Through his role, he was able to connect with coaches from each of the institutions and focused on the growth and development of coaches and athletes, both in and outside of their sport. 

Pentecost has played a pivotal role in leading multiple teams and programs in the Ozarks. He served as an assistant coach at New Covenant Academy (2017-2020), and as head coach and general manager of an FCA summer collegiate baseball program, the Queen City Crush (2018-2023). The Crush competed in the Show-Me Collegiate League and made a solid impact from the onset. Pentecost developed the Crush organization with the FCA baseball model, and his recruiting ability was evident as players from all over the country came to compete in the Ozarks. Players from coast to coast including California, New Jersey, Hawaii, and 14 other states joined the Crush program. Through the Crush, Pentecost coached 28 SMCL All-Stars, four consecutive SMCL Pitchers of the Year, 16 NCAA Division I players, and four players that went on to play professionally. He also has taken multiple Crush teams and other area coaches on baseball mission trips to the Dominican Republic.

As an assistant coach at Mission University (2021-2024), Pentecost helped start the baseball program which saw immediate success. With back-to-back 30-win seasons and a record setting 40-win season (2023), the Patriots won Regional Championships and made NCCAA World Series appearances in 2023 and 2024. He coached the team defense to a school record in fielding percentage (.960) in 2023 and implemented the team offensive philosophy for a program best team batting average (.318) in 2024. During his time at Mission, he coached 11 All-Southwest Conference honorees, five Southwest Conference Gold Glove honorees, five NCCAA All Central Region players, and two NCCAA World Series All-Tournament Team selections.

Pentecost received his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from College of the Ozarks in 2015 and his Master of Science in Sports Management degree from Missouri Baptist University in 2021. He will also be serving as an assistant professor in the College of the Ozarks Physical Education Department. Cody and his wife Nickie have four daughters — Camryn, Leighton, Kendall, and Austyn.