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Kevin Farmer certainly has his priorities in order.
One week after acknowledging his 500th career coaching victory with little fanfare (not coming from him, anyway), the Benedictine baseball coach and his wife of 20 years, Sarah, will be celebrating their daughter Emma’s 16th birthday.
That’s a reason to party.
“That’s what’s important, the love and support of my wife and daughter,” Farmer said Monday. “Wins are just a number. You’ve got to have the love and support of your family and friends.”
As Farmer, who also serves as the all-boys school’s assistant principal, says about family, “I’ve got one daughter and 400 boys I have to worry about.”
He’s not kidding about the lack of importance he places on career win totals. The 500th, notched Saturday, Feb. 25, when the Cadets defeated Chapel Hill 22-8, was a milestone, like the 200th, 300th and 400th. But just a number.
“I coach because I love it and I love to be out there on the field watching these young men develop and play,” said Farmer, who with the team 5-1 going into Tuesday’s home game against Statesboro, has a career record of 500-147-2 including 259-77-1 at Benedictine.
He was a combined 241-70-1 in 10 seasons as a head coach at Calvary Day School from 2002-11, including GHSA Class A state championships in 2005 and 2007 and seven region titles. Farmer, a 1992 BC graduate, returned to his alma mater in 2013 and won Class 2A state crowns in 2014 and 2018 and eight region titles across 2A to 4A.
Now in his 21st season as a head coach, Farmer has never had a losing campaign – not even close.
“Basically, it’s been a lot about the boys buying in, setting expectations high,” he explained about the consistent success. “I’ve been fortunate to have very talented players over the years at Calvary and Benedictine. On top of that, I’ve had a lot of supportive and knowledgeable assistant coaches along the way that I’ve delegated responsibilities to, whether it’s defense, offense or pitching – (and) trusting in them. As a coaching staff, collaborating to get the best that you can out of these teenage boys.”
Potential milestones with nice, round numbers are 600, 700, even 1,000 if he were to double his win total and perhaps his decades in the dugout. Only 49, Farmer doesn’t think about such goals, or retirement.
“I just enjoy the moment and try to cherish being in the moment with these kids,” Farmer said. “I tell the kids there’s great opportunity to the game of baseball.”
Baseball and coaching have long been part of Farmer’s story, even before he was born. His grandfather, J.C. Farmer, coached community teams and was a softball standout inducted into the Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame.
Kevin’s father, J.C. Farmer Jr., played sports at Ware County High and later coached his son growing up through the Chain Baseball Academy in Savannah.
Kevin was a third baseman at Benedictine under Tony Orsini and coached younger brother Kyle at Chain and later at Calvary. Kyle Farmer is now a history teacher and assistant baseball coach at Benedictine.
Kevin shares credit with positive influences from his coaching career at Chain and being an assistant at Richmond Hill, Bryan County and Calvary, as well as his Benedictine education. The quiet student learned the value of hard work, preparation, a professional mindset and respect for yourself and others – all of which applies to baseball and a fundamental approach to becoming successful on and off the field.
“You’ve got to prepare them for life,” said Farmer, who graduated from the University of Georgia in 1996 with a degree in psychology and earned certification as an educator. “What better way to prepare them for life than coaching in baseball? Baseball is about failure with the numbers and striking out and batting .300 and everything else. How are you going to be resilient, how are you going to respond? That’s what’s important for these young men down the road.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Benedictine Military School social media
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
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