July 10, 2008

Cardenas Promoted at Stephen F. Austin 

Johnny Cardenas has been named head coach at Stephen F. Austin. He has served as interim head coach for the past month.

Cardenas has been as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Lumberjacks for the past three seasons. He also was head coach for the past two summers in the Texas Collegiate League. Cardenas was TCL Coach of the Year in 2007 after guiding the Wichita Falls Roughnecks to the Rogers Hornsby Division title.

A native of Amarillo, Texas, Cardenas was an All-Jayhawk Conference selection at Seward County Community College in 1989 before moving to TCU. He was an All-Southwest Conference performer and was an Academic All-American in 1993. Cardenas played professionally for six years in the farm systems of the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox before reaching the major leagues in 1997 with the Texas Rangers.

Cardenas was a successful high school coach prior to arriving at SFA. He coached at Colbert (Okla.) High School and led the team to district championships in each of his three seasons. Colbert reached the Class 2A semifinals in 1999 and 2001. Eight of his players advanced to the collegiate level. Cardenas became head coach at Greenville (Texas) High School in 2003 before moving to SFA in 2005.

Chris Connally will remain as an assistant coach for the Lumberjacks.

Click here for list of 2008 Division I head coaching changes.