Jim Bonnette Position: Assistant Coach

Jim Bonnette is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Texas A&M International University Baseball team. In three seasons with the team, coach Bonnette has helped transform the Dustdevils into a consistent contender in the Heartland Conference.

In his three seasons in Laredo, Bonnette has helped to compile a 56-104 overall record for the Dustdevils, with a 47-81 mark in Heartland Conference play. The 2012 Dustdevils led the conference and were ranked 25th in the nation in hitting, with a team batting average of .322. The Dustdevils also ranked second in the conference in defense, boasting a fielding percentage of .953.

"In my time at TAMIU, we have seen this program make great strides culminating in our first Heartland Conference Tournament appearance last year. We have brought in a good group of kids this year that we think will allow us to get over the hump and bring home our first conference title. "

Prior to joining the baseball program at TAMIU, Coach Bonnette served as an assistant coach at Ohio Valley University alongside Dustdevils current Head Coach Chad Porter. Bonnette began his coaching career at Marietta College in 2007, where he helped guide the Pioneers to an NCAA Division-III World Series appearance.

In the summers of 2008 and 2007, Coach Bonnette served as hitting instructor for the Stark County terriers, and the Deleware Cows of the Great Lakes Collegiate Baseball League. In 2006 he served as hitting instructor for the Front Royal Cardinals of the Virginia Valley Collegiate Baseball League.

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Coach Bonnette was a four year baseball letter winner at the University of Akron. While with the Zips, he was a four-year starter behind the plate, earning team defensive player of the year honors as a sophomore and was named team captain as a senior. He led the Mid-American Conference in percentage of runners thrown out for three straight years and helped guide Akron to the MAC Tournament in his senior campaign.

A native of Lancaster, Ohio, he was an outstanding athlete at Fairfield Union High School where he lettered in baseball, basketball and football. As a senior he received All-State honors in all three sports and was named baseball Conference Player of the Year. In 2000 he was inducted into the Fairfield Union High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

Bonnette graduated from the University of Akron in 2005 with a bachelor's in sport and exercise science and a master's in sports sciences and coaching. Coach Bonnette resides in Laredo with his wife Gracy Bonnette.