Belhaven University Athletics

Assistant Baseball Coach Clay Ardeeser is entering his third season with the Blazers and first as the Assistant Coach after spending the past two seasons as the Belhaven Baseball Graduate Assistant. Over the past two years, Ardeeser had a hand in the Belhaven offense and in 2020, the Blazers finished among Division III leaders in numerous offensive categories. 

Ardeeser spent his prep career at Grayson High School in Loganvilla, GA where he was a two-time All-Region selection, two-time All-County seleciton and an All-State selection his Senior year. 

Following his prep career, Ardeeser competed at Georgia College and State University in Milledgevilla, GA. During his time with the Bobcats, Ardeeser played first base and was a three-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection, three-time All-Southeast Region selection, and two-time All-Peach Belt Conference Tournament Selection. Ardeeser was named the 2014 Collegiate Player of the Year in Georgia and also named a 2014 Division II All-American. 

During his time at GCSU, the Bobcats reached the Division II Southeast Regional three times and were two time Peach Belt Conference Tournament champions. Ardeeser finished his career 7th all time in single season batting average with a .424 clip. He also finished 1st all-time in putouts with (1518), 3rd in doubles (59), 6th in walks (126), 7th in Total Bases (422), 8th in RBI’s (196), 9th all-time in career hits (270) and 10th in home runs (29).

Ardeeser continued his playing career for the Garden City Wind in the Independent Professional Pecos League where he was named a Pecos League All-Star. Following his time with the wind Ardeeser played for the Utica Unicorns of the Independent United Shore Professional Baseball League. 

In his coaching career, Ardeeser spent 2015-16 as the hitting coach and first base coach for John Milledge Academy in Milledgeville, GA where he helped coach the Trojans to a Final Four appearance and Regional Runner-Up finish. He then acted as the Hitting Coach for Grayson High School from 2016-17 where he helped coach the Rams to a 7A Region 8 title and saw two players from that team drafted into Major League Baseball.

Ardeeser then served as the Hitting Coach and First Base Coach for North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, GA where the Spartans program would finish as region runner-ups during his time. Ardeeser was the Head Baseball Coach and Softball Coach at Sprayberry High School in Marietta, GA from 2018-19 before becoming the Head Softball Coach at Heritage High School in Conyers, GA.

Ardeeser graduated from Georgia College and State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.