Baseball strength coach leaving for UNC Wilmington

Ole Miss baseball has to replace its strength and conditioning coach for the first time in four seasons.

Ben Fleming, who has been with the Rebels since 2014, is headed to UNC Wilmington for a better title with the Colonial Athletic Conference school, he confirmed to RebelGrove.com on Monday.

An assistant coordinator at Ole Miss, the Seahawks offered a director position, and he will be in charge of more major sports including baseball and basketball.

Ole Miss swept UNCW during a three-game set at Swayze Field in February.

Fleming's tenure included the third place finish in the 2014 College World Series during the Wingate University product's first season, and the Rebels had a combined 153-92 record with two regional host seasons, an SEC West title and three postseason berths.

Fleming, more of a baseball specialist than previous strength coaches in the program, emphasized exercises to help the body hold up through the marathon of 56-game seasons. He cured a recurring program-wide problem with stress injuries such as shin splints.

Prior to his time in Oxford, Fleming was with Kansas State for two seasons including the 2013 Big 12 championship team. He also spent four years at UCF, overseeing the strength and conditioning programs for baseball, women's basketball and women's tennis while helping with the football program.

His wife, Alexis, is a coordinator for guest services with Ole Miss athletics.