Mark Kingston is the head coach of the South Carolina baseball team, which has recently advanced to the NCAA Tournament super regional for the first time since 2018. Kingston, who has been coaching at USC since 2017, has led the Gamecocks to a 42-19 record this season despite facing several injuries on the pitching staff. Kingston is in the news for his team’s impressive performance and his nickname for his shortstop Braylen Wimmer: “Octopus.”
Early Life
Mark Kingston was born on May 16, 1970, in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in Dumfries, Virginia, where he attended Potomac High School and played baseball. Acknowledged as one of the most outstanding 50 additions by Collegiate Baseball, he was eventually chosen by the New York Yankees in the 35th round of the MLB Draft held in 1988.
However, he chose to play college ball at North Carolina; he was instrumental in leading his team to clinch the regular season championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference and reach the 1989 College World Series in his freshman year. He graduated from UNC with a degree in political science in 1992.
Mark Kingston Career
Playing Career
Kingston was drafted again in the 45th round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He played one season in the Brewers organization and then four seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization, reaching Class AA. He also played one season with the independent league Grays Harbor Gulls.
Coaching
After his playing days were over, Kingston began his coaching journey as a coach’s assistant at Purdue in 1996. He became the top assistant after two seasons and then moved to Illinois State as an assistant coach in 1999. He then joined Miami (FL) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2000, where he helped the team win the 2001 College World Series title and produced two All-Americans.
In 2002, Kingston became the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Tulane, where he stayed for seven seasons. He recruited six classes that were ranked in the Top 25 nationally by Collegiate Baseball and guided the team to the 2005 College World Series as the top seed.
In 2009, Kingston returned to Illinois State as the associate head coach and was promoted to head coach in 2010. He coached at Illinois State for five seasons and guided the team towards qualifying for two NCAA Regional tournaments and two Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles. He was named MVC Coach of the Year twice (2010 and 2013).
In 2015, Kingston was hired as the head coach at South Florida, where he coached for three seasons and led the team to two NCAA Regional appearances and one American Athletic Conference regular season title.
Kingston assumed the position of head coach at South Carolina in 2017, making him the thirtieth individual to hold the position in the program’s history. In his first season at USC, he led the team to an NCAA Regional crown and an NCAA Super Regional appearance. In his second season, he coached five players that were picked in the MLB Draft.
Mark Kingston Biography |
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|---|---|
| Real Name | Mark Kingston |
| Birth Date | 16 May 1970 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 53 Years |
| Birth Place | Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Profession | Baseball Coach |
| College | University of North Carolina |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 8” – in Centimeters – 172 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 78 kg – in Pounds – 171 lbs |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
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Family |
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| Father | Mark Kingston |
| Mother | Lorraine Kingston |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is his wife? | Letitia Kingston |
| Children | Three (Kailyn Grace, Cameron James & Kathryn Patrici) |
Personal Life
Kingston and his wife, formerly known as Letitia Kelly, are blessed with a beautiful family of five. They have three wonderful children: Kailyn Grace, Cameron James, and Kathryn Patricia. Mark met his wife for the first time when he was playing pro ball.
Mark Kingston Salary & Net worth
According to available information, Kingston receives an annual salary of $600,000 in the state of South Carolina. Additionally, it is commonly speculated that his estimated net worth is around $2 million. In 2021, the University of South Karolina extended his contract however, his salary didn’t increase through. Instead, it just increased his buyout back to $2.2 million.
