Will Maddox joined Georgia State's baseball program in July 2026.
Maddox, a Gainesville, Ga., native, returns to his home state after a successful professional playing career and two seasons in the collegiate coaching ranks, highlighted by a six-season stint in the MiLB.
Maddox comes to Atlanta after spending two seasons on the Youngstown State baseball staff. He was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2026 campaign after serving as an assistant coach in 2025.
During Maddox's first season on the Youngstown State staff in 2025, the Penguins set new single-season school records for home runs (76) and walks (306) while posting their highest marks in RBIs (348), runs scored (391) and runs per game (6.9) since 2010. The Penguins also set new school records for slugging percentage (.472) and extra-base hits (199) while recording their highest on-base percentage (.394) since 2001.
Under Maddox's guidance in 2025, Maddox helped develop a Second-Team All-Horizon League honoree, a top-10 Horizon League performer in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS and home runs and a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection who also set a new single-game school record for walks.
The former minor league infielder, Maddox played three collegiate seasons at Tennessee before being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He played six seasons in the minor leagues, finishing his MiLB career with a .301 batting average, 481 hits, 62 doubles, 13 triples, nine home runs and 148 RBIs. Maddox played for the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, from 2017-19, and spent part of the 2019 season with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
At Tennessee, Maddox appeared in 160 games and made 157 starts during his three-year career, batting .309 with 190 hits and 60 stolen bases. As a junior in 2014, he batted .297 with three home runs and 21 RBIs over 54 games played while adding 38 runs scored, 29 walks and 24 stolen bases. As a sophomore in 2013, Maddox batted .333 with a .425 on-base percentage and 22 stolen bases. He earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2012 after becoming just the third freshman since 1980 to lead Tennessee in batting average. He was also a member of the 2013 USA Baseball Collegiate Team.
Maddox graduated from Gainesville High School. He was named to the 2011 Gainesville Times All-Area First Team and was a three-time All-Region 7-AAA selection from 2009-11. Maddox was honored as the Gainesville Times Co-Player of the Year and Gainesville High School MVP in 2010. As a senior in 2011, he helped lead the Red Elephants to a 24-7 record while recording 10 home runs and 52 RBIs. As a junior in 2010, he batted .487 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs to lead the Red Elephants to a 28-5 overall record and the Region 7-AAA championship. A two-sport athlete, Maddox also won a Region 7-AAA championship in basketball as a sophomore.
