Bio

Kent Willis returns to the Gary SouthShore RailCats coaching staff for his second season as the team’s Pitching Coach.

Following a long career as both a player and coach, Willis makes his debut in the MLB Partner Leagues.

Willis, who hails from Columbus, Mississippi, heads to the South Shore following 15 seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization.  Most recently, he served as the pitching coach for the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2010.

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, the Cincinnati Reds drafted Willis in the 12th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft, going on to play four seasons professionally split between the Reds and Expos organizations.

Eight seasons after his retirement, the Braves hired Willis as their pitching coach for the Rookie League affiliates in the GCL Braves in 1996 and 1998 and the Danville Braves in 1997.  He steadily rose through the ranks, ascending to the Single-A Macon/Rome Braves from 1999-2004 and the Double-A Mississippi Braves from 2005-2006 before becoming the franchise’s Minor League Pitching Coordinator from 2007-2009.