TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona Baseball program and Head Coach Chip Hale have announced the addition of Sean Kenny to the staff as an Assistant Coach. Kenny will serve as the Wildcats pitching coach.

"We could not be more excited about the addition of Sean Kenny to our staff," said Hale. "Coach Kenny brings a tremendous amount of experience with consistent success throughout his career, and I have no doubt that he will be the perfect fit for our program and our culture. Coach Kenny's reputation in this business is phenomenal, and we are looking forward to having him work with our pitching staff."

Kenny is elated to begin his new role with the Wildcats, stating, "I am extremely excited and honored to be part of the University of Arizona baseball program. We all strive to be part of a program where the realistic expectation is a National Championship; and, Arizona is that place. I am very appreciative of Coach Hale and the staff for giving me this opportunity, and I cannot wait to get started."

Kenny brings a wealth of experience to the program, as he boasts 29 years of coaching experience spanning across the nation, including coaching multiple Power 5 programs throughout the past 16 years.

Kenny will make his way to Tucson from the University of Iowa, where he spent the 2025 campaign as the Hawkeyes' pitching coach. During his lone season with the Hawkeyes, Iowa's pitching staff saw exceptional improvements in a multitude of different categories. The Hawkeyes went from a previous season ranking at 123rd in the nation in ERA to 16th in the country, while also improving from 134th to 27th nationally in WHIP, and elevating from 147th in the country to 51st in K-to-BB ratio. 

The 2025 Iowa pitching staff ranked second in the nation in shutouts (9), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (7.26), and 11th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.8). They owned the 16th-best ERA in the country (4.16), while ranking first in the Big Ten in total strikeouts (578) and second in ERA. 

Prior to joining the Hawkeyes staff ahead of the 2025 season, Kenny spent the 2024 season as the pitching coach at the University of Houston. During his season at Houston, Kenny helped the pitching staff improve their ERA from 6.27 down to 5.59, trim their walks-per-nine innings from 5.12 to 4.79, and improve both strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.77 to 2.19) and strikeouts-per-nine innings (9.1 to 10.3).

Before his time at Houston, Kenny spent the previous seven seasons as the pitching coach at the University of Georgia, making a significant impact on the program during his time in Athens. Across his seven seasons with the Bulldogs, Kenny helped Georgia make three NCAA Tournaments, including two in which they were a national seed. 

During the 2023 season, the Bulldogs finished with a record of 29-27. The 2022 Georgia team advanced to the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, compiling an overall record of 36-23, including a mark of 15-15 in SEC play, as they finished second in the Eastern Division. The Bulldogs pitching staff recorded 563 strikeouts in just 59 games, marking the third highest single season total in program history. 

During the 2021 season, Georgia was ranked in the top-25 for 11 weeks throughout the season, reaching No. 5 in the country, as they finished the campaign with a record of 31-25. Georgia's pitching staff was stellar, holding opponents to a measly batting average of .226, while recording 570 strikeouts, both of which ranked as the second-best marks in program history. UGA was ranked No. 18 in the nation when the 2020 season ended after 18 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs' pitching staff boasted an ERA of 2.52, while limiting opposing hitters to just a .206 average at the plate. Kenny mentored a pair of MLB draft picks in Emerson Hancock (first round, sixth overall pick) and Cole Wilcox (third round).

During the 2019 season, Georgia finished the year with a record of 46-17, marking the fourth most victories in a single season in program history. Georgia's pitching staff played a key role in their tremendous success, as they set a program record for strikeouts in a season (601), while recording the second-best ERA throughout a season in program history (3.24). Additionally, the pitching staff boasted the best opponent batting average in the SEC (.200) throughout the year.

In Kenny's first season as the pitching coach at Georgia in 2018, the Bulldogs pitching staff had an unprecedented season, helping UGA compile a record of 39-21 and earn a No. 8 National Seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kenny helped improve Georgia's team ERA from 5.02 the previous season to 3.97, and UGA held opposing hitters to a batting average of .236. 

Kenny made his way to Georgia after spending four seasons as the pitching coach at Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines reach two NCAA Tournaments. During his time at Michigan, the Wolverines produced 10 pitchers that were selected in the MLB Draft, and Michigan's pitching staff consistently ranked at the top of the Big Ten Conference. 

Prior to joining the Michigan coaching staff, Kenny served as the pitching coach at Maryland for three seasons. Kenny also spent time coaching at Pepperdine, the University of San Diego, Saint Mary's, and Laney College. 

As a player, Kenny competed for Eastern Michigan during college, where he was an All-Mid-American Conference pitcher before being selected in the 17th round of the 1993 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. Kenny played professionally for three seasons before commencing his coaching career. 

Kenny holds a bachelor's degree in literature from Eastern Michigan and a master's degree in physical education from Saint Mary's.