A year ago, No. 2 walked out of the Elon dugout at Latham Park for the last time as a player. Now, Kenny Mallory Jr. steps onto the same field in a different role, coaching both the new players and some of the teammates he once played beside.
After graduating in the spring of 2025, Mallory knew he wanted to begin a coaching career. The former outfielder and first baseman spent a year in his home state of Georgia as the assistant hitting and outfield coach at Peachtree Ridge High School before returning to Elon as the director of player development.
Returning to Elon gave Mallory the opportunity to contribute to the program from a new perspective, while still pursuing the same goal he had as a player.
“Being a player here, we always want to win,” Mallory said. “So, just coming back and trying to get these guys in the right position to win ball games for us.”
The shift from player to coach has also required Mallory to navigate a different relationship with some of the players he once shared the field with. This familiarity has created a new dynamic as he adjusts from being a teammate to a member of the coaching staff.
“We mess around like we are old teammates, but also when it comes down to business, they know I want to win, and so do they,” Mallory said.
That recent experience as a player has been one of Mallory’s biggest strengths as a coach. Having played under head coach Mike Kennedy, Mallory understands what is expected of the players and how Kennedy communicates with the team.
“He knows how we do it,” Kennedy said. “He knows how we go about it. He knows what it takes to be successful. More than that, he knows how to handle me as a coach. He’s been through it as a player, and he can let those guys know, ‘Hey, I’ve been through that. You’re going to be fine.’”
Kennedy’s trust in Mallory extends beyond his familiarity with the program. He said Mallory’s work ethic and attitude as a player are traits that make him a valuable member of the coaching staff.
Mallory played three seasons for the Phoenix, appearing in 161 games with 143 starts. He finished his Elon career with a .294 batting average, 155 hits, 100 runs, 29 doubles and 28 stolen bases. His 102 career walks also place him eighth in program history.
“He was always self-motivated,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t have to push him to do things right. He knew what was right and what was wrong, and he did all those things. Guys like that, they make good coaches, and when you have those types of guys coaching with you, they make you better in that area, as well.”
Those qualities later made Mallory a strong fit for a position on the coaching staff when he began looking for ways to continue his career in baseball. Coaching became the next step for Mallory as he transitioned from playing the game to helping the team from the dugout.
“Still being young, I thought, why not try and give coaching a chance and see where it goes,” Mallory said.
As Mallory gained experience as a coach, he began to see the role as more than conducting drills or helping players perform on the field. He also came to value the responsibility coaches have in preparing players for life outside of baseball.
“We’re trying to get these guys ready to go out in the real world,” Mallory said. “So just continue to help them in any way to get them to be successful outside of the field.”
The desire to help players grow is something Kennedy said comes naturally to Mallory because of his passion for the game.
“He loves the game,” Kennedy said. “When you love the game, I think this part becomes easy. You want to be out here. You want to be a part of it. You want to be able to use some of the experience you had to help someone grow.”