Bio

As the head coach of the Giants since 1994, Jody Allen continues to produce successful seasons for the College of the Sequoias Baseball Program.  In his tenure at COS, Allen has achieved fourteen playoff appearances, seven top-20 finishes, five top-8 finishes, two trips to the Final Four in 1997 and 2014, a school record of 38 wins in one season, a fourth-in-the-state finish in 1997, and a third-in-the-state finish in 2014.

Coach Allen passed local baseball coaching legend Bert Holt on the Giants’ all-time wins list with his 424th win during the 2010 season.  In the 2017 season, Allen coached his 1,000th game as the Giants’ head coach.  In the 2018 season, Allen posted his 700th win in 2022 and is currently ranked in the top 20 on the California Community College Baseball all-time wins list.  

Under Coach Allen, the Giants have averaged 25 wins per season.  His winning percentage as the Giants’ head coach is over 58%, which is the highest since Pete Beiden’s one-year stint as head baseball coach in 1947.  Coach Allen was named the Central Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1996, 1997, 2001, 2014, and 2021.  He was awarded the American Baseball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 2014 for the Pacific Division.  This was a first for a coach from the Central Valley Conference.

Some of the most memorable wins for the COS baseball program under Coach Allen came in 2000, 2006, 2014, and 2021.  In the 2000 season, the Giants defeated two-time state champion Sacramento City College in the first round of the playoffs.  This marked the first time in playoff history that the No. 1 seed was beaten in the first round.   Coach Allen’s 2006 squad capped its season with a 15-game winning streak that stretched into the top 10 of the Northern California playoffs.  More recently, his 2014 team beat the No. 4 and No. 1 seeds during their playoff run to the state finals.  His 2021 championship team lead the state in wins with a 23-5 record in a shortened season with no playoffs due to COVID.

While it would be easy to focus on all of Allen’s achievements, it is noteworthy to recognize that his philosophy encompasses far more than winning baseball games. More than improving skills on the field, Coach Allen works with his players to help them achieve their aspirations beyond COS Baseball, whether it be completing their college educations, continuing their baseball careers at four-year schools, or competing as professional baseball players.  He readily acknowledges that his teams honor many old-school baseball traditions and touches such as wearing uniform socks and stirrups up.  His program is built on tradition, pride, integrity, and dedication. 

Allen is a graduate of Hoover High School in Fresno, where he played football and baseball.  He was inducted into the Hoover High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.  His collegiate career and education began at Kings River College in Reedley, where he was a shortstop under longtime coach Jack Hacker.  In 1984, he was honored as the Male Athlete of the Year.  Coach Allen continued his education and playing career at Fresno State.  As a junior, he was part of the 1985 conference championship team, ranked top 10 in the country, and as a senior his leadership qualities earned him the honor of being named team captain.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1987, Coach Allen returned to Kings River College to spend three seasons as an assistant coach under Jack Hacker.  In 1990, he earned his master’s degree in physical education and joined the staff at COS as an assistant under Al Branco.  After three seasons under Branco, Allen was named head coach for the 1994 season.

Coach Allen’s extensive experience also reaches outside of the United States.  In 1985, he represented the U.S. on a team that traveled to Sydney, Australia.  In 1995, he also traveled outside of the U.S. as the head coach of a 15-16-year-old team that participated in and won an international tournament in Beijing, China.  In 1996, Coach Allen was an assistant coach for an 18-year-old and younger team that won yet another international tournament in Melbourne, Australia.

Allen and his wife, Lisa, have been married over 35 years and live in Visalia.  They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren: Kailey & Gustavo (Benjamin & Owen), Lindsey & Brent (Kensley & Coleson), Cydnee, and Payton.