Ashford Baseball Camps
Coaching Staff

John Govek
Head Coach
Govek enters his fifth season this spring at the helm of the Saints' baseball program after serving as the head coach at his alma mater of Div. III Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., for a two-year tenure.

In recent history, Govek oversaw development of his senior sluggers, Brian Cummings and Jake Steve, who went on to become All-Midwest Collegiate Conference selections. He increased the team's win total by eight games from a year ago and had five members of his squad land academic all-conference accolades.

In the spring of 2010, Govek guided the Saints to a personal-best 15 win campaign since becoming head coach. Two junior players, Austin Poindexter and Mike Ray, each received Honorable Mention All-Conference nods.

During his tenure at Lakeland College, Govek helped the team to a fifth-place finish in the Div. III NCAA College World Series in 2002, back-to-back regional bids (2002, 2003) and four consecutive Lake Michigan Conference titles (2001-04). He also coached two players who would later sign professional contacts.

He guided the Muskies of Lakeland to a 29-51 mark in two years, working his way up to head coach with four years of experience as an assistant coach before taking the reins as head coach.

Govek's playing experience was at Lakeland College where he was part of back-to-back Lake Michigan Conference Tournament titles as a first baseman and right-handed pitcher.

Govek obtained his degree in business administration, his master's degree from Ashford and currently resides in Clinton.

Brian Swanson
Assistant Coach
Swanson will be entering his first head coaching position with the men's and women's bowling programs in their inaugural years while resuming his duties as assistant baseball coach.

Originally a native of Aniwa, Wis., and a graduate of Antigo High School, Swanson started his collegiate playing career as a first baseman and right-handed pitcher for Madison Tech, where he went on to be part off a team that would make back-to-back NJCAA Div. II regional appearances (2001-03). The 2001-02 team finished its season with an appearance in the super regionals.

Swanson was named Madison Tech's Male Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of the 2002-03 campaign. Upon completion of his associate's degree from Madison Area Technical College, Swanson transferred to Lakeland College where he played under the guidance of current Ashford Head Coach John Govek.

Swanson then finished his collegiate career as a student-assistant coach under Govek. He started out his coaching experience at Ashford as a graduate assistant coach for the Saints

Swanson assists the Saints by spending a majority of his time working on hitting and with the infielders. He obtained his Master's degree in Organizational Management while at Ashford.

Swanson currently resides in Clinton, Iowa.

Darryl Cochran
Assistant Coach
Ashford baseball assistant coach Darryl Cochran enters his 12th year as the head varsity coach at Camanche High School and his fifth season assisting the Saints' program. He has won over 150 games at the varsity level and is averaging nearly 15 wins per season.

Since joining the Big East Conference in 2004, Camanche has won two conference titles, recorded two second-place finishes and a third-place performance, under Cochran's leadership. He has produced eight all-state players, 17 all-district performers and 54 all-conference players.

A total of 11 of his players have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

In 2008, Cochran was named the head coach of the Big East squad in the Big East vs. Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Senior All-Star Challenge. In 2006, he was selected by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association as one of the assistant coaches for the Small Schools East Squad in the 30th annual All-Star Series held in Clinton at Alliant Energy Field.

Cochran also served as an assistant coach on Camanche's 1996 state-qualifying baseball team.

Cochran is a graduate of Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University (1985-88), receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Education. He also earned his A.A. degree from Iowa Central Community College (1983-84).

Cochran resides in Camanche with his wife and three children.

Josh Brandt
Grad Assistant
Brandt officially joined the Ashford baseball staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2010 season in January. He brings extensive coaching and playing experience to the table for the Saints.

Brandt is a native of St. Paul, Minn., and a recent graduate of Loras College in Dubuque. He underwent Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2008, ending a short career as a pitcher at Briar Cliff University and Loras.

Brandt has spent the last two years serving the DuHawks’ baseball program as a student assistant coach.

Brandt graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management last December from Loras College. He currently resides in Clinton and is working towards his Master's degree in Organizational Management at Ashford.