Earley adds Aggie legend Cliff Pennington to Texas A&M's coaching staff

A Texas A&M legend is coming home.

On Wednesday, Michael Earley has announced the addition of Cliff Pennington to his coaching staff in Aggieland.

A 11-year big leaguer, 2005 All-American and former first-round draft pick, Pennington, 40, comes back to his alma mater after spending four seasons as an assistant on Dan Heefner’s Dallas Baptist staff.

On July 21, 2021, Heefner hired Pennington to serve as DBU’s recruiting coordinator and assistant coach. Further, the Aggie was named the 2024 Conference USA Assistant Coach of the Year as he helped the Patriots reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons on staff.

Pennington’s influence on DBU’s offense and infield defense has been well-documented. In 2024, the Patriots ranked in the nation’s top 25 in home runs (115), slugging percentage (.542), doubles (134) and hits (625). Additionally, DBU defended at an elite level with the fourth-best fielding percentage (.982) and a nation-leading 56 double plays.

In 2025, the Pats’ numbers in the respective offensive categories sit at 100, .527, 129 and 589, while the Aggies tallied 95 home runs, a .473 slugging percentage, 87 doubles and 470 hits in the vaunted SEC.

At DBU, Pennington helped develop three All-Americans in Grant Jay, Ryan Johnson and Ethan Mann to go along with three Conference Freshmen of the Year winners (Luke Heefner in 2022, Jay in 2023 and Luke Pettitte in 2024). Under his guidance, 28 Patriots have received All-Conference honors.

After a Major League career that saw him suit up for the Athletics, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Angels and Reds from 2008 until 2018, Pennington began his coaching career as a student assistant on Rob Childress’ staff in the summer of 2019 and remained in Aggieland through the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and the following 2021 season.

As a player, Pennington lettered at A&M from 2003-05 and earned three All-Big 12 nods. During an All-American junior year in 2005, he hit .363 with 44 runs, 13 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 39 RBIs and 29 stolen bases before the Oakland Athletics selected him 21st overall in the 2005 MLB Draft.

Pennington’s presence is prevalent in the Aggie record books. Twenty years later, his career marks rank ninth in hits (246), 13th in batting average (.346), 16th in runs (158), 10th in triples (10), seventh in stolen bases (53). In 2005, he stole 29 bases, which is the eighth-most by an Aggie in a single season. He is also one of 10 Aggies to have a hitting streak of 20 games or more, having hit safely in 20 straight in 2004.

A native of Corpus Christi, Pennington finished his 971-game MLB career with 678 hits, 121 doubles, 21 triples, 36 home runs, 242 RBIs and 84 stolen bases.

Changes to Earley’s staff and Pennington’s addition come after the Aggies went 30-26 and missed the 2025 NCAA Tournament.