Head coach kyle Forbes

Forbes returns as the head baseball coach for the Panthers. He grew up in Boynton Beach and graduated from Atlantic High School. Forbes lettered in three varsity sports and was named the Athlete of the Year in 1987.

Forbes played college baseball at nearby Palm Beach Atlantic University. In 1989, he was named to the NAIA Distict 25 All Academic Team. Forbes began his coaching career at Florida Atlantic University. He was an assistant coach under legendary skipper Kevin Cooney. Both years that Forbes was at FAU, the team was ranked in the top ten in the country. In 1994, Forbes was hired as the head baseball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University. During his nine seasons at the helm, Forbes amassed an overall record of 244 wins and 198 losses. His teams qualified for the postseason six times, and were ranked as high as eighth in the NAIA National Baseball poll. From 2004-2006 Forbes served as the pitching coach at Northwood University under the guidance of Coach Rick Smoaliak. The two years that Forbes was at Northwood the Seahawks had 73 wins and 43 losses. Forbes became an assistant coach here at Palm Beach State in 2006 when Alex Morales was hired as the Head Coach. When Coach Morales left in 2010 to take a scouting job in professional baseball, Forbes was elevated to the head coaching position for the baseball program.

Forbes has a record of 64-36 here at Palm Beach State. He led the Panthers to the Conference Championship and a State Runner-Up Finish in 2012. Forbes has been an associate scout for three major league organizations. From 1993 - 1995, Forbes was an associate scout for the Cleveland Indians. From 1995 - 2000, he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. He served in the same capacity for the Atlanta Braves from 2001 to 2010.

Forbes received a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University. He taught at Coral Sunset Elemetary School in Boca Raton from 1993 to 2011. Kyle and his wife Tammy reside in Boynton Beach with their two daughters, Jordan and Jessica.

ASSISTANT COACH- Dax Rankine

Rankine grew up in Key West and graduated from Key West High School. Rankine was a state runner-up and state champion while playing for Key West High School in 1994- 1995.

Rankine attended West Virginia Institute of Technology on a football/baseball scholarship. An injury forced a transfer to Pensacola Junior College after one semester to play baseball. Rankine pitched two seasons for the Pirates and transferred to Palm Beach Atlantic, where he pitched for Kyle Forbes in 1998-99.

Rankine began his coaching career at Lake Worth Christian School in 2001. In 2005 he moved on to Park Vista High School, where he coached three sports. In his four years as an assistant baseball coach the Cobras went to the State Final four twice. In the summers of 2006 and 2007 he was head coachfor the Nashville Chargersin The SANDLOTT collegiate wood bat league. Rankine was the head coach for Atlantic Community High School in 2010.

Coach Rankine received an A.A. degree from Pensacola Junior College in 1997 and a B.A. degree in Physical Education from Palm Beach Atlantic in 2000. He teaches physical education at Coral Reef Elementary School in Lake Worth. Dax and his son Gavin reside in Boynton Beach.

ASSISTANT COACH- Josh Lopez

Lopez is entering his first season with the Panthers where he will be in charge of the outfield. Lopez grew up in Brooklyn , NY.

Lopez comes to Palm Beach State after spending the 2012 season at Florida Christian College in Kissimmee, Florida. He helped start a first year program to a runner-up finish in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series. He was also the head coach of the 2012 Myrtle Beach Snappers in the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Summer Baseball League.

Lopez began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Deltona High School, from 2005-11. Deltona was the District 2-6A Champions in 2010 and in 2011 they were the State 6A Runner-Up. He also served as the Head Coach for the Deltona American Legion squad for 5 seasons, winning a tournament championship in 2007, and reaching the state final in 2008.

Lopez is an honor roll graduate, with a B.S. in Sport and Fitness from the University of Central Florida. He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Coaching Education fro Ohio University. Josh resides in West Palm Beach, Florida.

ASSISTANT COACH - Michael Mooney

Coach Mooney was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 23rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, after his junior season at the University of Florida. He played professionally for 4 seasons. While at Florida Mooney was named on the initial Watch List for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nations finest shortstop where he had a .443 on base percentage with a .306 batting average in 52 games for Florida in 2009.

Mooney was voted to the All Tournament team of the 2009 NCAA Gainesville Regional at shortstop.

In 2008, Mooney batted .332 for the Panthers with a .447 on base percentage. He was the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the year in 2007 and 2008. In addition his list of accomplishments include: 2007 NJCAA Division 1 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner; 2007 NJCAA Division 1 Easton Defensive Player of the Year; 2008 Pre-Season All American by the National Junior College Athletic Association; Region 8/Gulf Distirct Defensive Player of the Year and Achieved All- American recognition from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

This will be Mooney's first season with the Palm Beach State coaching staff.

ASSISTANT COACH - Andres Diaz

Diaz grew up in Boynton Beach and graduated from SantaLuces High School. Through his baseball career he won many awards and played for many great coaches. He also thanks his father for all his baseball teachings. Diaz was selected in the MLB draft of 2006 after graduating from high school but decided to play for Palm Beach State. In 2007, he was selected again in the draft after his freshman year and played in the Minnesota Twins organization until 2009. Diaz started his coaching career as the catching coach for Royal Palm Beach High School in the Fall of 2010. In the fall of 2011, he returned to his alma mater to work with hitters and catchers her at Palm Beach State. Diaz enjoys coaching and wants the Panther players to reach their highest ambitions.