Coaching Staff

The Reel Baseball Experience boasts a talented staff of college coaches that have an array of expertise in all aspects of the game. Position specific coaches are available at all camps, lessons and showcases. Our staff is here to assist your needs and provide the best possible instruction the area has to offer.

Ben Reel

Benjamin K. Reel is currently entering his 12^th season as the head coach for his alma mater, Indiana University Southeast.

At the age of 35, Reel has compiled an overall record of 407-212-1. He is one of the youngest coaches in collegiate baseball to reach the 400-win milestone. His overall career winning percentage (.657) remains atop the 41-year history of baseball coaches at IU Southeast.

Under Reel, IU Southeast holds a 202-50 record in the River State Conference (RSC) with seven regular season titles and two tournament championships. For his efforts over the past 11 seasons, Reel has been named RSC Coach of the Year six times.

Reel has recruited, coached, and mentored 20 players to reach the professional ranks including IU Southeast’s first-ever Major League Baseball draft pick in 2010 when the Kansas City Royals selected Cameron Conner in the 20th round.

The 2019 season was another stellar season as the Grenadiers won their seventh River States Conference regular season title and punched their ticket to a fourth consecutive NAIA National Tournament. The year was highlighted by being top-25 in stolen bases, fielding percentage and earned run average, which are staples of the brand of baseball Reel and his staff consistently produce. The Grenadiers ranked as high as 24^th in the NAIA Coaches’ poll and finished the year with an overall record of 37-20 and 21-6 in conference play.

The 2018 season proved to be another exciting year as Reel led the Grenadiers to their sixth River States Conference regular season title in the past 10 seasons. For his efforts, Reel was named RSC Coach of the Year, collecting this honor for the sixth time in the past 10 seasons. The Grenadiers made a third consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament and won their opening game against #20 Westmont (CA) in impressive fashion by a score of 11-1. The Grenadiers finished the season being ranked in the top 30 in every NAIA Coaches’ Poll and were ranked as high as 11^th by Perfect Game. After another historic year the Grenadiers finished with an overall record of 41-14 and 23-4 in conference play.

The 2017 season did not disappoint with the Grenadiers setting the new school record for wins (48) and winning percentage (.762), the highest ever top 25 ranking NAIA Coaches’ Poll (No. 15 in the nation) and advanced one win away from the NAIA-Avista World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Grenadiers impressive postseason run in the NAIA Opening Round Championship, involved two wins against a former NAIA World Series Champion and national juggernaut #10 Tennessee Wesleyan, and one win against the nations top pitching staff, #5 national seed Keiser University, before being eliminated in the championship game of the opening round bracket in Kingsport, Tennessee. After an amazing season the Grenadiers finished with a win-loss record of 48-15.

During the 2016 season, the Grenadiers set the school record for wins (43) and won the KIAC regular season championship for the fifth time in Reel’s tenure. IU Southeast earned its first top 25 ranking in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll and were ranked as high as No. 19 in the nation, the Grenadiers’ highest ranking ever.

In the last 11 years, Reel and his staff have recruited, mentored, and coached over 110 players to be named to the All-Conference teams and 25 All-Conference Gold Glove winners.

This impressive list includes four NAIA All-Americans, four RSC Pitchers of the Year, three RSC Freshmen of the Year, along with three RSC Players of the Year and two RSC Male Athlete of the Year.

Reel has also produced five IU Southeast Male Athletes of the Year along with three IU Southeast Champions of Character award winners.

In the classroom, the Grenadiers have boasted over 90 players earn IU Southeast academic honors and 20 NAIA Academic All-Americans in just 11 seasons.

Also during his 11 seasons at the helm of IU Southeast Baseball, Reel has coached in nine conference tournament championship games, competed in six NAIA Opening Rounds, while also holding the IU Southeast record for most wins in a single season (48 - 2017), most consecutive wins in a single season (23 -2011) and the highest winning percentage in a single season (.762 - 2017).

Reel was inducted in the IU Southeast Athletics Hall of Fame for his efforts on the field and in the classroom. He led IU Southeast as team captain, was named a First Team All-Conference Selection, and All-Region Selection as a catcher for the Grenadiers while also receiving recognition as an NAIA Academic All-American in the spring of 2006. His 19 doubles in a single season, still stands as most doubles by a catcher in school history.

Before his time at IU Southeast, Reel played at Cleveland State Community College for legendary coach Mike Policastro. During his sophomore year at CSCC, Reel posted a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate for the Cougars and helped lead them to a second place finish in the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association (TJCAA).

Originally a native of Dillsboro, Ind., Reel is a graduate of South Dearborn High School. He lives in Charlestown with his wife Morgan, and their two dogs, Leo and Oakley.

Christian McHatton

Christian McHatton will enter his second season as the Associate Head Coach for the Grenadiers.

During his first year at IU Southeast, McHatton helped lead the Grenadiers to a 37-20 record. He also helped lead the Grenadiers to their second straight regular season conference championship, as well as their fourth straight national tournament appearance. McHatton also helped lead the Grenadiers to top 25 finishes in all of the NAIA in triples (19), Stolen Bases (120), and Fielding Percentage (.964). The Grenadiers finished the season ranked #24 in the country.

During his career as a player, McHatton was a four-year standout for Brescia University. He finished his career as the most prolific two-way player in school history. McHatton ranks at the top of numerous categories in the Bearcat all-time record book. He set all-time career marks for RBI (163), putouts (884), and most games played (216), while also boasting a school-record 20 wins on the mound. During his junior season, McHatton set the single season record for ERA in a season at 2.24, as well as leading the Bearcats to a school record 35-win season and a RSC Regular Season Championship. He was a four-time All-Conference honoree, Conference Freshman of the Year, and during his senior season McHatton was one vote shy of being named Conference Player of the Year.

McHatton graduated from Brescia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science with an emphasis in psychology and sports management, and is set to pursue his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration.

McHatton resides in Charlestown, Indiana with his wife, Courtney, son, Tatum, and daughter, Addalynn.

Sean Godfrey

Sean Godfrey will enter his first season as the hitting coach for the Grenadiers. Godfrey joins the Indiana University Southeast baseball program after spending five seasons as an outfielder in professional baseball.

During his professional career, Godfrey played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves and reached the AA level. He was named a 2014 Organizational All-Star and held a career .280 batting average in the minors. After being released from the Braves in 2017, he spent two seasons playing independent baseball in the Frontier League for the Schaumburg Boomers. He was a 2017 Frontier League All Star and helped lead his team to a league championship.

Prior to his professional playing career, Godfrey played college baseball at Ball State University. He entered his freshman year as a preferred walk-on, worked to earn a scholarship and become a four-year starter. His senior year he helped lead his team to a MAC Conference Championship, was a NCAA Division I All-American, the 2014 MAC Player of the Year, and drafted in the 22nd round by the Braves.

Godfrey attended New Albany High School and graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He currently resides in New Albany, Indiana.

Joe Nattermann

Joe Nattermann starts his second season in his return to the Grenadiers. While in his first stint (2006-2011), he served in roles as both the pitching and hitting coaches for three years while also serving as recruiting coordinator for four years. He was a part of four conference championships at IU Southeast from 2008-2011. Nattermann will work with the corner infielders and hitters this season for the Grenadiers while assisting in recruiting efforts.

Nattermann has had a hand in 56 players finishing their Grenadier careers in the top-10 in various categories of the program’s record books, 39 in the top-five, and 17 rewrote the record book as the all-time leaders at IU Southeast in some category, and the first MLB Draft Pick in school history. As a first-year hitting coach, Nattermann finished with six Grenadiers earning Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) All-Conference honors offensively, including four first-team choices. As a team, the Grenadiers topped the conference in every single offensive category. Two players were among the nation’s leaders in home runs, RBI, and stolen bases. That year, he had three players earn KIAC Player of the Week honors, the KIAC Freshman of the Year, the KIAC Player of the Year, and a 2nd Team NAIA All-American.

Last season, Nattermann spent time with the Grenadier outfielders. Overall, they hit .287 with a .406 slugging percentage, while driving in 148 runs and scoring 203 times. The fleet-footed squad amassed 76 of the team’s 124 stolen bases. The outfield was led by First Team All-River States Conference Selection Nicholas Lugo, who hit .321 with 11 HR, 55 RBI and a .594 slugging percentage. Lugo also swiped 19 stolen bases and was named conference Player of the Week and to the Gold Glove Team. The “No Fly Zone,” put together a highlight reel of plays patrolling the outfield while having single-digit error totals on the year.

Prior to coming to IU Southeast, Nattermann was an assistant coach at Jeffersonville(IN) High School, under the legendary and IHSBCA Hall of Famer Al Rabe. He spent a majority of his time coaching outfielders and hitters, spending time with the freshman and JV teams for two years apiece, before finishing up with the varsity for the Red Devils. His time there included a 2004 Indiana State Final Four appearance as the only unranked team. In 2012, he served as Recruiting Coordinator and First Base Coach at Spalding University, and helped guide them to a 33-14 record in their first season as an NCAA Division III institution. In 2014, Nattermann was a Varsity Assistant at Charlestown(IN) High School. The Pirates went 21-7 and won their first Mid-South Conference Championship.

Nattermann has also been a Head Coach and Assistant Coach for travel teams that have attended the Perfect Game Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also worked numerous camps and showcases including Prep Baseball Report, University of Kentucky, Purdue University, Bellarmine University, Jeremy Sheetinger's Capital City Baseball Experience for the children of Frankfort, Kentucky, and The Reel Baseball Experience with Head Coach Ben Reel.

Three Major League Baseball Draft Picks have played for Nattermann. Many of his past players have played professionally in independent leagues across the country. He has also coached 37 All-Conference Selections.

Nattermann received his Bachelor's degree from IU Southeast in General Studies in 2004, and currently resides in Jeffersonville, Ind.

Brian Reel