CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern announced the hiring of Kirby McGuire as an assistant coach on Thursday afternoon, rounding out the staff for Karl Kuhn's inaugural season as the head coach of CSU. McGuire joins the Buccaneers after a three-year stint as the hitting coach at Ohio University. 
 
"I could not be more excited for the players in our program with the addition of Kirby McGuire as one of our assistant coaches," said Kuhn. "Kirby had a stellar career as a player and has had an equally decorated career as an offensive assistant. He coaches the game the right way based on fundamentals and accountability. The offensive production during his time at Ohio University ranks at the top of the conference in most all statistical categories. I am confident that our players, both current and future, are going to develop tenfold being coached by Coach McGuire and Coach Young."
 
During McGuire's time with the Bobcats, they have posted some of the top offensive numbers in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). During the 2022 and 2024 season, a quartet of players ended the season with batting averages over .300. In 2022, he worked with Colin Kasperbauer who finished the year top of the MAC in batting average and ranked in the top-50 nationally in the category. Additionally, during that season, a pair of his players were on the national leaderboards in doubles per game with Mason Minzey at .41 for 28^th and Kasperbauer at .38 at 48^th.
 
"God has blessed me with an outstanding opportunity to be around great coaches and players at CSU," shared McGuire. "I am excited to get to know the players and start working towards a championship!
 
Before going to Ohio, McGuire coached at Southern Illinois where he was the Director of Player Development for two seasons. In his second and final year, the Salukis had a 40-21 record, the best year for the program in 31 years. The Salukis were one of the best offensive teams in the nation, ranking in the top-20 nationally in hits (10th), slugging percentage (10th), home runs (15th), and runs scored (16th). 
 
Southern Illinois hit several milestones with McGuire on staff. Starting in the 2020 season and carrying on into 2021, the Salukis won 19 consecutive games, marking the longest winning streak SIU recorded since 1974. SIU's 14-0 start in 2021 was the best start in program history. In 2021, the Salukis hit 84 home runs, which shattered the previous program record of 75 homers set in 1998. SIU also finished the 2021 season with an RPI of 82, the best for the program since 2007. SIU collected five wins over teams in the top-50 of RPI rankings, six wins over teams that made the NCAA Tournament, and nine wins over the in the top-100 of RPI rankings, including a four-game series split with Dallas Baptist, who went on to advance to a Super Regional.

In 2019, McGuire joined the coaching staff at the University of The Incarnate Word as the graduate assistant where he helped the program set a school record for wins with 37. He worked extensively with UIW hitters on pitch recognition and plate discipline, as the Cardinals led the Southland conference in almost every offensive category in 2019.

McGuire's coaching career started in 2018 at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri under head coach Mike Stockton. He worked with outfielders and hitters in his time at Jewell.

McGuire, a Round Rock, Texas native, graduated from the University of Missouri where he led the Tigers in hitting during conference play in 2017 as an outfielder. Before attending the University of Missouri, McGuire played at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He helped lead the Highlanders to a national runner-up finish in Grand Junction in 2015. 
 
McGuire got married to his wife, Jessica, in November of 2023.
 
McGuire's hiring completes the staffing hires for the 2025 season with Brett Young and Josh Merrigan to also be serving with the Buccaneers as assistant coaches for this upcoming academic season.