Behind every game day is a level of preparation most fans never see. One Maverick alumnus has found a new way to contribute to CMU athletics long after his playing days ended.
Long before the first pitch is thrown, every blade of grass is trimmed, every line is chalked and the infield is groomed perfectly. To most fans, it’s simply a beautiful baseball diamond. However, to the man responsible for maintaining it, the field represents years of experience and countless hours of work. Former CMU baseball player and alumnus Kennedy Kinkade works tirelessly week in and week out to ensure the athletic fields at CMU are in pristine condition before Maverick game days.
Kinkade first came to campus in 2013, when he played first base for CMU. The biology major once focused entirely on performance, but he now finds himself ensuring every inch of the athletic fields are attended to, and the facilities are clean and safe.
During Kinkade’s time at CMU as a student-athlete, he earned multiple honors, including an NCAA Division II College World Series runner-up national finish his senior year in 2015. That same year, Kinkade pitched an idea to former CMU President Tim Foster to fund and recognize collegiate bass fishing as a new club sport. With Kinkade helping lead the way, he finished second in the country during the first year CMU offered bass fishing as a club sport.
“I got to travel all around the nation for bass fishing and fish tournaments for the school, which was really cool because I got to see the club side of sports,” said Kinkade. “So, to be able to start that program, play baseball, graduate with a great degree in biology — it was everything I could ask for in my college experience.”
Kinkade’s heavy schedule as a student-athlete equipped him with the skills necessary for his position today as an auxiliary groundskeeper. Kinkade’s philosophy is simple: his main priority is ensuring that the fields are safe. Although fans love the checkered grass patterns and the overall aesthetic, Kinkade knows the importance of player safety before anything.
“I know the amount of time and energy and sacrifice it takes to be a college athlete,” said Kinkade. “And to go out there and have anything but the safest surface to play on is just unacceptable in my mind.”
During the 2026 baseball season, CMU found great success, holding the No. 1 spot nationally for a majority of the season. With success comes an extended season, adding almost 10 games to the regular season. Kinkade is no stranger to the postseason as a player, so he looked to apply that experience to the diamond’s maintenance.
There are numerous tasks that need to be done on a week-to-week basis. Kinkade and his small team take care of the facilities, mow the grass, work on the turf, handle crucial chemicals and complete other tasks to ensure a safe and vibrant field.
CMU’s athletic teams have pour energy and effort into performing in a Mavericks uniform. Kinkade and his team work hard behind the scenes to ensure the safety and success of the athletic teams on campus. From mowing grass to turf maintenance, Kinkade tirelessly focuses on improving all aspects of CMU’s athletic fields. Once a Maverick student-athlete himself, Kinkade now takes pride in maintaining the facilities where today’s Mavericks compete.