March 2, 2026
THE QUESTIONS EVERY PARENT ASKS ABOUT DENISON
Q: What's the competition level really like?
A: North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Denison tied for first place in conference, won the tournament five straight years, and has made six straight NCAA tournaments. They're ranked #2 nationally in D3. This isn't recreational baseball.
Q: So what's the baseball like?
A: Erik Sundgren just broke the school record with 17 home runs in 2025 (tied for 10th nationally in D3). He was named ABCA First Team All-American and D3 Region 7 Player of the Year. Denison has hosted NCAA Regionals three straight years and won five consecutive NCAC Tournament titles.
Translation: They're really good at baseball.
Q: Division III - No athletic scholarships, right?
A: Correct. D3 doesn't offer athletic scholarships. But here's what it DOES offer: academic scholarships and need-based aid that often exceed what families get from D1 partial scholarships. Plus, you know, an actual elite education.
Q: What about the school itself?
A: Granville, Ohio. About 2,300 students. Private liberal arts college that costs $60,000 but meets 100% of demonstrated need. Think small classes, professors who know your name, and a degree that carries serious weight.
Q: What majors are strong there?
A: Economics, Biology, Psychology, English, Political Science. It's a liberal arts college—they prepare you to think, not just memorize. Great for pre-med, pre-law, or literally any career that requires critical thinking.
Q: Playing time for freshmen?
A: D3 usually has more opportunities to play sooner and compete at a high level. Some schools also have developmental teams to give players more time to improve and play.
Q: What about coaching?
A: Mike Deegan is the head coach. Multiple NCAC titles, consistent NCAA tournament appearances, and he's developed All-Americans. He knows what he's doing.
Q: Location—where is Granville?
A: 30 minutes from Columbus, Ohio. Small college town with big-city access. Beautiful campus. Safe. Classic college experience.
Q: What's the upside?
A: Elite education + competitive baseball + actual college experience. Your athlete graduates with a Denison degree, zero athletic burnout, and connections that last a lifetime. Plus they actually get to play baseball instead of watching from the dugout at some D1 school.
* Disclaimer: Premier Athletes cannot 100% guarantee the accuracy of the verbal college commitments listed. Commitments only include those that Premier is aware of.
THE NUMBERS
2025 Season Highlights:
- Tied for 1st place NCAC regular season (4th straight title)
- Won 5th consecutive NCAC Tournament championship
- Hosted NCAA Regional (3rd straight year)
- Erik Sundgren: 17 HR (school record), All-American
- 4 Academic All-District selections
School Profile:
- Location: Granville, OH
- Enrollment: ~2,300
- Tuition: $60,000 (meets 100% demonstrated need)
- Conference: North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)
- Division: NCAA Division III
BUILDING THE ROSTER
2027 & 2028 Classes: D3 recruiting timelines differ from D1. Denison evaluates players through their junior and senior years, focusing on academic fit and baseball ability.
If you're a 2027 or 2028 interested in Denison, reach out to the coaching staff directly and get on their radar early.
WHO D3 AND DENISON IS FOR
✓ Athletes who value academics as much as baseball
✓ Players who want to compete at a high level without D1 pressure
✓ Families who understand financial aid can exceed partial D1 scholarships
✓ Athletes who want to actually play, not sit
✓ Players who want a real college experience
WHO D3 AND DENISON ISN'T FOR
✗ Athletes chasing D1 labels regardless of fit
✗ Players who struggle academically
✗ Families expecting full-ride athletic scholarships
✗ Athletes who need constant national media attention
THE BOTTOM LINE
Denison went to six straight NCAA tournaments, won five straight conference tournament titles, and just had an All-American break the school home run record while making Academic All-District.
If your athlete wants elite academics + competitive baseball + actual playing time, Denison deserves a conversation.
LET'S TALK:
If your athlete is a 2027 or 2028 and you want to understand whether D1, D2, D3, or JUCO programs make sense, let's have a real conversation about fit.
To your son's success.
P.S. I help baseball players get interest and offers from their top colleges. Over 450 committed players.
- Premier Athletes Recruiting Program (4-figure investment) – Full-service: coaches outreach, video creation, bi-weekly check-ins, and our proven playbook to turn interest into legit offers.
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About Alex
Meet your college baseball recruiting specialist: Alex Swenson.
As a high school baseball player, I navigated the college recruiting process all on my own. Despite average statistics, I landed a spot on a Division-1 baseball team Jacksonville University, where I became a 3-time team captain. Post-college, I became a D1 coach, scout, and recruiter at Georgetown University and Ole Miss, where we won an SEC championship.
After experiencing the process as both recruit and recruiter, I’ve successfully dissected the best strategies to connect with college coaches and draw offers from them.
After experiencing the process as both recruit and recruiter, I’ve successfully dissected the best strategies to connect with college coaches and draw offers from them.
Learn more about Alex’s Experience
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Receive professional direction from Alex himself until your son commits to his desired school. A step-by-step action plan will be provided with strategic small-group coaching meetings every 2 weeks to ensure we are making progress. Included is a baseball networking platform that connects him to coaches, optimizes his exposure to scouts, alerts him to college camps and showcases, and MUCH MORE.
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