2336’ Baseball is led by Coach William Hardin. A native of Lumberton, N.C., Coach Hardin began his
playing career at Louisburg College where he holds the program record for both career home runs
(39) and single-season homers (21).  He also established the school's single-game RBI mark by
driving in 13 runs in 1984.  He also earned team MVP honors, league player of the year accolades
and was a two-time All-Region X selection in his days at Louisburg.  He was inducted into the
Louisburg College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Hardin Played for Coach –Russ Frazier, who is in the
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, The American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (ABCA), and The
National Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. Current North Carolina State University Head Coach Elliott
Avent-NCAA Coach of the Year, ACC Coach of the Year, and Team USA National Coach of the Year also
guided Coach Hardin during his time at Louisburg College.

Hardin, a catcher, and 1 st baseman, transferred to play for the Elon College ‘Fightin Christians” from
1986-87 and was named the NAIA District 26 Player of the Year, All-Carolinas Conference and All-
District 26 in 1986.  That same year, Hardin was an honorable mention selection to the NAIA All-
America squad.  In 1986, he led the team with 46 runs scored and 13 home runs to lead Elon to a
35-14 record.  The following year, Hardin hit .348 with 35 runs scored, five doubles, 10 home runs
and 33 RBI as the maroon and gold posted a 37-13 overall record.  In Hardin's two seasons on the
squad, Elon went 30-9 in league play.   Hardin helped Elon reach the NAIA World Series in Lewiston,
Idaho, and achieve a final ranking of fifth nationally in 1987.  He played for Hall of Fame Coach Rick
Jones-who went on to lead Tulane University to the NCAA World Series in Omaha, on three occasions.

Coach Hardin has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has led 3 different
high schools to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Baseball State play-offs. Grimsley,
Page and Walkertown High School. In 2022, Coach Hardin recorded his 300 win as a High School Coach.
Hardin been named Greensboro News and Record Coach of the Year, the Metro 4-A and the

Old North State 2-A Coach of the Year.

Hardin coached at Grimsley High School for 6 years and Page High for 21 years and served 19 as Head
Coach. For his years of dedication and service to both schools, he was inducted into the Page/Grimsley
Great American Rivalry Hall of Fame, during the Page Grimsley Football Game in 2016.
 

Coach Hardin is also a published author-having more than 25 articles written and published in Scholastic
Coach and Athletic Director, Student Sports Magazine, and the North Carolina Coaches Association digest.
 

The name “2336” derives from Coach Hardin’s playing number at Louisburg #36 and at Elon University #23.