 Canham playing for theLake Elsinore Storm in 2008 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Oregon State |
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 224–103–1 (.684) |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1984-09-25)September 25, 1984 (age 41) Richland, Washington, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2004–2007 | Oregon State |
| 2007 | Eugene Emeralds |
| 2007–2008 | Lake Elsinore Storm |
| 2009–2010 | San Antonio Missions |
| 2010 | Portland Beavers |
| 2011 | Midland RockHounds |
| 2011 | Sacramento River Cats |
| 2012 | Memphis Redbirds |
| 2012 | Long Island Ducks |
| 2013 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals |
| 2013 | Omaha Storm Chasers |
| 2014 | Harrisburg Senators |
| 2015 | Lincoln Saltdogs |
| Position | Catcher |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2016 | Clinton LumberKings |
| 2017–2018 | Modesto Nuts |
| 2019 | Arkansas Travelers |
| 2020–present | Oregon State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 224–103–1 (.684) |
| Tournaments | NCAA: 17–12 (.586) |
Mitchell Dean Canham (born September 25, 1984) is an Americanbaseball coach and formercatcher, who is the current head baseball coach of theOregon State Beavers. He previously served asmanager for theClinton LumberKings,Modesto Nuts, andArkansas Travelers.
Canham played college baseball for theOregon State Beavers, coached byPat Casey, and was a member of the2006 and2007 teams that won back-to-back national championships at theCollege World Series.[1]
He was drafted by theSan Diego Padres ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) with the 57th overall pick in the2007 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
Canham played for the Lake Stevens Junior Athletic Association (LSJAA) Tigers from 1995-1996. Canham attendedLake Stevens High School inLake Stevens, Washington, where he was a three-sport star and honor student.[3]
Canham was named to the preseasonAll-American second team by theCollegiate Baseball newspaper and as a third team All-American byBaseball America. He ended the season as a third-team All-American selection by theCollegiate Baseball newspaper.[4] In 2006, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[5][6][7]
Canham began his professional career in2007 with the short-seasonEugene Emeralds of theNorthwest League and the Class-A AdvancedLake Elsinore Storm. With the Emeralds Canhambatted .293 with twohome runs, fourdoubles, onetriple, 34hits and 18RBIs in 28 games. In just two games with the Storm Canham had no hits and one RBI.
In2008 Canham spent the entire season with Lake Elsinore of theCalifornia League. He hit .285 with eight home runs, 28 doubles, five triples, 119 hits, 13steals and 81 RBI in 113 games.
2009 saw Canham a promotion to the Double-ASan Antonio Missions of theTexas League. He finished the '09 campaign batting .263 with six home runs, 20 doubles, three triples, 107 hits, five stolen bases and 53 RBI in 111 games.
Canham was named the manager of theClinton LumberKings for the 2016 season. In 2017 and 2018, Canham was the manager of theModesto Nuts. Canham managed theArkansas Travelers for the first half of the 2019 season before resigning.
On June 13, 2019, Canham was named the head coach for the Oregon State Beavers.[8] In July 2022, he signed a contract extension with the Beavers through the 2029 season.[9]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State Beavers(Pac-12 Conference)(2020–2024) | |||||||||
| 2020 | Oregon State | 5–9 | 0–0 | Season canceled due toCOVID-19 | |||||
| 2021 | Oregon State | 37–24 | 16–14 | T–5th | NCAA Regional | ||||
| 2022 | Oregon State | 48–18 | 20–10 | 2nd | NCAA Super Regional | ||||
| 2023 | Oregon State | 41–20 | 18–12 | 2nd | NCAA Regional | ||||
| 2024 | Oregon State | 45–16 | 19–10 | 2nd | NCAA Super Regional | ||||
| Oregon State: | – (–) | 73–46 (.613) | |||||||
| Oregon State Beavers(Independent)(2025–present) | |||||||||
| 2025 | Oregon State | 48–16–1 | College World Series | ||||||
| Oregon State: | 224–103–1 (.684) | – (–) | |||||||
| Total: | 224–103–1 (.684) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
Canham's mother died while he was a freshman in college.[3] His younger brother, Dustin Canham, died in 2008 while serving with theUnited States Marines inDjibouti; the circumstances surrounding Dustin Canham's death received national attention based on a perceivedcover up by the military and allegations that the death was due tohazing.[3][10]
Canham's great uncle, Major GeneralCharles D. W. Canham, commanded the29th Infantry Division's116th Infantry Regiment during itsD-Day landing onOmaha Beach, earning theDistinguished Service Cross for valor in combat.[3]
Canham and his wife, Marlis, have two children.[11]