Ivey Starling enters his fifth season with the Montevallo baseball program in 2026, having joined the Falcons’ staff in August 2021. A native of Brentwood, Tennessee, Starling serves as associate head coach and pitching coach, where he has played a key role in developing one of the Gulf South Conference’s most consistently productive pitching staffs.
In 2026, Starling guided a pitching staff that posted the fourth-lowest ERA (5.14) in the GSC while ranking fifth in strikeouts with 387, the seventh-most in the Montevallo NCAA Division II era. Under his direction, right-hander Zach Wyatt earned All-GSC First Team and NCBWA All-South Region Second Team honors after finishing third in the league with 89 strikeouts, the fifth-most in program NCAA DII history. Four Falcons recorded sub-4.00 ERAs, and the staff produced 10 games with double-digit strikeouts, highlighted by a 17-strikeout performance against Hillsdale. That strikeout mark ranked as the third-most in Montevallo NCAA Division II history.
In 2025, Starling mentored Adiel Melendez to All-GSC Second Team honors following a record-setting campaign. Melendez became just the third pitcher in program NCAA Division II history to surpass 100 strikeouts in a single season, while also posting the third-lowest ERA and fourth-most innings pitched in program history. Under Starling’s leadership, Garrett Sloan tied the program record with 11 saves, and the Falcons matched a single-season program best with 15 total saves.
The 2024 season saw Starling help develop Logan Samuels, who became the highest MLB Draft selection in program history when he was taken in the eighth round by the Atlanta Braves. Samuels also became the program’s first drafted pitcher since 1996. Starling additionally guided Gino Cozzi to another All-Conference season.
Following the 2023 campaign, Starling was elevated to associate head coach after leading a pitching staff that finished fourth in the GSC in team ERA while leading the conference in strikeouts for the second consecutive season.
In his first season at Montevallo in 2022, Starling helped guide the Falcons to a 36-15 record and multiple postseason honors. Sam Kuchinski was named GSC Co-Player of the Year, while Jake Smallwood, Reed Latimer, Connor Phelan, and Gino Cozzi all earned All-America, All-Region, and All-GSC recognition.
Prior to Montevallo, Starling spent two seasons as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia Southwestern, where his 2021 staff led the Peach Belt Conference in ERA while ranking second in opponent batting average and shutouts, also producing the league’s Pitcher of the Year.
Before that, he coached at Birmingham-Southern College, helping lead the Panthers to an NCAA Division III National Championship Series appearance after a dominant run through the World Series. During his tenure, Birmingham-Southern captured two Southern Athletic Association championships, made two NCAA Regional appearances, and developed three SAA Pitchers of the Year.
As a player, Starling began his collegiate career at Faulkner State Community College before transferring to Trevecca Nazarene University, finishing with a 16-9 record and 156 strikeouts over 156.2 innings pitched.
Starling holds an Associate of Arts degree from Faulkner State Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trevecca Nazarene University (2015).
