A former student manager for the Panther baseball team, Garner returns to EIU. This will be Garner's first year working as the new director of baseball operations.
Garner served as EIU baseballs student manager for four years from the 2013-14 season through the 2016-17 season. As a student manager Garner assisted the program in daily operations such as travel, field work, office work, and film.