ASU's Melendez Reflects On 500 Career Wins

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Friday night was a time for reflection for Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez.

The Hornets pulled out a win over Winthrop for their first victory of the season. For the Hornets' fifth-year coach, it was the 500th of his coaching career, making him the third youngest coach ever to hit that milestone.

"I've been very fortunate in my life and I have to thank a lot of people for giving me an opportunity to do what I do," he said. "First and foremost, I think my parents have had the biggest influence in baseball on my career. Professionally, Brian Reese, as my mentor, is the one who had the biggest influence in me being a college coach. And the one that believed in me and gave me the actual job was (athletic director) Lynn Thompson at Bethune-Cookman.

"I have a lot to be thankful for, but those people God put in my path to allow me to do what I do. You never know which way God is going to turn you and which way you're going to go, but fortunately enough He put the right people in front of me for me to do this."

Melendez never thought much about coaching as a youth, but he thought about baseball a lot. He grew up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the same hometown as Major League standout Roberto Clemente, but for him the idols lived much closer. His father Gamaliel had been a baseball player and pointed Mervyl in that direction at an early age.

"My mom (Nellie Nunez) and dad, especially my dad, is an avid baseball fan," he said. "He played baseball, semi-pro in Puerto Rico, so we grew up playing organized baseball -- there was no T-ball or anything like that -- at the age of four. He knew his sons were going to be baseball players. And my mom was my biggest fan. I think they both worked to make our dreams come true. I think they both sacrificed their careers, in a lot of ways, to make sure that their sons were going to do whatever they set out to do."

The baseball talent was enough to earn him a ticket to Bethune-Cookman, where he earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior in 1995-96 while splitting time between third base and relief pitcher. Even then, if he thought about a future in baseball, it would have been as a player, not a coach.

"My last year in college, before I became an assistant coach, I didn't want to coach," he recalled. "I was approached by Coach Reese, telling me, what do you think about staying here and being an assistant coach? I had to think about it because it wasn't in my sight. I didn't want to do that. That's why I have to thank him because he brought it up to me and he brought it up to me in a way that made sense."

He served as an assistant in 1997-99 before the job as head coach was presented to him. Over the next 12 seasons, Melendez would advance to the NCAA regionals 11 times, winning 10 conference titles and compiling a record of 379-320.  Along the way, he developed a style of baseball that preached defense and pitching but relied on aggressive base running to generate offense.

"I think you develop your own ideas and your own patterns and your own philosophies of coaching, but I do like the aggressiveness," he noted. "I've taken a lot from different coaches and different programs. It's a good thing philosophies are not copyrighted.

"I have taken some from Andy Lopez when he coached at Florida, I've taken some from Jim Morris at Miami, from (Florida coach) Kevin O'Sullivan.  Even when we played Oral Roberts, I got a couple of things, how aggressive they were in the base-running part of it. Once again, my mentor and the one that takes most of the credit in the baseball part of it and how to coach the game of baseball in college is Brian Reese. I think I owe a lot to him. I've mentioned it to him but he doesn't know to what magnitude."

One part of his success which is fairly unique is Melendez's willingness and ability to recruit his native Puerto Rico, a hotbed of untapped collegiate baseball talent.

"It didn't start out that way," he said. "It became that way a little later when we started recruiting the Florida area and we knew the ones we were recruiting against were taking the bulk of our players. I'm proud of that because a lot of those guys don't get the opportunity because a lot of college coaches don't go there to recruit. Now, in hindsight, I'm giving opportunities that may not have had that opportunity. It didn't start like that."

The aggressive offense, combined with a talented defense, has led to success both at Bethune-Cookman and at Alabama State, where he is 122-105 in his fifth season with the Hornets, who return to action Wednesday at Jacksonville State before hosting Jackson State this weekend. In 17 seasons, he has 501 wins for an average of 30 wins a year.

"I never looked at it that way," Melendez said. "To me, the internal pressure of winning was never about wins and losses. It was about doing it the way I want it done, which eventually will translate into wins and losses. I never really thought about how many championships I would win and how many wins I would rack up. What was important to me was to run a good program."

At Alabama State, his 100 wins in 2013-15 marks the best three-year stretch in the history of the program. In 2014, the Hornets were 37-20 with a first-place finish in the Southwestern Conference East Division. The overall wins, conference wins (21) and first-place division finish were all high water marks for the Hornets' baseball program. Along the way, Alabama State has posted wins over programs such as Troy and Auburn and baseball powerhouses like Miami and Cal State-Fullerton, creating an expectation for success that was unprecedented at ASU.

"The honest truth is when you're coming into a new program, you don't know how it's going to work out," Melendez said. "You try to do the best job you can at whatever you know, but you never expect a lot of success because you've got to live day to day and not have those expectations that if we don't win a championship, it's been a failure. We've been able to win, we've been able to beat a lot of opponents that a lot of people here seven or eight years ago didn't think this program could but in the meantime we've graduated a lot of kids.

"You know what I'm most proud of? We had a section here of former players. We never called them, we never told them come to the home opener, but about 10-15 players were here (for Friday's game against Winthrop) that were proud of being a former ASU baseball player. That makes me feel good, that they want to give back and still be part of the program. In that sense, that's why we do what we do."

Youngest to 500 NCAA college baseball wins
1.       Keith Guttin, Missouri State, 40 years, 9 months, 18 days, recorded his 500th win on May 17, 1996 vs. Wichita State.
2.       Gene Stephenson, Wichita State, 41 years, 5 months, 23 days, recorded his 500th win on Feb. 22, 1987 vs. Kearney State.
3.       Mervyl Melendez, Alabama State, 42 years, 22 days, recorded his 500^th win on Feb. 26, 2016 vs. Winthrop.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Jackson State coach Bob Braddy, Named to 2016 College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees announced:

ROBERT BRADDY

LUBBOCK, Texas -- The winningest coach and the winningest pitcher in college baseball history, as Robert Braddy
Jackson State University well as one of the leading hitters of his era, highlight the 2016 National College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class.

This year's class, which will be inducted as a part of the annual Night of Champions celebration of college baseball on July 1-2 in Lubbock, Texas, is headlined by University of Texas coach Augie Garrido, winner of five national championships and the winningest coach in college baseball history, and Florida State's JD Drew, a two-time consensus All-American and winner of five national player of the year awards in 1997.

"We are excited to induct this class," said Mike Gustafson, president and CEO of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. "It is remarkable that this is our 11th induction class and they are this accomplished."

Garrido entered the 2016 season with 1,950 wins and has led 15 teams to the College World Series. He has received National Coach of the Year honors six times. On March 25, 2014, he earned his 1,893rd win and passed 2009 College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Gordie Gillespie to become the winningest coach in college baseball history.

Drew becomes the second inductee in the storied history of the Florida State program. In addition to winning five player of the year awards in 1997, he was consensus All-American in both 1996 and 1997. He was drafted fifth overall in1998 by the Cardinals and completed a 14-year major league career in 2011. In 1999, he was listed eighth in Baseball America's collegiate "Player of the Century" poll.

Also included in the class are Jackson State coach Bob Braddy, the winningest baseball coach in Southwestern Athletic Conference history with 824 wins and 12 SWAC championships; Marietta College pitcher Matt DeSalvo, whose 53 wins make him the winningest college pitcher in history; Arizona State outfielder Rick Monday, named National Player of the Year in 1965 by The Sporting News; the University of Houston's Tom Paciorek, a two-time first-team All-American who led the Cougars to the finals of the 1967 College World Series; and Valdosta State coach Tommy Thomas, the winningest coach in NCAA Division II history.

Braddy compiled an 824-546 record in 28 years at Jackson State. His teams advanced to the NCAA tournament three times and he was named NAIA District Coach of the Year twice and SWAC Coach of the Year eight times. He was the first African-American to be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003, and he also was inducted into the JSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2005.

DeSalvo's 53-6 career record represents the most wins by any collegiate pitcher at any level, and his 603 career strikeouts are the second most of any pitcher at any level of college baseball. He was named the Division III National Player of the Year by ABCA in 2001 and was a three-time first-team D-III All-American.

Monday made the most of his one varsity season as an Arizona State Sun Devil, earning National Player of the Year honors from The Sporting News for the 1965 National Champions. He batted .359 with a school-record 11 home runs and blasted two home runs during the College World Series to earn All-CWS team honors. Monday was drafted No. 1 overall by the Kansas City A's in the first MLB amateur draft in 1965 and played parts of 19 years in the big leagues. ASU retired his number in 1997.

Paciorek was the first University of Houston Cougar player to receive first-team All-American honors in school history. Named first-team All-American in 1967 and 1968 by both ABCA and The Sporting News, he led Houston to the championship game of the 1967 College World Series by hitting .435 with 10 home runs in 32 games played. He later became the first Cougar to play in the big leagues, where he spent a total of 16 seasons.

Thomas owns the record for most wins in NCAA Division II history with 1,308. He graduated from Valdosta State after a four-year career where he played third base and batted .316. He was named head coach in 1967 and led the VSU baseball team to 34 winning seasons, eight trips to the national tournament and an NCAA Division II national title in 1979. He was named the National Coach of the Year by ABCA in 1979 and was inducted into Valdosta State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

"I want thank our voting committee of over 200 strong for their time and effort in choosing this class," Gustafson said. "They represent so much history as college baseball media members, active and former coaches, retired umpires, past inductees, college baseball historians and, in several cases they are also former players, and their experiences and knowledge are reflected in this class."
Tickets for the 2016 induction are available on the Hall of Fame's website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

COURTESY www.collegebaseballhall.org.

SWAC officially moves Baseball Tournament to New Orleans

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Southwestern Athletic Conference has selected the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy at Wesley Barrow Stadium as the site for its upcoming 2014 SWAC Baseball Tournament.

The venue, located in Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans, La., is a replacement site after the league decided to move the tournament from LaGrave Field as a result of student-athlete safety concerns. LaGrave Field was host to last year's SWAC postseason tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

“We would like to apologize to the fans, families, coaches and administrators for the delay and inconvenience the decision of switching venues may present," said SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp. “The health and welfare of the student-athletes will always be our primary concern.”

The tournament will follow its original schedule at the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy and will be held from May 14-18. The championship game on the final day is slated for broadcast on ESPNU.

“We would like to thank the New Orleans Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy for hosting the SWAC Baseball Tournament," Commissioner Sharp added. "We believe the venue will give our fans and student-athletes a great experience. The MLB Urban Youth Academy is a state-of-the-art facility and the SWAC has been tied in with the Urban Youth Academies for several years through MLB's Urban Invitational."

At least one team from the SWAC has been featured in all seven editions of the MLB Urban Invitational, which the annual round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed by Major League Baseball to place a spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and their baseball programs. The 2014 Urban Invitational featured two schools from the conference (Grambling State and Southern) with the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy serving as one of four sites during the round robin play.

“We are looking forward to hosting the SWAC Tournament, especially as it will give the young Academy participants the experience of witnessing collegiate baseball played at a high level of competition and serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for their future,” said Ben Baroody, Senior Director, Baseball Development, Major League Baseball. “This is a terrific opportunity to not only showcase our facility, but extend our relationship with SWAC, which has been an integral part of our annual Urban Invitational tournaments.” 

ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS MLB URBAN YOUTH ACADEMY

The New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy at Wesley Barrow Stadium opened in 2012 replacing a 55-year-old facility that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The new facility has capacity for 650 fans, with a 200-square-foot climate-controlled press box, a public address system and new LED scoreboard. It also features administration facilities, including two 300-square-foot conference rooms. The baseball field also features professional-sized artificial turf with a clay pitcher's mound. Other components include a three-lane batting practice cage outdoors and a two-lane indoor batting practice building. The facility operates in partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission on a dynamic youth program that provides free, year -round baseball and softball instruction as well as educational and baseball vocation programming for young people from underserved and urban communities throughout southern Louisiana

 

ABOUT THE SWAC

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), established in 1920, is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., which is comprised of historically black universities in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

 

COURTESY THE SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

 

Florida A&M's new baseball coach has a winning plan for success

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --   It was a dream come true.  For a coach who spent 21 years as an assistant, today marked a step to the forefront for Jamey Shouppe as he was announced to the FAMU community as the next head baseball coach.  For a team coming off back-to-back 44 loss seasons and single digit wins, this was a prized catch.

Shouppe feels the benefits are mutual.  “In my presentation to the selection committee, I had three words…Why not FAMU?  That sums it all up.  When you look at Al Washington, Al Davis, Andre Dawson, Hal McRae, Vince Coleman and Marquis Grissom, there need to be more of that caliber players coming out of this university,” Shouppe said.  While Shouppe, who spent 21 years as an assistant coach at Florida State University, mostly as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, it wasn’t just about returning to familiar territory.  “ This is not all about coming home.  This is about a Division I opportunity,” he said.

Shouppe has a concentration in pitching, in which he has produced 10 ACC team ERA pitching titles, recruited and coached 63 professional drafted pitchers including six first round draftees, recruited and coached 26 first team All-Americans and coached in nine College World Series.



Shouppe will be the first permanent coach for the Rattler baseball team since the departure of Willie Brown early this year.  Kevin Clethen coached the Rattler baseball squad on an interim basis this past season, with assistance from Brett Richardson.  Shouppe credited Clethen and Richardson for being team players and holding the FAMU baseball program together in his absence.

Accompanied by his wife Karen and two sons in the audience, he holds family values close to him.  He’s no stranger to FAMU either.  His oldest son Jake is in the Pharmacy school at FAMU, where he will earn his doctorate in pharmaceutical medicine in the Spring.  Shouppe’s ties include a friendship with FAMU faculty athletic representative Dr. Ebenezer Oriaku, who works in the FAMU School of Pharmacy.

In an over-capacity crowd in the media room of the Al Lawson Center, Shouppe was greeted by well-wishers from across the city.  Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, City of Tallahassee Commissioner Scott Maddox and State Representative Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee), were all in attendance at the event.  FAMU National Alumni Association president Tommy Mitchell and Capital City Bank’s Bill Smith were also in attendance.  Several former players, current players, friends and fans were on hand to catch a glimpse of the future of FAMU baseball.

Michael Smith, who is interim director of athletics, felt the selection committee vetted the candidates well, resulting with the eventual hiring of Shouppe.  “Our committee represented some of the most successful eras of Rattler baseball, and we feel they were solid in their commitment to finding someone who could restore success to our program,” Smith said.  “Judging by the faces and numbers in this room, I think they’ve done just that,” he added.

Shouppe revealed his spiritual side during the press conference.  “I’ve been carrying around a note in my bible, that I’ve had for over 20 years.  The note says ‘to be the best leader of men, you must first be a follower of God,’ ” Shouppe said.  He added, “My job as a believer is to do uncommon things here at this university.”

Shouppe is currently a coach with USA baseball.  In 2012 and 2013, he was the pitching coordinator for 18-up Summer league baseball.  Professionally, he played with the Houston Astros from 1982-1985, where he was drafted in the eighth round of the 1982 draft.

Shouppe is confident that he can build the program through mental toughness.  “I believe that I am the man to lead FAMU baseball to a level of success that no one believes possible,” Shouppe said.  He added, “anything can happen with a plan for success.  I have a plan and I possess the characteristics that are necessary to lead FAMU baseball to unprecedented levels.”

With a core of returning players, the Rattlers could rebound with some additional firepower.  Shouppe is very focused on junior college players to add some immediate help for the Rattlers.  “Good recruiting makes coaching easier.  Bad recruiting or not recruiting makes coaching more difficult,” he said.  He went on to describe a mix of junior college transfers and high school players to make the team successful.

As for the MEAC, his only experience was a few games against Bethune-Cookman in the NCAA playoffs.  He feels it’s not imperitive to have in depth knowledge of the conference to be successful at this point.  “I am not that familiar with the MEAC but I am familiar with baseball.  I know what a good baseball team looks like.  If you play the game and are proficient at what you do, you will win,” he said.

Shouppe was approved by FAMU interim president Dr. Larry Robinson, who is excited about the hire.  “We look forward to Coach Shouppe establishing a winning baseball program,” said Robinson.  “We want to celebrate the success of our students athletes on the field and in the classroom for many seasons to come.”

Shouppe Press Conference   FAMU Welcomes Head Coach Jamey Shouppe COURTESY FLORIDA A&M ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

VISIT: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS.COM

The MLB Urban Invitational Returning to New Orleans for the Second Consecutive Year

NEW ORLEANS  -- The Major League Baseball Urban Invitational is returning to New Orleans for the second consecutive year, with every game, from Friday, February 20th through Sunday, February 22nd, scheduled to be played exclusively in the city for the first time in the event's history. In 2014, Louisiana State University hosted Urban Invitational games in Baton Rouge, with other games being held at the University of New Orleans and the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy.

The round-robin collegiate baseball tournament, launched by Major League Baseball in 2008 to place an annual spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their baseball programs, will feature Division-I HBCUs Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana), Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and Alcorn State University (Alcorn, Mississippi), as well as the University of New Orleans. Six games will be played between the four schools, with the University of New Orleans hosting games on all three days. Special guest appearances throughout the weekend will include Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (MLB Senior Advisor and Honorary American League President) and Sharon Robinson (MLB Educational Programming Consultant, author and daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson).

Saturday's contests at the University of New Orleans will air LIVE on both MLB Network and MLB.com, with play-by-play from Matt Yallof and analysis from former MLB outfielder and Louisiana native Darryl Hamilton.

In addition to games on Friday, February 20th and Sunday, February 22nd, the New Orleans MLB Urban Youth Academy in Pontchartrain Park will host a private youth baseball clinic on Saturday morning, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CT). Players from each of the participating Urban Invitational teams will provide instruction to Urban Youth Academy participants and kids from local Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) programs.

A college and career fair will be held at the University of New Orleans from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Ten colleges and universities will be represented to provide attendees with information about college preparation, undergraduate/graduate degree programs, financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Local businesses also will be on hand to provide career advice and discuss potential job opportunities. High school and college students from areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are invited to attend at no charge.

Also at the University of New Orleans, Sharon Robinson will meet with students (in grades 4-9) on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 a.m., to talk about her father and help them craft and edit their own essays for the Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life essay contest. The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for students across the U.S. and Canada, in grades 4-9, to write an essay about their personal stories of how they use Jackie Robinson's nine values to overcome their own barriers: Citizenship, Commitment, Courage, Determination, Excellence, Integrity, Justice, Persistence and Teamwork. The Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life program, in partnership between Major League Baseball and Scholastic, is generously supported by Church & Dwight, maker of Arm & Hammer and OxiClean products.

"The Urban Invitational is an extraordinary event that not only highlights the quality of HBCU baseball, but also the character of these young men who participate," said Sharon Robinson. "As an alumna of an HBCU [Howard University], I am excited to join in the recognition of these wonderful academic institutions in all that they do to shape the leaders of tomorrow."

HBCUs have long offered quality educational and athletic programs and have a proud tradition of attracting outstanding baseball players. Baseball Hall of Famers Lou Brock (Southern University) and Andre Dawson (Florida A&M), as well as Seattle Mariners infielder Rickie Weeks (Southern University) played in HBCU baseball programs. Since 2008, the year of the inaugural Urban Invitational, 20 HBCU athletes who have played in the tournament have been selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Four tournament alumni were taken in the 2014 Draft, including Emmanuel Marrero, an Alabama State University alumnus, who was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round.

This will be Southern University's eighth Urban Invitational, making them the only school to have participated in every tournament. Grambling State will make its fourth appearance, the University of New Orleans will make its second appearance and Alcorn State University will be participating for the first time.

Local high school bands will have the opportunity to perform around Saturday's contests as the Landry-Walker High School band will perform the National Anthem prior to the first game (2:00 p.m.), while the band from St. Augustine High School will perform prior to the second game.

Complete Game Schedule (Central Time):

Friday, February 20, 3:00 p.m. @ New Orleans MLBUYA: Grambling State University vs. Southern University
Friday, February 20, 6:00 p.m. @ University of New Orleans (UNO): Alcorn State University at University of New Orleans
Saturday, February 21, 10:00 a.m. @ New Orleans MLBUYA: Private Youth Baseball Clinic for UYA and RBI participants
Saturday, February 21, 10:00 a.m. @ UNO: Sharon Robinson Breaking Barriers visit with local students
Saturday, February 21, 11:00 a.m. @ UNO: College & Career Fair
Saturday, February 21, 2:00 p.m. @ UNO: Alcorn State University vs. Grambling State University, (will air LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com)
Saturday, February 21, TBD @ UNO: Southern University at University of New Orleans (will air LIVE on MLB Network and MLB.com)
Sunday, February 22, 1:00 p.m. @ New Orleans MLBUYA: Southern University vs. Alcorn State University
Sunday, February 22, 1:00 p.m. @ UNO: Grambling State University at University of New Orleans

Major League Baseball is dedicated to its ongoing diversity efforts, including the implementation of programs that make it easier for underserved and inner city youth to participate in baseball and softball. With four operating MLB Urban Youth Academies in Cincinnati (Ohio), Compton (California), Houston (Texas), and New Orleans (Louisiana), plus an Academy in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) that is currently under construction, MLB has continued to allot resources to bring America's pastime to young people in urban communities.

Jim Koerner named NCCU's Eagles head baseball coach

DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – With more 10 years of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and III levels, Jim Koerner has been named as the new head baseball coach at North Carolina Central University. Koerner is coming to NCCU from the University at Buffalo, where he helped build the Division I Bulls baseball program as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2005.

“First of all, I’m very excited to be the new head baseball coach here at NCCU,” said Koerner. “NCCU is the complete package for me and my family. The atmosphere and attitude I’ve experienced from the people I have met is exactly what I was looking for. There is a passion for athletics and in this case the baseball program in particular. There is a solid foundation in place with our current players, we are in a great location for college and high school baseball and we play in a gorgeous facility, the Durham Athletic Park.”

His previous stops include a stint at Marshall University from 2003-05 where he also served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the staff, and his first Division I job came at Monmouth University after a three-year head coaching stint at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y., where he took a relatively brand-new baseball program and turned it into a winner in a short time. In his final season at Medaille, he improved the Mavericks win total by 15 games, one of the top turnarounds in Division III, and was named the 2003 North East Conference Coach of the Year.

“I am excited about having Coach Koerner as a part of our NCCU athletics program,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “We pride ourselves on hiring qualified individuals who have shown passion and dedication to their careers. Coach Koerner has been able to make an indelible mark at each of the institutions he has been associated with in the past and we know that he will do the same here at NCCU.

“Coach Koerner’s career journey includes coach of the year recognition as an NCAA Division III head coach and success as a top recruiter at three NCAA Division I programs, which will definitely bring unique experiences to help take our baseball program to the next level,” said Wicker-McCree. “Most importantly, our students will benefit from his vast knowledge of the game and his great concern for student success.”

New Eagles Head Baseball Coach Jim Koerner
(Photo courtesy MEAC Media Relations)

Passion and enthusiasm are certainly two character traits that Koerner shares when it comes to the game of baseball.

“I love the game,” said Koerner. “I’ve been involved with this game for a long time. I absolutely have a passion for teaching. Nothing gives me more satisfaction then working with a player from the beginning of August and watching that player mature and get better as the year goes along. To me that’s what it’s all about. If every guy on the team can take those steps to improve and get better and has that desire, the whole team will get better and that’s how you achieve your goals.”

Koerner, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John Fisher (N.Y.) and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Marshall, truly believes in emphasizing the student portion of student-athlete.

“I personally believe that there is a direct correlation between academic aptitude and a player’s ability to adjust and improve on the field,” said Koerner. “Excellence needs to be established in all parts of life. It’s not just a baseball thing. I don’t want student-athletes that treat excellence as a light switch. It needs to be a constant process in everything we do. That’s what I am going to stress here.”

Koerner has had 19 players move on to the next level and play professional baseball during his collegiate coaching career, and the 2009 and 2010 Bulls broke 27 all-time and single-season offensive records as he was directly in charge of hitting at the University at Buffalo.

Koerner wants to get this message out to the Eagle nation.

“Get excited about NCCU baseball,” said Koerner. “We’re going to do things the right way on and off the field and we’re going to be a lot of fun to watch. I’m especially looking forward to meeting everybody, so when February rolls around make sure to get out to the ballpark and see us in action.”

During his time at UB, the Bulls had four players earn All-Mid-American Conference, honors including the 2011 MAC Player of the Year in Tom Murphy.

Prior to Buffalo when Koerner held the same position with Marshall University, he coached one of his players to All-Conference USA honors and also helped the Thundering Herd to its first post-season appearance in 10 years. During the 2006 season, Marshall was consistently in the top 5 in most offensive categories and had two players finish in the top 10 in batting.

At Monmouth, where Koerner broke into Division I coaching as an assistant, he helped lead the team to its seventh consecutive conference tournament appearance.

Koerner has also been head coach of several U.S. teams that competed in international tournaments, including the Belgium Open and the Chianti (Italy) Baseball Challenge. Out of college in 1998, he was also signed by the Richmond Roosters of the Independent Frontier League.

A native of Hamburg, N.Y., which is a approximately 14 miles south of Buffalo, Koerner and his wife, Kylie, are the proud parents of a son, Sam, and five-month old daughter, Elizabeth.

By Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/ Broadcast Media Coordinator
VISIT: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
VISIT: NCCUEAGLEPRIDE

Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions Well Represented in Collegiate Summer Leagues

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --  The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team is well represented in summer collegiate baseball leagues as 19 past, current, and future members are suited-up for various summer teams across the country.

Two current Golden Lions started their summer off with the Falmouth Commodores in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League: Isias Alcantar, the 2013 SWAC Player of the Year, and Jim Ploeger. Both have since moved on to the Far West League and Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, respectively. Three players are competing in the Alaskan Baseball League as Andrew Buehler and Mikey Ramirez represent the Alaska Goldpanners and Mike Wieland is playing for the Peninsula Oilers.

See below as it relates to additional Golden Lions and their whereabouts this summer.

2013-2014 Golden Lions in Summer Collegiate Baseball Leagues

Alaska Baseball League
Alaska Goldpanners: Andrew Buehler and Mikey Ramirez
Peninsula Oilers: Mike Wieland

Far West League
San Francisco Seals: Isias Alcantar, Tyler Oertle, and Humberto Zavala
Top Speed: Cody De Mera

Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League
Westhampton Aviators: Jim Ploeger and Kyle Schwartz

Midwest Collegiate Baseball League
Northwest Indiana Oilmen: Rashawn Tillman

M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League
St. Joseph Mustangs: Redmond Floyd, Stanten Jones, and Dixon Marble

New York Collegiate League
Geneva Twins: Kirby Campbell, Josh Cassidy, and Tommy Haas

Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League
Dubois County Bombers: Andre Davis

Westhchester Baseball Association:
New Rochell Robins: Fabian Chirino and Vladimir Gomez

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU baseball flipped setbacks to make a triumphant run at program's first SWAC title | Highlights | Gerald Thomas III

🎟️ 𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 🎟️

For the third time in program history and the first time since 2019, @FAMU_Baseball is heading to the NCAA tournament!

🔗 https://t.co/CixtMyj0jI pic.twitter.com/PzCdAFNPKk

— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) May 28, 2023

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗖 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/5yqRIe1VBz

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

Are you as excited as I am about @FAMU_Baseball winning @theswac championship? If so, consider making a donation to the baseball program to help us sustain this success! Click here to donate: https://t.co/hJw6vUnXjq

— Tiffani-Dawn (@Tiffani_Sykes) May 28, 2023

FAMU baseball flipped setbacks to make a triumphant run at program's first SWAC title https://t.co/16fac74Dbn

— Tallahassee Democrat (@TDOnline) May 28, 2023

“You guys got us here, you guys take us home.”

📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/xjHatrxZv9

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

Your 2023 SWAC Champions! 🐍#NCAABaseball x 🎥 @FAMU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/ZHOFOTY41S

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 28, 2023

THE GREICO 💣

FAMU - 7
bcu - 3
📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/8Q9jvyeC5K

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

HOME RUN NUMBER TEN FOR TY HANCHEY!

FAMU - 8
bcu - 3
📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/1jpR6TGPxk

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

The fifth run of the game. Hanchey sends in Niles.

FAMU - 5
bcu - 3
📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/FUx3ZKrw0n

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

Rattlers score not one, not two, but three runs in the first inning!

FAMU - 3
bcu - 0
📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/SDjv6BRLNj

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦!#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/qrlwwLFRW3

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

What we’re playing for today!

⌚️ 1 PM ET
📍 Russ Chandler Stadium
📺 https://t.co/gfyYeQWoHY (ESPN 3)
📊 https://t.co/6oiedAAYOf
🎟️ https://t.co/vaoZbQ4uIW#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/8YXVqSnWTJ

— Florida A&M Baseball ⚾️ (@FAMU_Baseball) May 28, 2023

HBCU Baseball Classic Today At PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA at 6:15 p.m. ET on @HBCU_Plus

Hey #LetsGoBucs fans…We know you’d like one more game at PNC Park.

Come watch @GoStillmanBSB vs @WileyAthletics on Monday night, Oct. 10 at 6:30. FREE Admissionhttps://t.co/UQwl13IuId#HBCU #CollegeBaseball #NAIABaseball pic.twitter.com/cdxKcoR5gp

— Stillman Tigers Athletics (@gostillman) October 6, 2022

After a full night and day of travel, @StillmanCollege Baseball arrived in @Pittsburgh Sunday evening ahead of Monday night’s Inaugural Pittsburgh HBCU Baseball Classic at @Pirates’ @PNCParkEvents.

Follow the action Monday beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET on @HBCU_Plus.#NAIAbaseball pic.twitter.com/sA9nrF9HZL

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 10, 2022

Playing at @PNCParkEvents is 2️⃣ days away. Hear from pitcher Isidro Jimenez Rosario on the opportunity to play #NAIABaseball and represent @StillmanCollege in a @MLB stadium 1600 miles away from his Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 home.@Pirates @BucsCommunity @SSACsports. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/ZaXdz3uGql

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 8, 2022

4️⃣ Nights from tonight, 2x HBCU All-Star @KelvinReese7 will play in his second @MLB stadium in the last 4 months when @StillmanCollege takes the field at @Pirates’ @PNCParkEvents - Monday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET#NAIABaseball @BucsCommunity pic.twitter.com/Wdb028Emgk

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 6, 2022

In 5️⃣ days, we will be playing #NAIABaseball at @Pirates’ @PNCParkEvents. Our @StillmanCollege players are excited and we hope the @BucsCommunity is also. Come see us in the @Pittsburgh HBCU Classic Oct. 10 at 6:30 ET. Admission is FREE.

Hear from Bryant Rhooms, OF, Atlanta, Ga. pic.twitter.com/U8On4dfKB9

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 5, 2022

Next Monday, Oct. 10, @StillmanCollege will play an #NAIABaseball exhibition at @PNCParkEvents in the Pittsburgh HBCU Baseball Classic

"It's been a big dream of mine for a minute ... to get a chance to play on a big field like that."
- Bobby Woodard, So., OF, Westpoint, Miss. pic.twitter.com/KBOt2NVUnQ

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 4, 2022

Playing at @Pirates' @PNCParkEvents on Oct. 10 means ...

"I get a chance to travel, see something different and play the game that I love....It's a great opportunity for all of us here at HBCU @StillmanCollege."
- Steven Oates (@sao33101), Sr., RHP, Mobile, Ala.#NAIABaseball pic.twitter.com/1Qehw8IAmE

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 3, 2022

One week from tonight, we load the bus for Pittsburgh ... @MasonCollins40 says the bus trip is one thing he is looking forward to the most on the Road to @Pirates' @PNCParkEvents

You can donate toward the trip via https://t.co/bKcUXyIeZT pic.twitter.com/iIogp5RuvI

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) October 2, 2022

“It’s a really big experience, especially for someone like me from a small island … a little dot on the map.”
- Tre’en Dorsett, Jr., RHP/OF, Nassau, Bahamas 🇧🇸 on playing Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh @PNCParkEvents

Donate: https://t.co/8P9YkM3w3V#NAIABaseball #HBCU @StillmanCollege pic.twitter.com/Scl37oSeTV

— Stillman Tigers Baseball (@GoStillmanBSB) September 30, 2022

HorneTVision To Webcast Saturday Basketball, Baseball Doubleheaders

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University fans will be able to watch and listen live to key Hornet basketball and baseball doubleheaders this Saturday live online at no charge.

It's the first basketball/baseball doubleheader webcasts on the same day on HorneTVision, the online channel of bamastatesports.com. The home Alabama State basketball doubleheaders against Alcorn State will be video streamed beginning with the women's game at 3 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 5 p.m.

Also starting at 3 p.m., Hornets' baseball will play the first of two Saturday games at the University of the Pacific. Game two of the doubleheader begins at 8 p.m. Fans can listen live online to both baseball games as well.

Since the Fall of 2011, more than 140 Hornet athletics contests and events have been video or audio streamed live on bamastatesports.com in a collaboration between the Athletics Department, the University's media center, the communications department, WVAS 90.7 FM, and University Administration. The combination of experienced professionals and talented, aspiring students work to produce and direct live athletics events, all while giving students real world, on-the-job training and preparation for exciting communications careers.

HorneTVision allows Alabama State alumni, parents, families, friends, and supporters to watch and/or listen to Hornet athletic contests and events – free on your computer or mobile devices.

Saturday's 'double-double' is just one of a full weekend of live events produced and directed by Alabama State University.

Date Sport Time (CT) Audio/Video

Friday, Feb. 21 Baseball at Pacific 8 p.m. Audio

Saturday, Feb. 22 Basketball DH vs. Alcorn 3 and 5 p.m. Audio and Video

Baseball DH at Pacific 3 and 8 p.m. Audio

Sunday, Feb. 23 Baseball at Pacific 3 p.m. Audio

Monday, Feb. 24 Basketball vs. Southern 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Audio and Video

Big games. Big moments. HorneTVision brings it right to you. Over the past three seasons, fans have been able to watch or listen to important games played by the ASU football, soccer, volleyball, women's and men's basketball, softball and baseball teams. Already in 2014, HorneTVision has video webcast the home basketball doubleheader sweep of Alabama A&M, as well as present an audio broadcast of baseball's historic win at Auburn.

This weekend, women's basketball looks to continue to strengthen its seeding for the upcoming SWAC Tournament, men's hoops is in second place and in the hunt for the regular season tournament title and postseason berth, and baseball looks to ride the momentum of its winning streak into an important road series on the West Coast.

The best way to support your ASU is in person, making your voice make a difference. However, if you just can't make it to the game in person, HorneTVision will take you there!

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Sixty-Three Student-Athletes Among 210 Saint Augustine's University Graduates

Football Player Javarous Faulk (Left) and Clarence Ganus (Right) Are Among
63 SAU Student-Athletes.

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Sixty-three student-athletes and cheerleaders were among the 210 Saint Augustine's University graduates this past weekend (May 4) at the school's 2014 Commencement, held on the lawn of the campus Quadrangle.

Thirty percent (30%) of the graduating class were student-athletes and cheerleaders. The percentage surpasses last year's percent number (25%) of student-athletes in the 2013 graduating class.

The ceremony capped another successful season for the university's athletic program. Saint Augustine's University won CIAA championships in five sports this season including men's cross country, women's cross country, men's indoor track and field, women's indoor track and field and men's outdoor track and field. The men's track & field team won the NCAA Division II indoor championship for the second consecutive year and are currently ranked No. 1 in Division II in outdoor track & field.

The softball team reached the CIAA Championship Game, and the women's basketball team won the CIAA Team Highest Grade Point Average Award in its sport for the fifth straight season.

Below is a list of the 2014 student-athletes who graduated from Saint Augustine's University and their respective sports:

Bachelor of Science (School of Applied Health and Medical Sciences)

Summa Cum Laude (3.80-4.00 GPA)
Dwayne Hyman – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Christopher Octetree – Men's Tennis

Javarous Faulk – Football
Clarence Ganus – Baseball
Jonathan Hailey – Baseball
Jermaine Jones – Football/Men's Track & Field
Jjshaun Pinkston – Football
Brian Richards – Football
Kelly Shaw – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Amber Simrel - Volleyball
Anthony Todd – Men's Track & Field
Jameel Walcott – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country

Bachelor of Science (School of Business, Technology and Sport Management)

Summa Cum Laude (3.80-4.00 GPA)
Joshua Easter – Baseball
Byron Munro – Football
Autumn Smith – Women's Basketball/Softball

Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Victoria Davis – Women's Basketball/Volleyball

Audarius Blackwood – Football
Kirsten Bowens – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Unique Connor – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Alex Edwards – Baseball
Jamie Goff – Volleyball
Stephen Hamilton – Baseball
Javon Harley – Football
Joel Kindred – Men's Basketball
James Quarles – Men's Track & Field
Herman Reaves – Football
Joseph Reed – Football
Chaz Robinson – Football
Jonathan Stallworth – Football
Marcel Streeter – Football
Shawn Sutton – Men's Track & Field
Luther Witherspoon – Football

Bachelor of Arts (School of Liberal Arts and Education)

Summa Cum Laude (3.80-4.00 GPA)
Brittany Brown – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country

Ramaan Ansley – Men's Track & Field
Jaivairia Bacote – Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Dario Barnes – Football
Devon Burroughs – Men's Track & Field
Calvin Butcher – Baseball
Joshua Edmonds – Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Brittni Finch – Women's Track & Field
Aru Kok – Men's Basketball
Newton Miller – Football
John Newman – Men's Basketball
Rodricaus Peters – Football
Ashley Ross – Cheerleading

Bachelor of Science (School of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering)

Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
Jennifer Plair – Softball
Justin Williams – Football

Kenishea Donaldson – Women's Tennis
Unique Gupton – Bowling
Bryan Jones – Football
Minyan Murphy – Women's Tennis
Shonquez Nelson – Football
Michelle Shackelford - Softball

Bachelor of Arts and Science (School of Social and Behaviorial Sciences)

Cum Laude (3.40-3.59 GPA)
LaKeisha Ford – Softball
Temperance Jacobs – Women's Basketball/Volleyball

Latricia Bennett – Track & Field
Darien Hardaway – Baseball
Brock Holmes – Baseball
Dane Hyatt – Men's Track & Field
Clarence Peace – Baseball
Ebony Spencer – Women's Basketball/Volleyball/Softball/Tennis
Dahveed Todd – Baseball
Anthony Wright – Football

NOTE: Volunteer men's assistant basketball coach B.J. Williams and baseball student manager Gennetha Williams graduated at Commencement.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU's Koerner Named to USA Baseball Coaching Staff

CARY, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University baseball head coach Jim Koerner has been named technical advisor for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series from June 28 to July 2, USA Baseball has announced.

"I want to thank Eric Campbell of USA Baseball for this opportunity," Koerner said. "It's an honor to be a part of the premier amateur baseball organization in the country. I'm excited to be able to represent NC Central and to be involved with some of college baseball's best athletes and coaches."

Koerner has spent six seasons coaching at NCCU and has amassed 131 wins during his time, including a school record 28 victories during the 2018 season. The Eagles got off to its best start in program history in 2018 by going 9-3, and also captured votes in the NCBWA Top-30 Poll for the first time.



Koerner will work with the Collegiate National Team during the International Friendship Series with Chinese Taipei, which will be a five-day, five-game series. The first two games will be played at Coleman Field in Cary, North Carolina, on June 28 and 29, before heading to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on June 30. The series will then return to Coleman Field for the final two games on July 1 and 2.

Koerner will be responsible for coordinating with the umpires and making sure that they are aware of all rules and ground rules for the series. He will also insure the quality of game baseballs and settle any game disputes immediately.

The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) is comprised of the top collegiate baseball players in the country. The team competes each summer in a schedule of exhibition games across the U.S. and overseas against the world's top baseball talent. As part of this schedule, the U.S. takes on the Japan Collegiate All-Stars nearly every summer, and squares off in international friendship series against the likes of Canada, Chinese Taipei, Cuba and the Netherlands.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Vazquez Named Alabama State Head Baseball Coach

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Jose' Vazquez has been named Alabama State head baseball coach, Athletic Director Melvin Hines announced today.
 
Vazquez will be formally introduced at a 1 p.m. press conference Thursday at the ASU Stadium Club Lounge.
 
Vazquez has spent 14 seasons as an assistant baseball coach, the last six as Associate Head Coach. In addition to the day-to-day duties of the Alabama State baseball program, Vazquez has coached Hornet hitters and outfielders and is widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
 
Vazquez, named the 2013 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association, has helped Alabama State post a Top 60 recruiting class each year, as rated by Perfect Game, the largest amateur baseball scouting service in the nation.
 
He has played in an integral role in the rise of Alabama State baseball into a championship program. Vazquez helped the Hornets land C Richard Gonzalez and OF Richard Amion in the 2011 signing class, both of whom would go on to earn Freshman All-America accolades in 2012. Those two players, along with another 2011 signee in SS Emmanuel Marrero, would prove to be cornerstone pieces of the ASU program, leading the team to 89 wins from 2012-14. All three players were selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

In 2015, two other freshmen from the initial signing class, RHPs Armando Ruiz and Michael Estevez, along with 2012 signing class pitcher Jorge Pantoja, were drafted for signed to pro contracts.
 
This past season, RHP Angel Alicea was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, and three-time SWAC Pitcher of the Year Joseph Camacho signed a free agent contract with the Oakland A's. Alabama State has had nine players earn a chance to play professional baseball, with six players drafted, all in the last three seasons.

In 2016, the Hornets set a school record with 64 home runs as Alabama State baseball won a school record 38 games, including an unprecedented 24-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, in winning the first SWAC Championship in program history and earning ASU first berth to the Division I NCAA Baseball Tournament.
 
Prior to Alabama State, Vazquez spent the previous nine seasons as assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman, with 2011 his first as Associate Head Coach. Vazquez played a prominent role in the programs' success, bringing in players that posted a staggering 100-4 MEAC record over the final six seasons, all ending in conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Playing under former ASU head coach Mervyl Melendez at B-CU, Vazquez earned all-conference honors as a catcher in his only season with the Wildcats, transferring there for his senior season in 2002. As a starter, Vazquez helped post the best record in school history (39-22), including the programs' only NCAA Regional victory over Florida International. Vazquez then joined the coaching ranks, first as a student in 2003 and, upon graduating, a full-time assistant.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS 

UMES Hires Former Assistant Brian Hollamon to Lead Hawks Baseball Program

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday (August 21), appointed alumnus, one-time Hawks assistant and long-time Parkside High School coach Brian Hollamon to be its head baseball coach following the termination of former coach Charlie Goens.

“We feel strongly that this is a move that will take our team in the right direction to both compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and to have a strong and reliable recruiting footprint on Delmarva and throughout the region,” Davidson said. “Brian is someone who puts his all into everything that he does and he has always shown a genuine desire to see this program be successful.”

Hollamon was a graduate assistant with the Hawks from 1996-99 when he earned a Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the university.

“I am very excited for the opportunity,” Hollamon said of his return to the Maroon and Gray. “When I coached here, I enjoyed my time and I’m looking forward to getting back to what we were building. From the moment I had to tell the players in 1999 that I wouldn’t be returning, I have had a desire to one day come back.

“I’m glad to not only be back at the university, but also excited to be with some quality players who make up the current roster.”

Over the last 14 seasons at Parkside, where he was also a guidance counselor, Hollamon has built a perennial power in the Bayside Conference, while consistently producing players who go on to play baseball at all levels including Division I.

Former Ram Hunter Parsons will be a junior on the University of Maryland pitching staff next season, while left handed pitcher Grant Burleson and fellow lefty Sean Fisher will be freshmen at College Park. Matt Smith, a 2016 graduate of Parkside will be entering his sophomore season at Towson University.

He has coached a number of players who went on to be Hawks including Zach Townsend, Dylan Bell, Cody Cauffman and Jamar Cadejuste.

Brian Hollamon coached for the Hawks as an assistant from 1996 to 1999
Hollamon coached the Hawks as an
assistant from 1996 to 1999
“Our team at Parkside High School was always first and foremost about the kids: Watching them grow, watching them develop and watching them move on and do bigger and better things,” Hollamon said. “Now the opportunity for me is to continue that growth and watch these young men develop and go on to whatever they want to do after the graduate from college. Our goal is going to be to not only give them an opportunity to play baseball, but also get their education and be successful human beings.”

Hollamon led the Rams to 14 straight winning seasons from 2003-2017. Parkside won three Bayside South Titles, one Bayside crown, two Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association 2A East Region Sectional Championships, four Maryland 2A East Regional Championships, and most notably made two MPSSAA 2A State Finalist Appearances (2009, 2014).

“My time away from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has changed me as a coach,” Hollamon said. “I had the experience of 18 years at the high school level. That makes you learn and grow and understand what players need and what they want including what they want from the college level. I had the experience of knowing and developing those kids and getting them ready for college and now that is what I’ll be looking for from the high school coaches who I will have relationships with in recruiting.”

He was named Bayside South Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2008, 2011) and District 8 coach of the Year twice (2009, 2014). In 2015, he coached in the prestigious Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game and that same year he was recognized by the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches as the Amateur Coach of the Year for his work in high school and American Legion Baseball.

“I think the quality of baseball on the Eastern Shore is pretty solid,” Hollamon said. “Obviously we don’t have the number of players in a small area you would find in a more highly populated area, but within just the state of Maryland you have some really good baseball players and you can put a good product on the field, not to mention Virginia, Delaware and the players that are available throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region that may want to come to Maryland Eastern Shore and play baseball.”

The graduate of Sussex Central High School in Georgetown, Delaware, played four years of baseball at Division III Salisbury University where he was team captain from 1992-1995 and earned a bachelor’s in Marketing and Management. He was named team MVP and earned All-Conference honors at shortstop.

Following his stint with the Hawks, Hollamon moved on to become the head coach at Mardela High School from 1999-2003.

Hollamon also coached with American Legion Post 64 in Salisbury as an assistant before taking over the team in 2015, and played 22 seasons for the Semi-Pro Perdue Chicks of the Eastern Shore Baseball League.

Hollamon lives in Delmar, Delaware with his wife Jodi and daughters Josie and Jordyn.

Goens spent one season with The Shore where the team went 12-40 and lost its first two games as the host team in the MEAC Baseball Tournament, played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

“We thank Charlie for his work with the program, but it became clear to us during the season that we needed someone at the helm that is invested in this institution, in baseball in the region, in our student athletes and in the Eastern Shore community at large,” Davidson said. “We feel that Brian gives us exactly that along with the stability to lead the program into the future.”

Goens came to the Hawks from Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia. He replaced John O’Neil who won 32 games in two years as acting head coach from 2014-2016.

O’Neil stayed on as an associate head coach for the 2016-17 season, but will not return to the program.

Hollamon will put his own coaching staff in place in the coming weeks.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION