DALLAS – Michael Coker, founder and executive director of Black College Championships, founder of the Black College World Series, and lead contemporary reporter for Black College Nines website has been named to the board of directors of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Coker brings more than 20 years of experience covering HBCU baseball and other collegiate baseball at the NCAA Division I, Division II, and NAIA levels. He has a long track record of innovative and diverse coverage of college baseball teams across the nation.
Coker has been a visionary in staging the Black College World Series applying his insight, experience, and passion for baseball student-athletics. Said NCBWA executive director Bo Carter, “We’re excited to welcome him to NCBWA board of directors, and I know that all of us will benefit from his leadership and expertise.” His voice and vision will help both the NCBWA and HBCU baseball continue to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Michael Coker is a collegiate baseball writer and lead contemporary news reporter for the website blackcollegenines.com. He is a member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, a member of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, founding member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association, founder and executive director of the Black College Championships LLC and founder of HBCU Black College World Series.
Previously reporting for blackcollegebaseball.com, Coker is a voter for the NCBWA NCAA Division I baseball Top 25 Poll and Black College Nines’ HBCU Baseball Polls. He also played baseball for three years under coach Jeffery Lee Jr. at Edward Waters University. Coker attended Oakton College, Wilberforce University and is a proud graduate of Edward Waters and the University of Miami School of Law. He is currently completing a Masters of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
“Michael Coker has been a true advocate for college baseball for decades,” said NCBWA executive director Bo Carter. “He founded the Black College Baseball World Series, which will have its fourth edition in Montgomery, Ala., in May, and he has been a tremendous asset for HBCU baseball programs on all levels. We are proud to have him on the NCBWA Board of Directors.”
“To have covered the many coaches and collegiate baseball programs from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the NCAA Division I and Division II, NAIA and the Black College World Series, I am honored,” Coker said. “With the likes of Jay Sokol who gave me my second start writing college baseball with Black College Nines along with legendary College Baseball and ABCA Hall of Famer Roger Cador and the NCBWA’s Executive Director Bo Carter and being a national voter ranking the nation’s top collegiate baseball teams, I am truly blessed. I also am really honored and appreciative to report HBCU baseball daily and the coaches that allowed me to cover their careers.”
The Evanston, Ill., native stays busy year-round with HBCU baseball, the Black College World Series, and working as a legal expert. He previously served as a special assistant to the executive director of the NCBWA.
In the new role, Coker will assist the NCBWA in membership services, freelance writing, promoting HBCU and college baseball on all levels, and additional duties as assigned.