Dillard University, for the first time in school history, will play baseball on the diamond. The birth comes after the institution decided in 2021 to add a baseball program to the athletic department. The announcement was followed by the hiring of Trennis Grant, the newly appointed baseball coach nearly a year ago, and a slew of player signings thereafter.
Their first foray into college athletics will start January 27 at Louisiana Christian with a second game the next day. Dillard’s rosters consists of 39 players ranging from freshmen, sophomores, junior college transfers to juniors.
Dillard, in its first season, owes its quick rise to coach Grant who quickly established himself as the top candidate based on his strong recruiting background, enthusiasm for the job, local and national baseball ties and vision for the Dillard baseball program.
The baseball team’s birth is in large part a story to leave it’s imprint on college sports.
That encouraged quite a few players, who might have played elsewhere, to enroll at Dillard University with a chance to keep their baseball dreams afloat.
The new program also provides student athletes the opportunity they might not get in Division I, Division II, Division III, or in the NAIA. Grant has created a backlog of talent as the roster fills up.
It helps the student-athletes that are coming in. Everybody’s trying to find a spot, and the freshmen are getting opportunities.
With the interest from the community that supports baseball, this is a good way to recruit, enroll, retain, and support students and providing them a good collegiate experience.
Athletics is a valuable aspect of the collegiate experience. Many traditional aged (18-24) students are attracted to colleges for nonacademic reasons. Sports are often one of those reasons. Some college students want or need to feel a sense of connection. Often, sports are a way to cultivate this relationship, which in turn, provides students with a sense of belonging and leads to increased retention.
Dillard University, by expanding its athletic program by adding baseball, will aid in promoting additional school spirit and unity. Hopefully, the program will attract not only the players but will also create meaningful relationships with their families, coaches, high schools and communities. Ultimately, this opens additional avenues for enhancing recruiting efforts and increasing overall enrollment.
The 2023 Dillard baseball roster has players from different parts of the country. The 2023 Dillard baseball roster consist of one junior, 12 sophomores, and 24 freshmen to kick start the 2023 season… Dillard University’s first-ever.
These players will write the history of Dillard’s first ever collegiate game experience, and will forever be part of its first intercollegiate baseball game ever played.
The team will take pride in its players’ excellence on the field, in the classroom and within the community. The experience, as Dillard student-athletes, provides them with short- and long-term rewards.
The baseball program and Grant’s coaching staff are structured and committed to teaching and developing individual skills and techniques so that a player may advance in baseball as far as his desire, potential and ability permit. As with the students’ academics, the goal is excellence in individual and team performance.
Years from now many of these Dillard players will receive recognition, academic or otherwise. While most graduates from the baseball program could pursue careers in law, medicine, business and education, some might sign professional baseball contracts, or stay in the game as college and high school coaches, thus demonstrating love, understanding, and respect for the game.
When Dillard wins its first intercollegiate baseball game it will be monumental.
Welcome to HBCU baseball!
2023 Dillard Baseball Roster
| NAME | CLASS | HOMETOWN |
| Jorge Guerra | Sophomore | Dallas, TX |
| Ty’Mitchell McCollough | Sophomore | Greenville, MS |
| Nicholas Pena | Sophomore | Chicago, IL |
| Tyler Fitch | Freshman | Baton Rouge, LA |
| Cobe Beamon | Freshman | Baton Rouge, LA |
| Jalen Ayers | Sophomore | Waynesboro, MS |
| Renard Smith | Sophomore | Houston, TX |
| Bryson Payne | Freshman | Chicago, IL |
| George Alveraz | Sophomore | San Antonio, TX |
| Kejuan Burnett | Freshman | Desoto, TX |
| Juwan Fitch | Junior | Baton Rouge, LA |
| Cameron White | Sophomore | Frisco, TX |
| Jonathan Miles | Sophomore | Indianapolis, IN |
| Kaleb Gibson | Freshman | Baton Rouge, LA |
| Brandon Dickerson | Freshman | Houston, TX |
| Gabriel Barlow | Freshman | Arlington, TX |
| Kwailty Williams | Freshman | Tampa, FL |
| Dylan Scott | Freshman | Grand Prairie, TX |
| Javon Thompson | Freshman | Houston, TX |
| Nolan Daniels | Sophomore | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Emmanuel Taveras | Freshman | New Orleans, LA |
| Keymoni Coleman | Freshman | Killeen, TX |
| Jayden Davis | Freshman | Slidell, LA |
| Alaaj Provo | Freshman | Plaquemine, LA |
| Julian Keys | Freshman | Waxahachie, TX |
| Willie Green | Sophomore | Houston, TX |
| Maurice Thompson | Sophomore | Austin, TX |
| Christopher Owens | Freshman | Walker Mill, MD |
| Channing Vernon | Freshman | Cerdar Hill, TX |
| Christian Hillard | Freshman | Dallas, TX |
| Larnce White | Freshman | Chicago, IL |
| Trey Williams | Sophomore | Prairieville, LA |
| Landin Tircuit | Freshman | Chalmette, LA |
| Rigoberto Quinonez | Freshman | Chicago, IL |
| Cameron West | Freshman | Desoto, TX |
| Chase Mitchell | Freshman | Monroe, LA |
| Robert Jackson | Freshman | Walker, LA |