Pernell Roberts is a former Harris Stowe State baseball player and the Hornets interim head baseball coach since the 2021 mid-season firing of former head coach CJ Bilbrey. So, Roberts understands as well as anyone as a player and coach, the team’s recent struggles. He is passionate about leading the charge to bring a winning baseball program back to HSSU.
Just two days after being hired as the interim head baseball coach at Harris Stowe State for the remaining 2021 season, Roberts collected his first collegiate coaching victory at his alma mater, leading the Hornets to a doubleheader split against Williams Baptist University. The Hornets lost game one 8-3 then took game two by the score of 16-3 for Coach Roberts’ first career win.
Roberts was named interim head coach on March 16. Harris Stowe State promoted assistant coach Roberts after serving under former coach CJ Bilbrey who was fired under ten games into the 2021 season. Prior to coming to HSSU, Roberts was the starting shortstop for the Hornets on back to back 30 win ball clubs in 2017 and 2018.
Roberts received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harris Stowe State University in 2019 and worked as an assistant coach with the baseball program for two years.
Roberts came to Harris Stowe State from Long Beach Community College where he won a junior college championship. Continuing his collegiate playing career at HSSU, he was recruited to the program by Bilbrey and graduated in 2019.
Under Roberts, the team was 10-18. The Hornets had to cancel 12 games do to COVID-19 related issues during the season. Roberts’ announcement was made Thursday as he is ready to lead Hornet baseball and compete for a national title.
Roberts stated “I would like to thank Harris Stowe State, I also would to thank God for the opportunity and my dad for everything. Rest in peace, I love you.”