Get all the latest offseason moves of HBCU baseball and recent head coaching and assistant coaching changes that have taken place heading into fall ball for the 2022 season. Black College Nines will continue to keep you updated on the latest coaching changes for the coming season.
Recent coaching changes…
LARGE SCHOOL
Mississippi Valley State University
Out – Head Coach Aaron Stevens
Out – Assistant Coach Oscar Espada
In – Head Coach Stanley Stubbs
In – Outfield Coach – Jalen Bledsoe
In – Pitching Coach Matt Ribera
In – Infield Coordinator Shawn Livsey
Note: Stanley Stubbs has completed the process of hiring his baseball staff. Stubbs added former Mississippi Delta Community College Assistant Coach Jalen Bledsoe, Wheeling University Pitching Coach and former LSU baseball player Matt Ribera, and former Houston Astros 1991 first round draft pick Shawn Livsey who will serve as the fielding coordination for this year’s baseball team. Oscar Espada, former Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Texas College under head coach Anthony Macon, spent one year as an assistant at Mississippi Valley State in 2021. Espada was in consideration for the head coaching position at Mississippi Valley State but withdrew his name from consideration.
Alcorn State University
Out – Head Coach Brett Richardson
Out – Volunteer Assistant Coach Kirt Cormier
In – Head Coach
Note: Reports are that Alcorn State roster is depleting without a new head coach and a recruiting coordinator, sources tell Black College Nines.
Prairie View A&M University
In – Pitching Coach Anthony Macon
Note: Anthony Macon, former NCAA Division I assistant baseball coach at Savannah State University under head coach Carlton Hardy, was the head baseball coach in his fourth season in 2020 at Texas College. Macon is familiar with Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball programs. He began coaching after his collegiate playing days under legendary coach Larry Watkins at Alabama State University and played alongside Xavier University of Louisiana head baseball coach Adrian Holloway from 2001-2004. Macon then played professionally until 2006 with an Independent League team in Selma and with the Montgomery Biscuits and the Shreveport-Bossier Captains.
North Carolina A&T University
Out – Assistant Coach Stefan Jordan
Note: Jordan was with the baseball program for nine years as both a player and assistant baseball coach. Jordan was a volunteer assistant coach in 2016 and in 2017, became an assistant coach. A four-year starter behind the plate for A&T from 2011-14, he was the lead recruiter for the baseball program and was also responsible for facilitating camps and teaching the Aggie catchers.
Southern University
In – Head Coach Chris Crenshaw
Note: The university athletic department signed Crenshaw to a three-year contract after removing the interim tag June 7th. Crenshaw led the Jaguars to the 2021 SWAC conference championship after being named interim head coach of the baseball program on December 3, 2020.
SMALL SCHOOL
Bluefield State College
In – Associate Coach Evan Ruechel
Note: Evan Ruechel began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Indiana Wesleyan (NAIA) for the 2017 season. He also spent time as a volunteer assistant baseball coach at Averett (NCAA DIII) in Danville, Va., where he served as the recruiting coordinator and hitting/infield coach.
Harris Stowe State University
Out – Head Coach CJ Bilbrey
In – Head Coach Pernell Roberts, Jr.
In – Assistant Coach Nick Herrin
Notes: Harris Stowe State athletics department removed the interim tag from head baseball coach Pernell Roberts this past June 17th after former coach CJ Bilbrey was fired from the program during the 2021 season. 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 HSSU in 2019 and worked as an assistant coach with the baseball program for two years. Roberts has promoted volunteer assistant Nick Herrin to his coaching staff as assistant coach, sources tell Black College Nines. Herrin will work with the program this past 2021 season.
Rust College
Out – Head Coach Stanley Stubbs
Out – Assistant Coach Chris Monroe
Out – Recruiting Coordinator Marcel Parker
In – Head Coach John Bates
In – Assistant/Pitching Coach Jerome Williams
Promoted – Assistant Coach David Lake
In – Assistant Coach Jordan Robinson
In – Outfield Coach Jordan Anderson
Note: John Bates is the former Lane College head coach from 2016-2018. Lane improved in six hitting categories, including tops in the SIAC conference in nine offensive categories under Bates. He also lowered the pitching earned run average during the 2018 season. Lane made the conference tournament. Became the Rust volunteer coach in 2018-2019, was promoted to recruiter and assistant baseball coach in 2019-2021, then head coach July 2021. Bearcats baseball has promoted volunteer assistant David Lake to assistant coach, while Jerome Williams was promoted to assistant coach and will be the pitching coach, sources tell Black College Nines. Jordan Robinson was a former Rust baseball player who recently completed his first season coaching with Rust, and Jordan Anderson played independent baseball professionally before joining the Bearcats.
Texas College
Out – Head Coach Anthony Macon
In – Head Coach Mark Thomas
Note: Anthony Macon left the NAIA baseball program for Prairie View A&M in the SWAC. The Texas College baseball program has hired Mark Thomas as its next head coach. Thomas has worked with elite baseball players to develop their skill set for the collegiate and Major League baseball. Thomas played college baseball at College of The Ozark in Missouri.
Wiley College
In – Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Nicholaus Strong
Out – Assistant Coach Corbin Green
Note: Nicholaus Strong was the head coach of the University of Houston-Downtown and led the baseball program to its first conference title and the National Club Baseball Association Division II Regional Title game in his second season. His team finished ranked No. 14 in the nation. Strong was a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for Houston Community College in 2015-16. He started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant. Played collegiate baseball at Texas Southern University from 2004-05. Strong was in the broadcast booth providing play-by-play and color commentary during the Black College World Series this past spring in Montgomery, Alabama with the Black College Sports Network (BCSN).