Black College Nines continues its updating of the HBCU baseball coaching carousel with these coaching changes…
Alcorn State University
Out – Reggie Williams
In – Carlton Hardy*
* Carlton Hardy was rumored in the running for Alcorn State and Arkansas Pine-Bluff head coaching jobs. Hardy leaves Savannah State as one of the top NCAA DII HBCU Baseball programs.
Savannah State University
Out – Carlton Hardy*
In –
* Hardy left the program for Alcorn State University making a return to Division I coaching one of the toughest jobs in the SWAC.
Lane College
Out – Donny Crawford – Retired*
In –
* Crawford retired this past July.
Delaware State University
Out – Jean-Paul Blandin – Retired*
In –
* Blandin coached Delaware State for 24 years before announcing his retirement this past March effective at the end of the ’24 season.
Lincoln University (PA)
Out – Anthony Pla – Retired
In – Anthony Vincent Connor*
* Connor takes over as head coach having spent this past 2024 season as the interim head coach of the Lions baseball team. Former coach Anthony Pla took a scouting position with the St. Louis Cardinals last spring.
Dillard University
Out – Trennis Grant
In – A. Rashad “Rod” White
In – Carl Nichols Recruiting Coordinator/Hitting Coach
In – Bob Shelton Assistant Coach/Director of Baseball Operations
In – Malik Blaise 1st Base/Infield Coordinator
In – Neil Ring Assistant Coach/Catcher Director of Baseball Analytics
In – Juan Palacios Assistant Coach/Roving Infield Coordinator
* Interim tag removed July 1. A. Rashad “Rod” White is the head coach.
Florida Memorial University
Out – Florentino Burgos
In – Wil Ramos
In – Andre Payne Assistant Coach*
In – Ramon Garcia Pitching Coach*
* Both Payne and Garcia, were retained by the Lions athletic department.
Clark Atlanta University
Out – Kentaus “K.C.” Carter
In – Trennis Grant*
In – Lorenzo Petersen Volunteer Assistant Coach
In – Patrick Wright Volunteer Assistant Coach
In – Andrew Gaskin Graduate Assistant Coach
* Trennis Grant previously was the head coach at Dillard University, but stepped down in March 2024.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Out – Carlos James*
In – Logan Stout*
In – RJ Pearson
In – Mark Moyer
* James went 212-414-2 during his 14 years and 133-165 in SWAC play.
* Logan Stout steps into a program in much need of program injection. Inherits a team that last had a winning season in 2015. Founder and CEO of the Dallas Patriots baseball program and Premier Baseball Academy in Frisco, Texas, which focuses on mentoring and leading youth. The Dallas Patriots have nearly 20 active players on MLB rosters.
Claflin University
Out – Head Coach Scott Nestor
In – Jaylan Bledsoe
Bluefield State University
Out – Drew Bailey
In – Scott Considine*
* Scott Considine spent the previous three seasons as the assistant coach on the baseball staff at Southern New Hampshire University, helping lead the team to conference and regional championships, as well as two appearances in the NCAA Division II College World Series.
Oakwood University
Out – Richard Hodnett
In – Jalil Rudolph*
In – Richard Hodnett Assistant Coach
In – Tim Dawkins Assistant Coach
In – Fermin EsQuibel Assistant Coach
* Jalil Rudolph was promoted July 1. Richard Hodnett was demoted to an assistant coach.
Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)
Out – Head Coach Adrian Holloway
In – David Yamane*
In – Darrion Smith Assistant Coach
In – Co Co Simoneaux Assistant Coach
* David Yamane has spent the last two season as the associate head coach at Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) in Los Angeles, California. He previously was an assistant baseball coach at NCAA Division I Siena College in Loudonville, NY.