Paine College has named Joshua Cruz as its next head baseball coach, replacing Melvin “Kerby” Marshall who took a similar position at Dillard University last month.
Coach Cruz graduated from Paine in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems while playing baseball, primarily as a second baseman. During his four-year college career, Cruz also pitched and in his senior season, led his Lion teammates to the Black College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. He also served as team captain for two years, gaining valuable leadership experience both on and off the field.
After graduating, Joshua Cruz was an assistant baseball coach at Paine College and also worked with the school’s softball team. In addition to his coaching experience, Cruz has played professionally in both France and Australia, where he also contributed to the development of youth and women’s teams, reflecting his commitment to player growth at all levels.
Cruz holds certifications in Driveline Hitting and Google Data Analytics, bringing innovative, data-driven approaches to player development and team performance. His coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, team culture, and holistic growth under his motto “Compete Every Day”.
As he takes the reins of the program, Coach Cruz is committed to honoring the rich tradition of HBCUs while building Paine College baseball into a competitive force and developing leaders on and off the field.