Columbia International University Men's Baseball

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia International University (CIU) is proud to announce the hiring of Rocke Musgraves as the second head baseball coach in the history of the Rams' program. Musgraves arrives at CIU with more than 30 years of coaching experience across the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA levels, bringing a career résumé that includes nearly 800 collegiate victories (787-467), 18 conference, regional, and super-regional championships, and a steadfast commitment to developing student-athletes spiritually, academically, and athletically. "Coach Musgraves is a great combination of an elite coach and a steadfast Christ-follower," said CIU Director of Athletics Stefan Vasiloff. "His record of competitive success speaks for itself, but even more impressive is the way he consistently invests in the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of his players. We are thrilled to welcome Rocke to the CIU family and look forward to seeing how God will use him to impact our baseball program." Musgraves comes to CIU after serving as the inaugural head coach at John Melvin University (JMU) in Louisiana, where he built the Millers into a formidable program in just three seasons. After leading the fledgling program to a 19-16 record in its first year, Musgraves guided JMU to a 36-13 mark in year two, with wins over nationally ranked NAIA and NJCAA opponents. In 2025, the Millers seized both the New South Athletic Conference (NSAC) regular season and tournament championships, and Musgraves was named NSAC Coach of the Year. Before JMU, Musgraves led Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) from 2013–2018, rewriting the school's baseball history. He guided the NCAA Division II Crusaders to their first-ever postseason appearance, three conference tournament championship games, and the 2016 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular season and tournament titles. That same year, he was named both GNAC Coach of the Year and NNU Coach of the Year. During his tenure, NNU placed five players into Major League Baseball organizations and broke the GNAC single-season home run record with 83 in 2017. From 1999–2013, Musgraves transformed Louisiana State University - Shreveport (LSUS) into one of the NAIA's premier baseball programs. In 14 seasons, he amassed a 584–276 record, winning at least 40 games in 10 different seasons. Under his leadership, the Pilots reached the NAIA College World Series three times (2003, 2011, 2012), including two third-place finishes, and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in 10 seasons. His teams won more games over an 11-year stretch than any other Louisiana four-year program. Musgraves earned NAIA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2003, was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2005, and received three straight Red River Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards from 2011–2013. In 2011, he was honored as Louisiana College Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The 2012 Pilots posted one of the best winning percentages in NAIA history at 54–6, led the nation in runs per game (8.9), and received the NAIA Champions of Character Award at the World Series. Musgrave also served as the athletic director at LSUS from 2002–2003. He expanded the athletic department from one sport to six, adding men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, and women's tennis. Over his career, more than 20 of his players have gone on to professional baseball, and he has been invited to speak at national coaching conventions, including the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Convention. As a player, Musgraves competed at Yavapai College and Westmont College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Written Communications before completing a master's degree in Sports Administration at the University of Arizona. "I'm beyond excited to join the CIU athletic program and return to NAIA Baseball," said Musgraves. "I want to thank President Dr. Bill Jones and Director of Athletics Stefan Vasiloff for the opportunity to carry out the Christ-led mission of CIU. I also want to thank my wife, Mitzi, for joining me on this baseball journey. I look forward to meeting the guys and getting to work." Musgraves and his wife, Mitzi, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of Libbi Montana and Eli Christian.

CIU welcomed Steven Ridings to its baseball coaching staff in 2025 as an assistant coach, where he works primarily with the Rams’ pitching staff. Ridings arrives at CIU after serving as the head assistant coach and pitching coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor during the 2025 season. At UMHB, he managed the pitching staff through daily practice plans, in-game strategy, and player development while also handling recruiting efforts across Texas. He additionally coordinated team travel and budget planning, and invested in the spiritual growth of his players by leading weekly Bible studies. Before his time in Texas, Ridings returned to his alma mater, Messiah University, as an assistant coach from 2021–24. He helped guide the Falcons’ pitching staff to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2024, highlighted by 35 wins and national rankings in ERA (23rd) while setting program records in innings pitched, strikeouts, and appearances. Ridings also gained coaching experience in the Valley Baseball League with the Purcellville Cannons in the summer of 2023, where he oversaw pitchers from NCAA Division I, II, III, and junior college programs. A former professional pitcher, Ridings spent seven years in the pro ranks, including time with the Seattle Mariners organization after being selected in the 29th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He advanced through every level of the Mariners’ system up to Triple-A Tacoma before continuing his career in the Frontier League with the Southern Illinois Miners (2018–21) and the Gateway Grizzlies (2022). Across his professional career, he logged 297 innings with 275 strikeouts and 19 wins. As a collegiate pitcher at Messiah, Ridings was a four-year starter who tallied 243 strikeouts and a 2.80 ERA over 270 innings. He earned MAC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-MAC, and First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors as a senior. Ridings holds a B.A. in Sport Management (2016) and a Master of Arts in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership (2024), both from Messiah University. Originally from Harwood, Maryland, he and his wife Julia have two daughters, Hallie and Karissa.

Jonathan Johnson enters his seventh year at the helm of the CIU baseball program. The Rams are coming off a 2025 season in which they went 30-22 overall.  This was just short of the 2021 season that saw the CIU baseball program reach huge milestones. Johnson led CIU to a 38-26 record overall and a 16-14 record in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). A few groundbreaking wins highlighted the Rams' season as CIU defeated NAIA No. 1 ranked Tennessee Wesleyan twice.  CIU made a splash on the national stage, winning the 2021 NCCAA World Series. CIU ran away with the title as they totaled an impressive 20-0 record against NCCAA opponents.  . Johnson received both NCCAA South Region Coach of the Year and NCCAA National Coach of the Year honors Prior to his time in the coaching ranks, Johnson played professional baseball for ten years, six of those years with four major league teams. He was drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Texas Rangers in the 1995 amateur draft. After making his major league debut with the Texas Rangers he also played in the majors for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.    Johnson attended Florida State University as a pitcher, where he was the Atlantic Coast Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Year, a Freshman All-American, two-time Baseball America All-American, two-time All-ACC selection, voted the 1995 ACC tournament MVP, and voted Florida's 1995 Amateur Player of the Year. He represented the United States playing for Team USA in 1994. Johnson was inducted into the Florida State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.