Rust College Men's Baseball

Coach John Bates Sr. begins his 5th season as the head baseball coach at Rust College. Bates was introduced as the Bearcats skipper on August 4, 2021, and has proven to be one of the best and most exciting head coaches in HBCU baseball. Upon assuming the position at Rust, Bates made it a top priority to bring in student athletes to the college that were ready to tackle all challenges in the classroom and on the field. In 2025 the Bearcats entered the new season in the newly formed HBCUAC Historically Black College and University Athletic Conference. They improved tremendously with 22-28 recorded increasing the win total by 6. The Bearcats increased their offense by scoring 438 runs, improving the batting average to .318, hit 27 homeruns and stole 192 bases was top 10 in the nation again. Malik Berrien entered the 100/100/100 club by stealing over 100 bases, hits, and runs batted in his career at Rust. He was also named 1st team All-Conference at outfield, Kyrent Cole was named 1st team All-Conference at second base while Jalik Demar at third base and Shemaar Stapleton at outfield received 2nd team All-Conference honors. Malik Berrien will play in the HBCU All Star Game. In 2024 the Bearcats had a subpar year going 16-33, but they scored 340 runs. Batted .280 as a team and hit 19 homeruns. They stole 175 bases which remained tops in the Nation. Going into the final GCAC Tournament they were seeded 6th. They beat 5th seed SUNO, they beat 1st seed Wiley University but fell short of the Tournament championship game as Wiley sought revenge and beat the Bearcats. Individually Jalik Demar was named 1st Team All-Conference third base, Malik Berrien was 2nd Team All-Conference outfield allow with JaShaun Franks. Pitcher William Baker played in the HBCU All Star Game In 2023 they reached new heights throughout the season. After beginning the season at a 3-12 record in February, the Bearcats fought and finished the year 25-25 increasing the win total by 8 wins. The Bearcats won the 1st ever Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship with a 14-4 record. Bates led them to their third straight Tyson Foods Black College World Series #1 Seed in the NAIA Bracket losing the NAIA Finals. During the season, Coach Bates Bearcats led the GCAC in ten offensive categories, 2nd in ERA at 6.39, 1st in Fielding Percentage and Throwing out runners. Also, Top 50 in four offensive categories, Top 10 in triples, 2nd in the Nation in Stolen Bases with 234 increasing the total by 119 from last season. While scoring 420 runs and team batting average .306. The season seen some great individual stats GCAC 1st team Catcher, Top Hitter and Conference MVP Jalin Thomas, 2nd Team DH Stone Teague, 2nd Team Relief Pitcher Xavier Campbell. GCAC All-Tournament teams, 1st Team Catcher Jalin Thomas, 1st Team First Base Khalil Robinson, DH Stone Teague, OF Malik Berrien, OF JaShaun Franks, and Relief Pitcher Jackson Bryant. Black College Nines All-Elites 1st Team Jalin Thomas and Khalil Robinson with Stone Teague was named 2nd Team. Jalin Thomas was named Honorable Mention All-American. In 2022, Bates made history by leading the Bearcats to its second straight Tyson Foods Black College World Series appearance in Montgomery, Alabama, and best record since 2003 baseball season with a 17-15-1 record. In the World Series they beat Talladega College on a walk-off base hit by Hometown Hero DAnfrenee Bonner who was also the winning pitcher. During the 2022 season through his tutelage Brytan Sampson was named Black College Small division 2nd Team Pitcher, Jalin Thomas was named 2nd Team All-Infielder, and Quincy McGraw was named 2nd Team Freshmen Player All-Black College Team. Khalil Robinson played in the HBCU All-Star Game.   Prior to becoming head coach, Bates served as volunteer assistant coach and worked as Admissions Counselor for the past 2 years. He was also a 6th grade Special Education teacher for the Holly Springs School District a year while serving as an assistant at Rust College. While serving as assistant coach he helped with field renovations, and player development. Bates assisted in the administration of baseball operations, infield instruction and coaching 3rd base.  He supervised team study hall sessions, Bi-weekly progress reports and enforced academic discipline. As a result, the team maintained high academic standards. Their Team G.P.A. was 3.0 with an 80% graduation rate and 12 players named them to the Academic Team. He helped lead Rust College to their first ever HBCU Black College World Series appearance. Under his tutelage Dreylin Holmes, was named Freshmen Player of Year by the Black College poll writers and Sieas Elliot participated in the Inaugural HBCU All-Star game.   In 2019 while coaching at Rust College, Bates was head baseball coach of the Portsmouth Yard Birds of the Tidewater Summer Collegiate League. He managed all coordinated operations efforts for the summer baseball team. Prepared players for each game; oversaw game management and maintained pitch count for players to stay healthy. Developed and implemented a unique strength and conditioning program for all players that allowed for greater power and performance. Improved the teams performance, reaching the semifinals of the Summer League Championship Tournament.   Prior to coaching at Rust College, Bates was head baseball coach at Lane College 2017-2018. As Interim coach in 2017, he made great strides in turning around the Dragon program. He led the Dragons to their best season in many years. In his first full season, he led the Dragons to their first conference tournament. His teams improved several hitting and pitching categories. Under his tutelage Chris ONeal was 2nd Team all-conference. Several of his players were named Academic All-Conference. A native of St. Louis, Mo Coach Bates graduated from Beaumont High School in 1986. He was Co-Captain of the 1986 Public High League (PHL) Championship team he led them to a record of 21-1. He received 2nd team All-League honors at First Base.  After graduating from Beaumont Coach Bates played collegiate baseball at Coahoma Junior College in Clarksdale, Miss. He was an Honorable Mention in his sophomore year at First Base. Upon graduating with an A.S. Degree in Drafting and Design in 1989, Coach Bates played at Mississippi Valley State University under the late Clothea Wilson Jr. After one year in 1990 Coach Bates joined the Mississippi National Guard and served three years before transitioning into active duty in 1993. He retired from the US Army after 24 total years of service, which included five combat tours to Iraq (3), Afghanistan (1), and Kuwait (1). His awards and decorations Meritorious Service Medal, Army Accommodation Medal (7th Award), Army Achievement Medal (6th Award), NATO Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (w/three campaign stars), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Developed Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, and US Army Recruiter Badge. Coach Bates began his high school coaching career at Sierra High School as a volunteer assistant in 2011. After a break while deployed to Afghanistan, he returned to coach at Sierra. He was assistant with the baseball team until the spring of 2014 when he took over the baseball program. During his tenure he was responsible for six players achieving off-season honors. He also took over the softball program in fall of 2014. He has also coached internationally in Belgium while stationed there. He served for many years as a volunteer coach in several youth leagues. Bates also coached in the Special Olympics where his softball teams won Gold Medals. He received his B.S. Degree in Education through Liberty University. He has a B.A. In Theology through University of Minnesota Graduate School of Theology. He is Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle leader at Rust College. He is a member of American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Coach Bates is an Ordained Deacon at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist in Jackson, Tn. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He is a father of two adult children JeNel and son John Jr. He has six Grandsons Aiden, Ashton, Josiah, Tobias, Lorenzo, and Julius. Coach Bates currently resides in the Holly Springs, Miss Area.