Virginia State University Men's Baseball

Merrill Morgan enters his 22nd season in 2025 as Head Baseball Coach at Virginia State University. During his tenure, he has compiled more than 375 victories. He has guided VSU to four CIAA Championships, including three consecutive championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and was named CIAA Coach of the Year in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Under his leadership, the Trojans have also been runner-up in the CIAA five times. In 2024 VSU went 15-33 and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the NSAC Tournament. The Trojans landed seven players on the ALL-NSAC team. Jimmyll Williams was a standout player for the Trojans hitting .350 with a .937 OPS. Williams played in alomst every position for the Trojans and was selected to play for the Tr-City Chili Peppers. In 2023, the Trojans improved to 21-29 and appeared in the NSAC Championship Tournament. Under the guidance of Coach Morgan, the Trojans' Tahraun Hammond was named 2023 NSAC Offensive Player of the Year. Hammond, along with teammates Joseph Hastings and Jody Morris were selected to play for the Tri-City Chili Peppers of the Coastal Plain League in the summer of 2023.    In 2022, Coach Morgan and the Trojans went 18-28 and played a record-setting four games in one day to win the inaugural New South Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.                                             In 2007, Coach Morgan became the first VSU coach to lead his team to the NCAA regional tournament. During the tournament, the Trojans turned the first and only triple play in the NCAA Regionals. In 2010, Coach Morgan had his first Student-Athlete selected in the Major League Draft when outfielder John Bivens was selected in the 12th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Coach Morgan coached under Herbert Wheat for two seasons ('02 and '03) when the Trojans won the CIAA title in 2002.   Coach Morgan is an alum of Mount Olive University (1984) and Virginia Commonwealth University (1986). He earned All-Conference honors in 1984 and was a member of the NJCAA District Championship Team in 1983. In his first season with the Rams in 1985, Morgan batted .308 while manning centerfield. On November 17, 2012, Morgan was inducted into the Mount Olive University Hall of Fame. A Dinwiddie, VA native, Coach Morgan and his wife Angela have two sons, Marcus and Merrill Jr. (ML).

Andre Hawkes is embarking on his 21st season as Assistant Baseball Coach at Virginia State after originally joining the Trojans in 2004. During his tenure, VSU has won four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships, including three consecutive championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Coach Hawkes was also part of the first VSU baseball team in history to play in the NCAA Tournament. Most recently, Coach Hawkes helped the Trojans claim a 2022 New South Athletic Conference Championship Tournament title and helped them appear in the 2023 NSAC Conference Championship game. Coach Hawkes and his wife Cynthia have three children Matthew, Marquis, and Makayle.

Marcus Morgan (son of Head Baseball Coach Merrill Morgan) will be entering his 17th season as Assistant Baseball Coach for Virginia State University in 2024 after originally joining the Trojans staff in 2008. Coach Morgan is a graduate of Virginia State, having earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in sports management from VSU. Morgan was a four-year starter on the baseball team, splitting time between third base and right field. Morgan was a two-time member of the All-CIAA Tournament team, an All-CIAA rookie selection at third base, and an All-CIAA outfielder as a senior. During his tenure here at VSU, Coach Morgan has won 3 CIAA titles (2 as a player and one as a coach). Most recently, Coach Morgan helped the Trojans claim a 2022 New South Athletic Conference Championship Tournament title and helped them appear in the 2023 NSAC Conference Championship game. Coach Morgan is from Dinwiddie, Va and Graduated from Dinwiddie High School. While at Dinwiddie, Coach Morgan played basketball, baseball, football, and ran track. Upon graduation Coach Morgan began his playing career for the Trojans in the Fall of 2004. After graduation in 2008, Coach Morgan joined his father’s staff as assistant baseball coach. Coach Morgan currently teaches Special Education in Petersburg, he has two daughters Míla (6) and Demí (3).

Coach Michael Mallory is in his first season coaching college baseball, He is  bringing a wealth of experience as a former professional athlete to the Virginia State University Baseball Team.  A distinguished graduate of Dinwiddie High School, Coach Mallory excelled as a two-sport athlete in both baseball and basketball. His outstanding talent on the baseball field led him to be drafted in the second round by the Chicago Cubs in 1999, where he played professionally until 2007. Throughout his professional career, Coach Mallory honed invaluable skills and insights, which he now shares with the next generation of athletes.  Off the field, Coach Mallory is a proud family man, married to Brecora Mallory, a Virginia State University alumna. Together, they are the proud parents of three children: Chris, Milan, and Mike Jr.