TALLAHASSEE, Fla -- The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Department of Athletics is set to announce the hiring of Jamey Shouppe as the new head baseball coach.
Shouppe is no stranger to success at the collegiate level, spending over two decades assisting with the nationally recognized Florida State University Seminole baseball team. He emerged during a national search as one of three finalists who was ultimately chosen to lead the team.
Shouppe has a concentration in pitching, in which he has produced 10 ACC team ERA pitching titles, recruited and coached 63 professional drafted pitchers including six first round draftees, recruited and coached 26 first team All-Americans and coached in nine College World Series.
Shouppe will be the first permanent coach for the Rattler baseball
team since the departure of Willie Brown early this year. Kevin
Clethen coached the Rattler baseball squad on an interim basis this
past season.
FAMU interim Director of Athletics, Michael Smith, is eager to
get Shouppe in place and assist with rebuilding the program back
to MEAC championship-caliber status. “Baseball at FAMU has
experienced some challenging times, but the heritage of the
program is strong. From the days of coaching legend Costa Kittles
and his dominance in the SIAC, with players like Andre Dawson,
Vince Coleman and Hal McRae to those of MEAC dominance
with coaches Robert Lucas and Joe Durant and players like
Marquis Grissom and Sean Gilliam.
Pitching has been an Achilles heel of the team over the last couple of years and Coach Shouppe will give us the absolute best opportunity to address that issue. We look forward to supporting him in the rebuilding of the Rattler baseball brand,” Smith said.
Interim President Larry Robinson also welcomes the new coach.
“We look forward to Coach Shouppe establishing a winning
baseball program,” said Robinson. “We want to celebrate the
success of our students athletes on the field and in the classroom
for many seasons to come.”
The Rattlers a coming of back-to-back 40-loss seasons with single
digit wins. Both seasons, the Rattlers had solid hitting, but was
unable to contain opponents, especially when it came to the
bullpen. Shouppe’s varied experience could provide just the fix
needed to once again make baseball a contender.
Shouppe is currently a coach with USA baseball. In 2012 and
2013, he was the pitching coordinator for 18-up Summer league
baseball. Professionally, he played with the Houston Astros from
1982-1985, where he was drafted in the eighth round of the 1982
draft.
Shouppe is confident that he can build the program through mental
toughness. “I believe that I am the man to lead FAMU baseball to
a level of success that no one believes possible,” Shouppe said. He
added, “anything can happen with a plan for success. I have a plan
