Roberts Joins Baseball Coaching Staff as Assistant Coach

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison baseball has added Michael Roberts to its coaching staff as an assistant coach, Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry announced on Monday morning.

"Mike is the definition of a baseball guy," said Ikenberry. "He is well respected throughout the game and is a great teacher and communicator. We could not be more excited to have Mike and his family as a part of our baseball family here at JMU."

Roberts joins the Dukes after his second stint with Virginia this past season, serving as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach as the Cavaliers advanced to the Greenville, S.C. Regional. He spent 2014-18 in Charlottesville as part of his first stint, serving as Coordinator of Video and Scouting for Baseball. He prepared scouting reports for opponents and scheduled out of conference games as he helped UVA reach the postseason three times that included the 2015 national championship.

"My family and I are proud to join the baseball coaching staff at JMU," said Roberts. "I would like to thank Coach Ikenberry, President Alger, Jeff Bourne and Kevin White for their vote of confidence and trust in me to coach at such a storied and successful program. I would also like to thank Coach Brian O'Connor and his staff at UVA for their leadership, mentorship, and guidance that has prepared me for this new and exciting challenge."

In between his two stints at Virginia, he served as an assistant coach on the baseball team at Prince George High School in Prince George, Va. He helped develop ten players who went on to play collegiate baseball, including six who played at the Division I level. He also served as a Henrico County firefighter/EMT from 2019-22.

Roberts got his start in coaching as a volunteer assistant coach serving under Ikenberry at VMI from 2012-14. He worked on increasing the athletic performance of the position players and served as first base coach.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Roberts was drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in the Milwaukee organization until 2012, transitioning into a coaching role towards the end of his playing career as he served as a player-coach for the Brevard County Manatees in 2011 through extended spring training in 2012.

A team captain for the 2008 season, Roberts played three seasons under Ikenberry at VMI before being drafted. He was a student assistant coach for the Keydets from 2010-11 while he was playing pro as he received his bachelor's degree in History in 2012.

"James Madison University has such a phenomenal reputation of academic excellence and outstanding preparation of students for leadership roles in their communities and in business," Roberts added. "I look forward to being a part of this University and the Harrisonburg community and continuing that tradition and reputation."

The Dukes open up their inaugural season in the Sun Belt Conference in the 2023 season.

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