Augusta, GA- Melvin Le’Kerby Marshall (Kerby) joins the Paine College baseball staff as head coach, Director of Athletics, Tim Duncan announced. Marshall comes to the program from Edward Waters College, in Jacksonville, FL where he was head coach for six years.
“We are excited to add a proven winner to lead the Paine College baseball program”, stated Director of Athletics, Tim Duncan. “Coach Marshall has a demonstrated track record of success and that was one of several factors that led to the decision to hire him as the leader of the Paine College baseball program. “During the interview process, he impressed the committee with his preparedness, his vision for the program and his passion for the academic success of the young men he coaches. We are fortunate to add a coach of his caliber to Paine College.”
“I am truly honored and excited to be a part of the Paine College family as the new head baseball coach,” states Marshall. “It is my goal to continue to build upon and strengthen the foundation of academic excellence, athletics, and community service already in place here.”
During his tenure at Edward Waters, from 2005-2011, Coach Marshall led his team to four consecutive 20 plus win seasons, two 35 plus win seasons and a trip to the NAIA championships in 2011. Last season, Marshall’s team finished the season with a 37-24 overall record and recorded the first postseason trip in the history of Edward Waters College Baseball. Coach Marshall was named NAIA unaffiliated conference Coach of the Year, and received the number one ranking in Black College for NAIA and Division II baseball. Also under his tutelage at Edward Waters College, Coach Marshall helped produce the school’s first player selected for the Major League Draft (Charles Thomas/Chicago Cubs-2009). In 2008, Coach Marshall’s team set the school record of 35 wins and received their first national ranking in NAIA Top 25 poll. Coach Marshall has also spent time working as an assistant area scout for the Florida Marlins.
The Jacksonville, FL native is a graduate of Englewood High School, where he was a three-sport letterman, and received a double scholarship to play basketball and baseball at Shaw University, in Raleigh, NC, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in 1992. As a student athlete, Marshall earned baseball MVP honors in his junior and senior seasons, and was also named to the All-CIAA conference honorable mention team.
Coach Marshall’s coaching career began at Ribault Middle School, where he coached baseball and basketball for a year, and then moved to the high school level, where he coached baseball from 1998-2005. While at Ribault, he was instrumental in teaching the game of baseball to inner city youth, who were not exposed to the sport. He coached his middle school basketball team to a 12-0 record championship, and his baseball team finished the season with a 13-2 overall record. Once coach Marshall transitioned to high school, several of his players received baseball scholarships to Alcorn State University, Shaw University, and Lake City Community College.
“We are extremely fortunate to retain the services of Assistant Coach Kenny Bellamy. Coach Bellamy did an outstanding job as interim head coach. We think with the addition of Coach Marshall and the retention of Coach Bellamy, Paine College has the finest baseball staff in the SIAC and we look forward to competing for championships in the near future”, states Duncan.
“Our goal will be to produce a team and individuals who are competing at the highest level.” Marshall states. “I want to express my gratitude to Edward Waters College for giving me the opportunity to become a head coach and to Paine College for the opportunity to take the reins of this program and guide them in the future.”
Coach Marshall will officially begin August 1.