Belhaven University didn’t have to go far to find its new baseball coach, hiring one of the most successful prep coaches in the area to lead the NCAA Division III program.
Patrick Robey was named the ninth head baseball coach in Blazer history on Monday. He most recently led nearby Madison Central High School, which is just 16 miles away from Belhaven in Jackson, for a decade and coached the Jaguars to three state championships.
“I’ve followed and respected Patrick’s work for years, both his track record with player development and his competitive success,” Belhaven Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Little said. “The more I’ve had the chance to get to know him personally, the more I knew I wanted to him to lead our program moving forward. Our young men will benefit greatly from his leadership and coaching both on and off the field.”
During Robey’s tenure, he won 6A state championships in 2016 and 2021. This past season, as a member of the state’s highest 7A classification, Madison Central won another state title. All three of Robey’s championships were played at Trustmark Park, which coincidentally enough, is the homefield of the Belhaven baseball team.
Robey’s success on the diamond has garnered more than local attention. His 2021 group was named the best team in the nation by Baseball America, and he was named National High School Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year that same season. He’s earned statewide coach of the year honors, as well, from both the Mississippi High School Activities Association and Mississippi Scoreboard.
Prior to his tenure at Madison Central, Robey was head coach at Lafayette County High School, where he led the Commodores to two district championships in three years. He previously was head coach for 11 seasons at South Panola High School. Other stops include being a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Delta State University, and then an assistant at East Central Community College.
No stranger to developing prep and college players into professionals, Robey has sent multiple players into the college ranks and seen them drafted into the MLB. At one time, he worked as an associate scout for the Colorado Rockies.
Robey takes over for Andrew Gipson, who was hired by Division I University of New Orleans as head coach after leading the Blazers to their best season in history. Belhaven not only made its first-ever NCAA Division III tournament but swept through regional play before falling a couple wins short of landing in the College World Series.
Robey said his first efforts as head coach will include meeting with players from last year’s roster and compiling his inaugural coaching staff.
“I’m looking forward to building relationships with our current players, securing the roster, building a staff and everything that running a quality program entails,” he said. “I am thankful for Mr. Scott Little and (BU President) Dr. Roger Parrott for the vision they have for this university and baseball program. Baseball is baseball; the relationships are what matter most. I am anxious to start helping these young men continue their athletic, spiritual, and academic journeys.”