Alcorn names new Head Baseball Coach

Story from Alcorn Athletics:
LORMAN, Miss. – Former Savannah State University (SSU) baseball head coach Carlton Hardy has been named the new head coach of the storied Alcorn State University Braves program announced Interim Athletic Director Robert Raines on Thursday.

 “I am excited to announce that Coach Carlton Hardy has joined the Alcorn State University family as our new head baseball coach,” said Raines. “Coach Hardy is a veteran coach who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and has a strong record of developing and maintaining a successful baseball program.  We look forward to working with Coach Hardy to bring the baseball program back to dominance in the Southwestern Athletic Conference”.

Coach Hardy comes to “The Reservation” after 19 seasons at Savannah State. In 2024, the Tigers finished the season with an overall record of 31-17 and 21-12 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The team also was runner-up for the 2024 SIAC Baseball Championship for 2023 and 2024. In 2022, SSU earned the regular season championship for their 28-2 finish. During his tenure, he received accolades such as Coach of the Year (2013, MEAC; 2022 SIAC), MEAC Outstanding Coach of the Year (2013), and NCAA Division I College Baseball Coach of the Year (2013). Student-athletes under his direction excelled off and on the field as Hardy has coached three conference Players of the Year, three Freshmen of the Year, three Pitchers of the year, three Relief Pitchers of the Year, three free agent Major League Baseball draft picks, and seven professional players. In the classroom, his program received the Team Academic Award-Highest Male Team GPA for seven years running.

  Prior to SSU, Hardy was the head baseball coach at the University of Olivet (formerly Olivet College) in Olivet, Mich from 1999-2005. In his six seasons at Olivet, the Comets were runner up for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Baseball Championship in 2005.

 Coach Hardy spearheaded the Talladega College baseball program from its inception in 1997 to 1999. In his second year with the Tornadoes, Hardy led program to a sectional championship of the NAIA regional tournament.

  Hardy is a two-time graduate of Grambling State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in computer information system (1993) and his Master of Science in sport management (1995). Coach Hardy was drafted in 1991 as a free-agent draft by the Philadelphia Phillies after his junior year in college as a third baseman and designated hitter. He played for the Martinsville Phillies.

 “I would like to thank President Dr. Tracy Cook, Athletic Director Robert Raines, and Deputy Associate Athletic Director (Compliance) E. Dwayne Robinson for the opportunity to become the next Head Baseball Coach at Alcorn State University,” expressed Hardy. “I am excited for this opportunity to become a member of the athletic department. It is an honor to mentor and lead this program to success and multiple championships. I’m all in. Go Braves!”