Jacksonville State University Athletics

Brandon Romans begins his third season as an assistant baseball coach under Jim Case and will coach catchers outfielders and hitting, while also serving as the Gamecocks recruiting coordinator.
 
The 2014 season, more specifically the Gamecocks’ run in the OVC Tournament, will go down as one of the most memorable experiences in the program’s decorated history.  JSU became the first team in OVC history to win six-straight elimination games to win the OVC Conference Championship in Jackson, Tennessee.  After losing in the opening round to fall in the elimination bracket, JSU reeled off six straight wins – the longest winning streak of the season – to eliminate every single team in the 2014 tournament and claim the school’s fourth OVC Championship. Jax State placed five on the 2014 All-OVC squads, led by Travis Stout and Eddie-Mora-Loera being tabbed to the First Team.  Paschal Petrongolo, Andrew Bishop and Griff Gordon earned spots on the All-OVC Second Team. JSU finished the season at 36-27 overall and finished tied for second in the OVC at 18-12.
 
In 2013, the Gamecocks finished with a 32-26 overall record, and tied for third in the OVC with a 22-8 record and advanced to the OVC Championship for the tenth straight year. As a matter of fact, JSU has advanced to the six-team Tournament every year since joining the league in 2004.
 
For the first time in the school’s Division I history, the Gamecocks placed two players on the Louisville Slugger All-American Team. Sophomore relief pitcher Travis Stout set the JSU single-season record for saves in a season with 17 and also set the school’s Division I record for earned run average in a single season at 1.42. Michael Bishop also earned All-American honors after finishing the season with a .340 average. He also led the team in doubles (21), triples (4), home runs (4) and a .539 slugging percentage.
 
Additionally, junior utility player Coty Blanchard was the second player drafted in the OVC after the Rays selected him in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
 
Romans spent three seasons at UCF before he joined Jax State prior to the 2013 season. While at UCF, he worked with the outfielders and catchers and helped the Golden Knights post back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Regionals, including one of the most successful seasons in school history in 2012. He also helped UCF finish with three straight Top 20 recruiting classes.
 
In 2012, the Knights totaled 45 wins for the first time since 2004, were ranked in the national polls all season, notched a program-record 16 wins in Conference USA, recorded the nation’s best winning percentage on the road during the regular season (16-3) and had six players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
 
Romans began his coaching career in 2010 at UCF, where he coached the outfield and the catchers and the Knights’ offense ranked as one of the best in the country in 2010. Outfielders Chris Duffy (.447) and Shane Brown (.428) would become the first duo in C-USA history to hit .400 in the same season as they went on to earn spots on the All-C-USA First Team.
 
Romans’ efforts with the offense helped the 2011 Knights rank first in C-USA in runs, hits, homers, slugging, RBI and doubles. They went on to post their most successful season since 2005 by finishing with a 39-23 record. UCF returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004 as it earned a No. 2 seed for the Tallahassee Regional.
 
He coached Ronnie Richardson, Alex Friedrich, Jonathan Griffin and D.J. Hicks, who were all four were named to the C-USA All-Conference first or second teams. Richardson led the league in stolen bases, while Friendrich led the league with 21 doubles and was second on the team with a .319 average. Griffin led the team with 19 home runs, while Hicks led C-USA with 66 RBI and was named a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top college player.
 
A native of Port St. John, Fla., Romans played three seasons at UCF and earned All-C-USA honors and hit .314 for his career with 17 home runs and 77 RBI, after playing at Birmingham-Southern during his freshman season.


 
Playing Experience
High School: Cocoa High School (Florida)
College: Played four years (2006-2009, including three years at UCF (2007-2009) and one seasons at Birmingham-Southern (2005)
 
Coaching Career
2010-12 UCF – Assistant Baseball Coach
2012-current       Jacksonville State University – Assistant Baseball Coach
 
Personal
Born: August 28, 1985
College:            UCF (2009)