Jake Vickerson Named ABCA NJCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year
Jake Vickerson Named ABCA NJCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year
TUSCALOOSA – Shelton State assistant baseball coach Jake Vickerson was named the NJCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association today.
One of the brightest young coaches in the state of Alabama, Jake Vickerson begins his ninth season as the Bucs assistant coach. He serves as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for the Bucs. On game day, he serves as the third base coach.
Overall, the 2025 season will be his 12th with the Shelton State program. Vickerson was the Bucs starting centerfielder in 2012 and 2013. The 2012 team posted a 40-13 record and advanced to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
During his tenure as assistant coach, the Bucs have posted 265 wins, including three 40-win seasons and seven 30-win seasons. The Bucs have averaged 23.2 wins per season in ACCC play. The Bucs have advanced to the NJCAA World Series three times in the last four seasons.
Shelton State posted a 43-19 record last season and finished sixth in the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The Bucs won a school record 28 conference games and made the school's seventh trip to the NJCAA World Series.
"Jake Vickerson is one of the best hitting coaches in the country," long-time Shelton State head coach Bobby Sprowl said. "It's a well-deserved honor for him. He certainly deserves to be recognized for all his hard work. It has been fun watching him grow as a young man and as a coach. He played here and I knew he was a baseball guy and one day he would make an outstanding coach."
Under Vickerson's direction, Shelton State first-team All-American Kyle Morrison won the 2024 ACCC Batting Title with a .450 batting average. It is the second-highest mark in program history. Morrison became the second player in school history to win the ACCC Batting Title, joining Colby Smelley, who led the state with a .432 batting average in 2021.
Shelton State had one of the school's most prolific offenses in school history in 2024. The Bucs led the state in hits (637), triples (18) and total bases (938).
Shelton State ranked second in the state in batting average (.328), on-base percentage (.468), slugging percentage (.483), runs scored (502), doubles (120), home runs (49), RBI (450) and stolen bases (137),
The Bucs also led the NJCAA with 54 double plays in 2024.
Vickerson and the other 2024 honorees will be recognized on the main clinic stage at the 81st annual ABCA Convention on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
2024 ABCA/Marines Assistant Coaches of the Year
NCAA Div. I: Kevin McMullan, University of Virginia
NCAA Div. II: Alex Backhaus, University of Central Missouri
NCAA Div. III: J.D. Hulse, Birmingham-Southern College (Ala.)
NAIA: Jared Martin, University of the Cumberlands (Ky.)
NJCAA Div. I: Jake Vickerson, Shelton State Community College (Ala.)
NJCAA Div. II: Davis Kirkpatrick, Brunswick Community College (N.C.)
NJCAA Div. III: Ramon Garza, Dallas College-Eastfield (Texas)
Pacific Association Division: Vincent Kolbe, Palomar College (Calif.)
High School Div. I: Jay Powell, Jackson Preparatory School (Miss.)
High School Div. II: Louie Martinez, Jesuit High School (Fla.)
High School Div. III: John Accardo, Justin-Siena High School (Calif.)