Luke Stanley has been chosen to lead the Mississippi Delta Community College baseball program as the new head coach, as announced by MDCC President Dr. Tyrone Jackson following the conclusion of the college's monthly Board of Trustees meeting.
"I am pleased to have Luke Stanley transition from the role of assistant coach to the head coach of our baseball program," said Jackson. "I am confident that he will continue building on the momentum that coach (Dan) Rives had in place prior to the season interruption. I congratulate coach Stanley and look forward to the future."
Stanley, who spent the 2020 season as the top assistant at MDCC, will replace former head coach Dan Rives, who was recently named as the school's athletic director. His responsibilities as the top assistant included serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and outfielders/catching coach.
Both new roles for Stanley and Rives will get underway on July 1.
"I am humbled and thankful for this great opportunity," Stanley said. "Our coaching staff will work tirelessly to continue to develop this baseball program and each of our young men, both on and off the field. I can't wait to get underway and look forward to leading us in the days to come."
Stanley made a very positive impression on Rives, as the two shared the dugout for almost half of the 2020 season before the campaign came to a sudden halt due to COVID-19. He helped lead Rives and the Trojans to wins in seven of their final 10 games before the season was canceled.
"Luke demonstrated a number of outstanding characteristics for our program during the last year with us, and he has a very, very bright future ahead of him in the coaching world," Rives said. "He also provides stability and continuity in the baseball program, which will be very beneficial to our returning players and incoming recruits."
Prior to Stanley's appointment in Moorhead, he spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at nearby Delta State University, a perennial national power. His stint as a GA came after playing the 2015 and 2016 seasons for the Statesmen, where he was a middle infielder. It was here that he earned a bachelor's degree in history and is currently working on completing his master's degree in sports management.
Stanley, a native of Oxford, had a highly decorated playing career at Northeast Community College prior to coming to Delta State that saw him earn Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State first-team honors and win Gold Glove shortstop Award for Region XXIII. As a sophomore, he hit .327 with four doubles, two triples, and one home run in 43 games in 2014, as well as driving in 29 runs and scoring 22 times with two stolen bases.
He resides in Moorhead.