Bio

Coach John Bates Sr. enters his 5th season as the head baseball coach at Rust College. Bates was introduced as the Bearcats' skipper on August 4, 2021, and has since proven to be one of the most dynamic and respected head coaches in HBCU baseball. Upon assuming the role at Rust, Coach Bates made it a top priority to recruit student-athletes committed to excellence both in the classroom and on the field.

2025 Season:

In 2025, the Bearcats began play in the newly formed Historically Black College and University Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). They showed significant improvement, finishing with a 22-28 record—an increase of six wins from the previous season. The team scored 438 runs, posted a .318 batting average, hit 27 home runs, and stole 192 bases—ranking in the top 10 nationally.

Standout performances included:

• Malik Berrien: Entered the exclusive 100/100/100 club with over 100 career stolen bases, hits, RBIs, and runs scored. He was named First Team All-Conference (Outfield) and selected to play in the HBCU All-Star Game.

• Kyrent Cole: First Team All-Conference (Second Base).

• Jalik Demar (Third Base) and Shemaar Stapleton (Outfield): Second Team All-Conference.

Berrien, Cole, and Stapleton were also named to the Black College Nines Elite Honors Team for their outstanding seasons. Additionally, Coach Bates received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mississippi Association of Players for his exceptional leadership and impact on youth in the state. Rust College proudly hosted the Inaugural HBCU All-Star Game.

2024 Season:

In 2024, the Bearcats finished 16-33, a subpar record by their standards, though they showed flashes of offensive power by scoring 340 runs, hitting 19 home runs, and maintaining a .280 team batting average. Their 175 stolen bases remained among the nation's best.

In the final GCAC Tournament, the Bearcats were seeded 6th. They upset 5th-seed SUNO and top-seed Wiley University before falling to Wiley in a rematch during the semifinal round.

Notable individual honors:

• Jalik Demar: First Team All-Conference (Third Base)

• Malik Berrien and JaShaun Franks: Second Team All-Conference (Outfield)

• William Baker: Selected for the HBCU All-Star Game (Pitcher)

2023 Season:

The Bearcats reached new heights in 2023. Despite starting the season 3-12 in February, they rallied to finish with a 25-25 record—an eight-win improvement. Rust won the first-ever Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Regular Season Championship with a 14-4 conference record.

Coach Bates led the team to its third consecutive #1 NAIA seed in the Tyson Foods Black College World Series, finishing as runner-up in the NAIA bracket. The Bearcats led the GCAC in 10 offensive categories, were 2nd in team ERA (6.39), 1st in fielding percentage, and top in throwing out runners. They ranked top 50 nationally in four offensive categories and 2nd in stolen bases with 234—a 119-base increase from the previous year.

Individual honors:

• Jalin Thomas: GCAC First Team (Catcher), Conference MVP, Black College Nines First Team, Honorable Mention All-American

• Stone Teague: GCAC Second Team (DH), Black College Nines Second Team

• Xavier Campbell: GCAC Second Team (Relief Pitcher)

• Khalil Robinson, Malik Berrien, JaShaun Franks, and Jackson Bryant also earned GCAC All-Tournament honors.

2022 Season:

Coach Bates made history in 2022, leading Rust to its second consecutive Tyson Foods Black College World Series appearance and its best record since 2003, finishing 17-15-1. In the series, the Bearcats defeated Talladega College with a walk-off hit by hometown hero D’Anfrenee Bonner, who also earned the win as pitcher.

Additional accolades:

• Brytan Sampson: Black College Small Division Second Team Pitcher

• Jalin Thomas: Second Team All-Infielder

• Quincy McGraw: Second Team Freshman All-Black College Team

• Khalil Robinson: Selected for the HBCU All-Star Game

Coaching Background:

Before being named head coach, Bates served as a volunteer assistant and Admissions Counselor at Rust College for two years. He also worked as a 6th-grade Special Education teacher in the Holly Springs School District. As an assistant coach, he played a key role in field renovations, player development, and baseball operations, including coaching third base and infield instruction. He also supervised study halls, enforced academic discipline, and helped the team maintain a 3.0 GPA, with an 80% graduation rate and 12 players named to the Academic Team.

Under his leadership:

• Dreylin Holmes: Named Freshman Player of the Year by Black College Poll Writers

• Sieas Elliot: Participated in the inaugural HBCU All-Star Game

Prior Coaching Experience:

• Portsmouth Yard Birds (2019) – Head coach in the Tidewater Summer Collegiate League; led the team to the league semifinals and implemented a custom strength program.

• Lane College (2017–2018) – Head coach; turned around the program and led them to a conference tournament berth. Mentored Chris O’Neal, a Second Team All-Conference selection, and several Academic All-Conference players.

Playing & Military Background:

A St. Louis, MO native, Bates graduated from Beaumont High School in 1986, where he was co-captain of the PHL Championship team. He went on to play at Coahoma Community College, earning Honorable Mention honors, then transferred to Mississippi Valley State University. In 1990, Bates joined the Mississippi National Guard and later transitioned to active duty in 1993. He retired after 24 years of military service, including five combat tours (Iraq x3, Afghanistan, Kuwait).

His military awards include:

• Meritorious Service Medal

• Army Commendation Medal (7 awards)

• Army Achievement Medal (6 awards)

• NATO Medal

• Iraq Campaign Medal (3 campaign stars)

• Valorous Unit Award, and many more, including Air Assault Badge and Recruiter Badge

Additional Coaching & Education:

Coach Bates began coaching at Sierra High School in 2011 and returned after a deployment to Afghanistan. He became head coach of the baseball and softball programs and has coached internationally in Belgium. He’s served as a coach in multiple youth leagues and the Special Olympics, earning Gold Medals with his softball teams.

He holds a:

• B.S. in Education (Liberty University)

• B.A. in Theology (University of Minnesota Graduate School of Theology)

Personal Life:

Coach Bates serves as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle leader at Rust College and is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He is an ordained Deacon at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, and a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

He is the proud father of two adult children, Je’Nel and John Jr., and grandfather to six grandsons: Aiden, Ashton, Josiah, Tobias, Lorenzo, and Julius. He currently resides in Holly Springs, Mississippi.