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Mike
Jacobs
Head Baseball Coach, University of Mobile
Over the fourteen years of his tenure, Jacobs has led the Rams to 472 wins
to just 258 losses. In the past nine years, 21 Rams have signed professional contracts.
Under Jacobs’ leadership, the Rams want to surpass their 2001 accomplishments as
they make another run at the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, ID.
Jacobs is beginning his fifthtenth year as head coach
of the University of Mobile Rams baseball program, which was established in
1990. Prior to coming to UM, Jacobs coached six successful seasons at UMS-Wright
Preparatory School in Mobile, including two years as an assistant coach and the
last four as the head coach. As the head coach of the Bulldogs, Jacobs led them
to a second-place finish in the State 3A classification in 1987 and a state
title in 1988. In 1981, Jacobs coached the Evangel Christian School squad to a
second-place finish in the Alabama Christian Athletic Conference. He began his
coaching career at Central Baptist School, where his team won a district title
in the Alabama Private School Association. As a college player, Jacobs had an
outstanding career at the University of South Alabama under Eddie Stankey. He
was a four-year letterman at USA and was the Jaguars' leading hitter in 1976.
Jacobs and his wife, Joy, are members of Cottage Hill
Baptist Church. Mrs. Jacobs is a registered nurse, a graduate of the University
of Mobile, and works for Healthsouth. In addition to his winter and summer
camps, Coach Jacobs joins forces with the University of Alabama coaching staff
every December for a clinic at Orange Beach. In addition, the experience gained
from being a director of his Sunday School class at Cottage Hill has afforded
Jacobs the opportunity to speak at several Fellowship of Christian Athletes
functions.
The Jacobs have two sons, Josh and Jeff. Josh is in his
first year of pharmacy school at Samford University and Jeff is a freshman at
the University of Mobile.
Chris Rose
Assistant Baseball Coach, University of Mobile
This is Chris Rose’s third year as
assistant coach at the University of Mobile. He will assist in all aspects of
the program including recruiting, travel, field maintenance, fundraising,
scheduling, maintaining grades with athletes, and scouting. Rose has been
instrumental in the fundraising effort that has raised over $50,000, including
chair-backed seats and a new drainage system for the field. In addition, Rose
helped form a parent committee that is committed to building two new facilities
(locker room and offices) and lights.
Born in Findlay, Ohio, Rose came to the University of
Mobile after his senior year of high school. After graduating from UM with a
communications degree, Rose served one year as a volunteer assistant coach while
working in the Admissions Office in the 1999-2000 season.
Rose was the first catcher to start for three years at
Findlay High School. In his senior year, FHS set a school record for wins and
won its first conference title, with Rose picking up All-Conference honors. Rose
walked on at the University of Mobile and earned a scholarship after his
freshman year. Rose was the starting catcher on the 1999 team that set GCAC
records for team batting average (.368, second in the nation), runs per game,
hits, and runs scored under Jacobs. Rose also started three years for the
Thomasville Travelers Semi-Pro Baseball Club and, in 1998, the Travelers won an
Alabama state title. The Travelers placed 4th, 2nd, and 3rd in the NBC World
Series in Evansville, IN.
Married for nearly five years, Chris and his wife,
Dana, have been blessed with two daughters: Peyton and the most recent addition
to the Rose team, Madeline Reece. They attend both Life Church and Saraland
First Assembly.
Jorge Hernandez
Assistant Baseball Coach, University of Mobile
Jorge Hernandez rejoins the University of Mobile
baseball coaching staff after spending the last two years at Texas A&M
University - Corpus Christi where served as an assistant coach.
Hernandez rejoins the staff for his ninth year with the Rams.
Previously, Hernandez spent time with the Atlanta Braves scouting and player
development program and was a volunteer assistant with the Mobile Bay Bears, a
Double A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
A 1986 draft pick of the Houston Astros, Hernandez was an an
all-conference shortstop at Troy State University and was a member of the 1987
NCAA Division II national championship team.
Hernandez earned his Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from Troy
State University in 1990 and his Masters in 1992.
Mike Harrell
Assistant Baseball Coach, University of Mobile
Mike Harrell was an All-Conference third baseman for
the Rams in 1994 and is now a graduate assistant coach at UM. Harrell has
a passion for baseball and for the University of Mobile that can be seen through
his tireless work ethic. After a rededication to the Lord, he decided to
give up a job in sales and get back into the game he loves. He will work
with the hitters and infielders this spring.
Harrell was a standout hitter at Bainbridge High School
where he received the Hambrick batting award in 1989. Harrell was a
successful hitter in junior college at Lurleen B. Wallace where Jacobs saw and
recruited him. Harrell was the recipient of the Jimmy Snyder award in
1995. The Snyder Award, not given every year, is given to the player who
out-works and out-produces others by a wide margin. The award is only
given in exceptional cases. After his senior year, Harrell signed an
independent contract with the Portsmouth Explorers in 1995.
After completing his degree, he acquired a job with Thomasville
High School as a teacher and assistant baseball coach. He helped lead the
team to a 7-0 record in area play and a 20-7 record overall. He is now
working on a Master's Degree to continue a coaching career in baseball.
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