Travis Graves, who joined the Delta State University baseball staff on August 1, 2017, enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Statesmen.
Graves comes to the Delta after six successful seasons (2012-2017) as associate coach and instructor at Eastfield College. During his tenure at EC, Graves coached 20 All-Metro Athletic Conference and 11 NJCAA All-Americans along with one MAC Player of the Year and two MAC Pitchers of the Year. The Harvesters won four Metro Athletic Conference and four NJCAA Region championships, including the 2011 NJCAA Division III National title with a 40-12 record.
From 2014-2015 the Harvesters were at the top of the NJCAA Division II in several statistical categories. In 2016, Eastfield finished 39-14 and led the nation in batting average, runs scored, total bases, strikeouts and ERA. The Harvesters were 35-10 and led the country in batting average, home runs, total bases, runs scored and on base percentage in 2015 and posted a 41-14 record while leading the NJCAA in batting average, total bases, runs scored and on base percentage.
Graves has also coached in the Coastal Plains Summer League since 2015. Serving as assistant coach with the Martinsville Mustangs (Hitting Coach, 2015) and Savannah Bananas (Pitching Coach, 2016) before serving as Head Coach for the Florence Red Wolves in 2017.
The John Horton High School product originally signed with Delta State before transferring to play for coach Michael Martin at Eastfield College from 2007-2008. He was selected as MAC All-Conference twice and was an NJCAA All-American, the Easton Defensive Player of the Year and the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winner in 2008. He was selected to play in the Texas/New Mexico Junior College All-Star game after hitting. 340 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 2007. Graves led the Harvesters in average (.393), doubles (16), home runs (16), and RBIs (79) as a sophomore in 2008.
Graves played for Coach Corky Palmer, where he was a Johnny Bench finalist during his two seasons (2009-2010) at the University of Southern Mississippi. Graves emerged as the starting catcher in his first season, helping the Golden Eagles win the Georgia Tech Regional and the Gainesville (Fla.) Super Region en route to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Graves hit .254 with four doubles, a triple and two home runs while throwing out 21-of-49 (41 percent) would be base stealers, committed only four errors (316 chances) and caught 366 of 571 innings in 2009. Graves started 53 games (55 GP) his senior year, hitting .293 with nine doubles, four home runs and 34 RBIs while helping the Golden Eagles with C-USA title.
The Mesquite, Texas, native was an All-District and Team MVP for Coach Darren Lackey at John Horton High School as a senior. Graves hit .310 or better with 29 doubles and 93 RBIs during his prep career.
Graves earned a Master’s degree in sports administration in 2012 and a Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a minor in history in 2010 from Southern Miss.
Graves married the former Courtney Sears on January 15, 2017. The couple are expecting a little boy on Oct. 31, 2017. Graves dad, Larry, played collegiate baseball for Dallas Baptist University from 1972-75.
