Michael Coker, the founder and executive director of Black College Championships LLC, passed away on April 22, 2025, after a long battle with pancreatic and prostate cancer at the age of 65.
Michael Coker had a successful career with a long list of coveted positions. He was the founder of the Black College Championships LLC and the Black College World Series.
He also worked as a key reporter for the Black College Nines website. To say the least, his love for baseball, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), inspired many.
Michael Coker spent a significant part of his life, i.e., over 20 years, promoting HBCU baseball and supporting diversity in the sport.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Michael Coker’s baseball career began as a first baseman at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, where he played under coach Jeffrey Lee Jr.
After attending Oakton College and Wilberforce University, Coker graduated from Edward Waters University.
Then, he earned a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and worked as a legal expert while staying active in baseball.
Later, Coker pursued his graduate work at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.
Michael graduated with bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration, and construction management and a juris doctor (JD) in Law.
Michael Coker Created the Black College World Series To Promote HBCU Baseball!
In 2011, Coker envisioned a platform to showcase HBCU baseball talent and came up with the idea for the Black College World Series.
Later, the first tournament happened in 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama, and it has since crowned champions like Bluefield State, Edward Waters, and Florida Memorial University.
The event became a cornerstone of HBCU baseball, with Bluefield State (2021, 2024), Edward Waters (2022), and Florida Memorial University (2023) claiming championships.
The event series provided student-athletes opportunities to extend their careers and gain national exposure, fulfilling Coker’s objective of promoting HBCU programs on the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels.
Coker’s influence extended far beyond the Black College World Series. Michael Coker also served on the board of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and helped choose top teams for national polls.
He was part of the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame and advised HBCU schools on hiring baseball coaches.
He contributed to Top 25 national voting for the NCBWA and Black College Nines’ Top 10 HBCU polls, advised athletic departments on coaching hires, and facilitated intersectional games for HBCU schools.
Coker was an active board member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and a promoter of HCBY and all college baseball programs nationally.
Previously, he was a special assistant to the executive director of the NCBWA before gaining a place on the board of directors.
At the moment, details about a celebration of his life have yet to be published. During this difficult time, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Coker’s family.
Rest in peace, Michael Coker!
