Baseball Finalizes Coaching Staff With Three Additions
8/28/2026 12:29:00 PM | Baseball
MACON – The Mercer baseball team finalized its coaching staff for the upcoming 2027 season with the addition of three more staff members, head coach Craig Gibson announced on Friday afternoon.
Brent Cota steps into the role of Graduate Assistant, Jared Bees joins as the Director of Analytics and Koby Kropf serves as the team's Strength and Conditioning coach.
"I believe we hit home runs with the hiring of these three guys," Gibson said. "All three are very knowledgeable at what they do and come with extensive baseball backgrounds. With the addition of these three guys, I truly believe this may be one of our best baseball staffs we have assembled at Mercer University."
Brent Cota | Graduate Assistant
Cota is coming off a six-year playing career that he spent across three schools. Most recently, Cota was a mainstay in San Jose State's outfield, where he made 42 starts in center field. Before becoming a Spartan, Cota played three seasons at Cal Poly Pomona where he was an All-CCAA Honorable Mention in both 2023 and 2025. He also won a Gold Glove after finishing 2023 with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, 130 put outs and four outfield assists. Cota began his playing career at Mt. San Antonio College, where he was the 2022 SCC Batting Champ and an All-SCC First Teamer.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Mercer baseball program," Cota said. "I'm excited for this next chapter in my career and feel truly blessed to be part of a program with such a strong tradition and history of success. This is a special place, and I'm looking forward to learning from a great staff. I can't wait to get to work. Go Bears!"
Jared Bees | Director of Analytics
Bees is coming off a four-year playing career where he was a pitcher at Marietta College. Bees made 57 appearances as a Pioneer and maintained a career 4.98 ERA across 97.2 innings. After hanging up the spikes, Bees worked with the MLB Draft League as a video scout for Synergy Sports this past summer. Bees also has experience with Tread Athletics, where he was a Sports Science Data Intern.
"I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of Mercer Baseball and its winning tradition," Bees said. "I'm looking forward to learning from this coaching staff and doing everything I can every single day to help the team succeed on and off the field."
Koby Kropf | Strength and Conditioning
Kropf comes to Mercer after working with Clemson's football program for the past seven months. Kropf began his coaching career at USC Upstate, where he garnered a variety of experience with several different programs, including the Spartans' baseball team. Before becoming a coach, Kropf played five years of collegiate baseball with stops at USC Upstate, Winthrop and Reedley College. As a senior at USC Upstate, Kropf mashed 21 doubles and set a Division I single-season program record with 20 home runs.
"I'm grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of Mercer Baseball and work for Coach Gibson and a winning program that is built on excellence," Kropf said. "I also want to say thank you to Coach Frey for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. He is someone I look up to, and I'm thankful to have the chance to learn from his example and continue growing as a coach."
Brent Cota steps into the role of Graduate Assistant, Jared Bees joins as the Director of Analytics and Koby Kropf serves as the team's Strength and Conditioning coach.
"I believe we hit home runs with the hiring of these three guys," Gibson said. "All three are very knowledgeable at what they do and come with extensive baseball backgrounds. With the addition of these three guys, I truly believe this may be one of our best baseball staffs we have assembled at Mercer University."
Brent Cota | Graduate Assistant
Cota is coming off a six-year playing career that he spent across three schools. Most recently, Cota was a mainstay in San Jose State's outfield, where he made 42 starts in center field. Before becoming a Spartan, Cota played three seasons at Cal Poly Pomona where he was an All-CCAA Honorable Mention in both 2023 and 2025. He also won a Gold Glove after finishing 2023 with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, 130 put outs and four outfield assists. Cota began his playing career at Mt. San Antonio College, where he was the 2022 SCC Batting Champ and an All-SCC First Teamer.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Mercer baseball program," Cota said. "I'm excited for this next chapter in my career and feel truly blessed to be part of a program with such a strong tradition and history of success. This is a special place, and I'm looking forward to learning from a great staff. I can't wait to get to work. Go Bears!"
Jared Bees | Director of Analytics
Bees is coming off a four-year playing career where he was a pitcher at Marietta College. Bees made 57 appearances as a Pioneer and maintained a career 4.98 ERA across 97.2 innings. After hanging up the spikes, Bees worked with the MLB Draft League as a video scout for Synergy Sports this past summer. Bees also has experience with Tread Athletics, where he was a Sports Science Data Intern.
"I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of Mercer Baseball and its winning tradition," Bees said. "I'm looking forward to learning from this coaching staff and doing everything I can every single day to help the team succeed on and off the field."
Koby Kropf | Strength and Conditioning
Kropf comes to Mercer after working with Clemson's football program for the past seven months. Kropf began his coaching career at USC Upstate, where he garnered a variety of experience with several different programs, including the Spartans' baseball team. Before becoming a coach, Kropf played five years of collegiate baseball with stops at USC Upstate, Winthrop and Reedley College. As a senior at USC Upstate, Kropf mashed 21 doubles and set a Division I single-season program record with 20 home runs.
"I'm grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of Mercer Baseball and work for Coach Gibson and a winning program that is built on excellence," Kropf said. "I also want to say thank you to Coach Frey for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. He is someone I look up to, and I'm thankful to have the chance to learn from his example and continue growing as a coach."
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