Staff Directory

Jacob Rand

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:

Jacob Rand joined the Mercer baseball coaching staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2026 after spending the previous five seasons in a similar position at Gaston College.

Rand was responsible for reviving a program that had not existed for 50 years at Gaston. In 2022, Rand and the Rhinos took the diamond for the first time since 1972, and their recent run was nothing short of extraordinary.

Overall Record (since 2022): 237-50
Top 25 Ranking Each Season (#1 in 2024, #2 in 2026 and #5 in 2023)
MLB Draft Picks/Signees: 5
All-Region X Players: 39
NJCAA All-Americans: 9
Region X Player of the Year: 1
Region X Defensive Player of the Year: 2
Region X Championships: 3
NJCAA East District Championships: 1
NJCAA World Series: 1 (2023 – 5th place)
NCAA Power 4 Commitments: 8
NCAA Division I Commitments: 63
NCAA Total Commitments: 78

Before moving to Dallas, North Carolina, Rand spent the first six years of his coaching career down the road at Wingate University. Rand coached the Bulldogs to a DII National Championship in 2021. During that historic season, Rand and the Bulldogs posted a 39-13 overall record (9-1 against Top 20 opponents) and went 13-2 in postseason play.