FAMU hires Shouppe to lead baseball program

Karen Shouppe and her husband, new FAMU Head Baseball Coach Jamey Shouppe

At a press conference yesterday, the FAMU Athletics Department introduced Jamey Shouppe as the new head Rattler baseball coach. Shouppe, a pitching specialist who spent 21 years as an assistant coach at Florida State University said his decision to come back to Tallahassee wasn’t just about returning to familiar territory.

“This is not all about coming home.  This is about a Division I opportunity,” he said.

Shouppe is a prized catch for a team coming off back-to-back 44 loss seasons and single digit wins. He told reporters that he feels the benefits are mutual. 

“When you look at Al Washington, Al Davis, Andre Dawson, Hal McRae, Vince Coleman and Marquis Grissom, there needs to be more of that caliber of players coming out of this university,” Shouppe said. 

In an over-capacity crowd in the media room of the Al Lawson Center, Shouppe was greeted by well-wishers from across the city.  Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox and State Representative Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee), were all in attendance at the event.  FAMU National Alumni Association president Tommy Mitchell and Capital City Bank’s Bill Smith were also present.  Several former players, current players, friends and fans were on hand to catch a glimpse of the future of FAMU baseball.

Shouppe, currently a coach with USA Baseball, is no stranger to FAMU.  His oldest son, Jake, will graduate from in the spring with a FAMU doctor of pharmacy degree.

During his two decades as a pitching coach at Florida State, Shouppe produced 10 Atlantic Coast Conference team ERA (earned run average) pitching titles, recruited and coached 63 professionally drafted pitchers (including six first round draftees), recruited and coached 26 first team All-Americans, and coached in nine College World Series.

Shouppe will be the first permanent coach for the Rattler baseball team since the departure of Willie Brown early this year. 

“We look forward to Coach Shouppe establishing a winning baseball program,” Interim President Larry Robinson said.  “We want to celebrate the success of our students athletes on the field and in the classroom for many seasons to come.”