Arkansas State baseball head coach Mike Silva announced the addition of former Miami Marlins area scout Chris Joblin to the Red Wolves’ staff on July 1, 2024. Joblin serves as the hitting coach, infielders coach, and recruiting coordinator for the Red Wolves.
In his first season on Silva’s staff in 2025, Joblin helped guide Arkansas State to one of the most significant turnarounds in recent program history. The Red Wolves posted 26 victories, their most since 2019, and returned to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the first time since 2021 after being picked last in the league’s preseason poll. A-State finished the regular season with its best Sun Belt winning percentage since 2014, earned the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament, doubled its league win total from the previous season and improved its NCAA RPI by 74 spots.
Working with the Red Wolves’ offense and infielders, Joblin played a key role in Arkansas State making notable gains in several offensive categories, including batting average, hits, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage, while also defeating multiple nationally ranked opponents and winning its most conference series since 2017.
Joblin came to Arkansas State after spending six seasons as an area scout with the Miami Marlins, covering the South Texas and South Louisiana regions. During his time with the organization, he served as the signing scout for six Major League Baseball Draft selections, highlighted by Jacob Berry, a third baseman from LSU who was selected sixth overall in the 2022 MLB Draft and currently plays for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Prior to his professional baseball experience, Joblin served as the head coach at Galveston College from 2013-18, compiling a 199-148 overall record, winning a conference championship in 2014 and guiding the Whitecaps to six consecutive NJCAA Region XIV Tournament appearances.
Joblin produced an NJCAA All-American in four consecutive seasons and sent 11 players to the professional level, including two — Gerardo Reyes and Gabe Klobosits — who reached the major leagues.
“My wife, Teena, our children, Jett and Cooper, and I are extremely excited to be here in Jonesboro,” said Joblin. “My family and I would like to thank Jeff Purinton, Mike Silva, and the entire athletics administration for their excitement, support and encouraging welcome to Arkansas State University. I am thankful for the opportunity to help lead Arkansas State baseball into a new and exciting chapter!”
He began his coaching career as an assistant at New Mexico Junior College in 2010 and took the same position at Clarendon College one year later. He was elevated to head coach ahead of the 2012 campaign before departing after one season. The Bulldogs ranked inside the top 10 nationally in the NJCAA in team batting average and appeared in the Region V Tournament in both seasons.
“I am excited to have Chris and his family join our staff for the upcoming season,” Silva said. “We worked together in the past and I have been waiting a long time to find a way to work with him again. We are fortunate to bring him in from the Marlins, and I know his professional experience will help take our program to new heights.”
