Arkansas State baseball head coach Mike Silva announced the addition of former Texas State assistant coach Jerry Cervantez to the Red Wolves' staff on July 2, 2024.
Cervantez arrives in Jonesboro after spending the last six years with the Bobcats. He served as the hitting and catching coach, playing an important role in their 2019 Sun Belt Conference championship and 2022 Sun Belt West Division title.
Texas State established a new team record for home runs in 2022 (87) and nearly matched that mark the next season (83). Cervantez helped lead the program to its first regional finals in school history and guided Dalton Shuffield to All-American and Sun Belt Player of the Year honors.
"I am excited to be joining Coach Silva's staff at Arkansas State," said Coach Cervantez. "Mike is one of the best in the business and I'm honored he has put his trust in me. I look forward to embracing the culture as we compete for Sun Belt Championships and prepare our student-athletes for excellence in life."
Cervantez worked as an assistant coach at Clarendon College from 2013-2015, overseeing hitting and recruiting along with strength and conditioning. He became the pitching and catching coach at Western Texas College ahead of the 2016 season, leading the conference in earned run average during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
"We are pleased to have Jerry join our staff for the upcoming season," Silva said. "He has worked and grinded through all levels of college baseball over the years and is very deserving of this opportunity. Our players are going to benefit daily from his attention to detail and passion for player development!"
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 in NJCAA for 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."
