ARKADELPHIA -- Ouachita Baptist has hired Tanner Rockwell, of Heber Springs, as the new assistant coach for the Tigers baseball program, the university announced Monday.
"My goal at the beginning of this hiring process was to get the best possible fit for the vision of our university and our baseball program," said new Ouachita head baseball coach Luke Howard. "At the end of the day it was apparent that Tanner had all of the qualities that I was looking for. He is well connected in both Arkansas and Texas, which will help this program tremendously moving forward. He will be a great mentor for our guys as we push towards our mission of building quality young men."
A four-time All-State high school baseball player from Heber Springs, Rockwell started his collegiate career at Arkansas Baptist, graduating in 2013 with an associate's degree in general studies. While at Arkansas Bapitst, he earned National Junior College Atletic Association Division I All-Region Team-Gold Glove honors. He played his final two years at Arkansas-Little Rock, where he was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference player, earning his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 2015.
"I could not feel more blessed and thankful to be given this opportunity by coach Howard and Ouachita Baptist University," Rockwell said. "After talking with coach Howard the first time and hearing his vision for this program, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of."
Rockwell has been a baseball coach and instructor for the Arkansas Sticks Baseball Academy, one of the top summer programs in the state. He has also been a Prep Baseball Report regional assistant, scouting talent throughout Arkansas. Rockwell was the head baseball coach at Arkansas Baptist this past season.
"Tanner will be a great asset as a coach, but more importantly, he embraces the blue collar mentality that we will be looking for out of our staff and players," Howard noted. "I am excited for the future of Ouachita Baptist University baseball and having Tanner join our staff will help make that future even brighter."
Sports on 07/04/2018