Monday, August 1, 2016
by Montana State Billings Athletic Communications

BROOKINGS, S.D. – After six years as the head baseball coach at Montana State University Billings, Rob Bishop has accepted the head baseball coaching position at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University in an announcement made Monday.
 
“While we are disappointed to see Rob go, we are grateful to have had him as a colleague for the past six years at MSUB,” commented Yellowjacket athletic director Krista Montague. “Rob’s success in leading our baseball team to consecutive conference titles speaks for itself, and we are excited for him in taking a step to another quality program.”
 
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been the Yellowjackets’ head coach for the past six years,” said Bishop. “I have been fortunate to have great players and great assistant coaches to help build the program into a consistent contender in the GNAC. I want to thank (former MSUB A.D.) Gary Gray for giving me this opportunity, and Krista Montague for being a terrific mentor and friend.”
 
The 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Bishop led the Yellowjackets to back-to-back regular-season conference titles in 2015 and 2016 – a two-year period in which the team went 57-43 overall and 45-25 in league play. MSUB’s 27-23 finish in 2015 marked the first winning year since the program was restored prior to the 2006 season, and the ‘Jackets bettered the mark with their first-ever 30-win season in 2016 (30-20).
 
In 2015, after winning the GNAC regular-season title outright, the Yellowjackets hosted the conference tournament at Dehler Park in Billings for the first time ever. It was the second of three conference tournament appearances for the ‘Jackets in the last four seasons overall.
 
Under Bishop’s guidance, 2015 graduate Brody Miller became the first All-American in program history, and just the second-ever athlete from MSUB to earn GNAC Athlete of the Year honors as the top athlete in any sport in the league. Overall he coached 39 all-conference selections, and two first-team all-region picks in Miller and 2016 senior Luke Reinschmidt.
 
In addition to their success on the field, the Yellowjackets displayed consistent excellence in the classroom during Bishop’s tenure at MSUB. For three consecutive years the baseball team was the academic champion in the GNAC, and 29 players earned academic all-conference honors under Coach Bishop.
 
“The people at MSUB are what makes this department a good place to work,” said Bishop. “The program is in great shape on and off the field, and I believe the future will be a bright one for Yellowjacket Baseball.”
 
Bishop held a cumulative record of 135-153-1 during his time leading the Yellowjackets, a position which he took over prior to the 2011 season after a decade coaching at Miles Community College. During his time with the Pioneers, Bishop accumulated a record of 414-169, and holds a career coaching record of 549-322-1 (.630). Bishop also served as MCC’s athletic director for five seasons.
 
Beginning his coaching career at Huron University in 1999, Bishop held the head coaching reins for one season before moving to MCC. He was also a graduate assistant coach at his new university, SDSU, from 1997-99 while earning a master’s degree in sports pedagogy with a teaching emphasis.
 
Bishop will assume his position in charge of the Jackrabbits in August, and MSUB will begin the search for his successor in the coming weeks. “We are confident Rob’s legacy of building a championship program will live on here for years to come,” said Montague. “I wish nothing but the best for him and his wife Janelle, and his children Anna and Andrew.”