Monday, May 21, 2018
by Northwest Nazarene Athletic Communications

NAMPA, Idaho – One of the most successful coaches in Northwest Nazarene University baseball history resigned Monday.

Rocke Musgraves, who coached the Nighthawks to their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title in 2016 and their first GNAC tournament title, is resigning to pursue other opportunities.

“At 55 years of age, there may not be many more opportunities to do other things,” he said. “I have an opportunity to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m looking forward to being daddy and husband to my wife and kids, who have been so wonderful in allowing me to pursue my baseball dreams.”

Musgraves finishes his NNU career with an 121-140 record, while placing four players in Major League Baseball systems in the last five years. He was named GNAC coach of the year in 2016. The Nighthawks finished 19-31 in 2018 good for fifth place in the GNAC.

“We are so grateful for Rocke’s service to NNU over the last five years,” NNU athletic director Kelli Lindley said. “He has worked tirelessly to develop an outstanding NCAA Division II baseball program, while also building strong relationships within the community. We will miss his passion and love for the sport and his student-athletes.

“We wish Rocke and his family the very best as they begin this new chapter in their lives.”

Musgraves, who coached Louisiana State Shreveport for 14 seasons before coming to Nampa, finishes his collegiate managerial career with a record of 705-416, including three appearances in the NAIA World Series with LSU-Shreveport.

“Baseball is a wonderful game and it’s going to be tough not having it as the centerpiece of my career,” he said, “but the position I will be taking will give me somewhat of a baseball fix.”

Musgraves’ collegiate coaching career began as an assistant at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He then served as an assistant at Pima Community College (Ariz.) and at NCAA Division I Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., before taking over the reins at Shreveport.

He then came to Nampa as the 13th head coach in program history, which began play in 1947.

“I’ve been so blessed at NNU to meet some amazing people,” Musgraves said. “I cherished my time with Dr. Ed Robinson and Tiny Bellamy, my coaches and players. I can’t say enough about Kelli Lindley and Dr. Joel Pearsall; their commitment to Christian education has inspired me and given me some tools I will take with me to my next position.

“I also want to thank Dr. David Alexander and Bill Rapp for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I am really going to miss the NNU athletics staff. I’ve always felt like we had this great bond and fought for each other.”

NNU assistant coach Nate Bobrowski will serve as the interim head coach and a national search to replace Musgraves will begin immediately.