Joel Mangrum concluded his second year as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator in 2016. Mangrum began his work with the program in August of 2014.
Mangrum helped guide the Aggies to the best win improvement in the country during the 2016 season. After compiling a record of 11-38-1 in 2015, Mangrum and the Aggies finished 2016 with a record of 34-23. Among the 34 wins was an early March road upset of nationally ranked and eventual College World Series participant, Texas Tech.
In the offseason leading up to the 2016 campaign, Mangrum and the staff were recognized for having the 37th best recruiting class in the country, as rated by Baseball America. The recruiting class included a pair of 2016 MLB draft picks (Joe Galindo - 13th round/Tyler Erwin - 23rd round). Both of the draft picks were only juniors and had just concluded their first year with the Aggies.
Mangrum coached five players from the 2016 roster that earned all-conference honors at the conclusion of the regular season, including Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Daniel Johnson. He also helped engineer a near 3-run improvement in team ERA from 2015 to 2016. NM State compiled a 4.61 team ERA in 2016, which was the second best in program history. Individually, closer Joe Galindo's ERA of 2.48 was the best by an Aggie since 1972.
At the conclusion of the 2016 season, pitcher Kyle Bradish became the first ever Aggie hurler to earn Freshman All-American honors. Bradish finished the 2016 season with the most strikeouts by a Freshman in program history.
Mangrum mentored three players that were drafted in the June 2016 MLB draft, including two pitchers on his staff. Aggie outfielder Daniel Johnson was the first player drafted, going fifth round to the Washington Nationals, becoming the second highest draft pick in school history.
Junior Joe Galindo was the first NM State pitcher taken in the 2016 MLB draft when he was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 13th round. Meanwhile, Junior Tyler Erwin was picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 23rd round.
2016 marked the first time since 2009 that at least three Aggies were drafted in the same year.
After a breakout junior season, Erwin finished his 2016 campaign ranked 14th in the nation in appearances (33) and led the WAC in this category. His 33 appearances also tied the school record.
Mangrum, a native of Brandon, Miss., joined the NM State coaching staff after spending the five seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Austin Peay. Mangrum played a part in the most successful era of Austin Peay Baseball history including a three-year dominance of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), three straight regional appearances, and two regional final appearances. During that time the Governor’s pitching staff ranked among the league’s top four in ERA for three seasons, also ranking first or second in strikeouts each of those campaigns.
While at Austin Peay, Mangrum mentored closer Tyler Rogers, the 2013 OVC Pitcher of the Year. Rogers shined as the star closer for the Governors with a submarine delivery, setting the NCAA Division I record for saves for a period of time before UCLA closer David Berg reset the record in the 2013 College World Series. Rogers also shattered the school and conference saves record and was a Finalist for Pitcher and Stopper of the Year in 2013.
While Rogers was a highlight of the 2013 season, the pitching staff under Mangrum’s guidance combined to throw a program-record 466 strikeouts, the third straight season a Govs pitching staff broke the record. Additionally, the Govs pitchers combined for a 4.41 ERA – the 11th best team ERA since 1970 and a marked improvement from the team’s 6.68 ERA in Mangrum’s first season.
Mangrum’s 2012 pitching staff reached new heights, recording all-time highs for the program in innings pitched (581.1), while tying the program record for saves (14) and notching a then-record 433 strikeouts. The Governors’ pitching staff shined during post season play, posting four shutouts in nine contests. Back-to-back shutouts of Eastern Illinois helped to clinch the 2012 OVC Tournament title and catapulted the Governors into the NCAA Tournament where they again posted back-to-back shutouts (Indiana State and Cal State Fullerton) to help the team reach its first-ever NCAA Regional final.
The Governors pitching staff enjoyed a record-breaking season in 2011, posting 431 strikeouts, the first 400-strikeout campaign in program history. Austin Peay’s 7.86 strikeouts per nine innings rate was 28th among all Division I programs that season and the third-best rate in program history.
That 2011 campaign began the previous year when Mangrum coordinated an effort that brought 17 newcomers to Austin Peay, the Governors’ largest recruiting class since 2003.
In Mangrum’s first season at Austin Peay, the Governor’s recorded 28 wins during the 2010 season the 16th-best single-season total since 1970. In addition, Governors pitchers struck out 320 batters, the 18th-best mark in program history.
As the Govs pitching coach, Mangrum mentored two OVC Pitchers of the Year, eight All-Conference pitchers, two All-Americans, one Freshmen All-American, four OVC all-tournament picks, an OVC Tournament MVP, and an NCAA Tournament All-Region selection. From 2011 to 2013, Austin Peay recorded 400-plus strikeouts a season, the only three such seasons in program history.
As the Governor’s recruiting coordinator at Austin Peay, Mangrum coordinated the recruitment of multiple players that won an OVC Pitcher of the Year honor, a Player of the Year honor, a Freshman of the Year honor, fourteen All-OVC awards, seven Freshmen All-Americans, and five All-America accolades.
In his time as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, Mangrum has coached or recruited 44 players who have gone on to the professional ranks, including 10 pitchers in the past five seasons.
Prior to joining the Governor’s, Mangrum served as a part time scout with the San Diego Padres, helping scout the state of Tennessee and assisting in coverage of the rookie-level Appalachian League alongside Ash Lawson, current special Assistant to the General Manager of the New York Mets .
Mangrum spent three seasons at Milligan College, from 2007-09, where he was the program’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. During his tenure with the Buffaloes, the pitching staff’s earned-run average was ranked among the NAIA’s top 20 nationally each season, led the nation in 2007, posting a 2.64 ERA and ranking fourth in 2009. Mangrum also worked with three all-conference pitchers and had a pitcher lead all of NAIA in earned run average in two of his three seasons.
Following graduation, Mangrum returned to Hinds Community College to begin his coaching career. In his only season, he assisted with the instruction of outfielders, hitters, and recruiting.
Mangrum graduated from Mississippi College in 2005 with a B.S. degree in Exercise Science and played two seasons for the Choctaw Program, where he was an all-conference honorable mention selection in 2005. Prior to that he was a pitcher and infielder at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., where he was an All-Region 23 selection.
Mangrum graduated from Northwest Rankin High School in 2001. He and his wife, Andrea (formerly Roberts) and their daughter, Harlee Jordyn, currently reside in Las Cruces.
