On June 11, Director of Athletics John Hartwell announced that Ford Pemberton was named the 13th head baseball coach at ULM. Pemberton is a highly respected coach, having served as an assistant coach at Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana and Memphis. Pemberton is also a Louisiana native from Bossier City, attending Haughton High School.
“My family and I are extremely excited about joining the University of Louisiana Monroe and its baseball program,” Pemberton said. “I am grateful to Castille and John Hartwell for this opportunity. We look forward to building and working with a staff in putting together a championship club and aim to play a brand of baseball that Northeast Louisiana, the city of Monroe, the university, fans, and alumni will all be proud of.”
Pemberton comes to Monroe after spending two seasons at Memphis as the team’s hitting coach, where he led the Tigers to a ranking in the top five in the AAC for extra-base hits. Pemberton also led the Tigers’ infield to turn 49 double plays, ranking them in the top 20 nationally. Under Pemberton’s leadership, the Tigers hit the fifth most home runs in school history, drew the third most walks in school history, and set many single-game records.
Prior to his time at Memphis, Pemberton was at Southeastern Louisiana, serving as their hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. During that time, Pemberton generated the number two ranked JUCO recruiting class in the nation, showing his ability to bring talent to whatever program he joins. In the 2022 season, Pemberton led the Lions to set 14 Southland Conference Tournament hitting records. He was also leading them to hitting marks that the school had not touched in over a decade.
“I am thrilled for Ford and his family. ULM couldn’t have made a better hire,” Matt Riser, the Memphis head baseball coach, said. “This is a dream opportunity for [Pemberton], and I have no doubt he’ll do an exceptional job. [Pemberton] was my right-hand man for years and played a vital role in building a championship program. He has a sharp baseball mind, unmatched work ethic and an unshakable will to win. His relentless drive will serve him well, and he will lead Warhawk baseball to new heights.”
Pemberton has shown his ability to recruit and produce talent at any program he is in, and many people believe he will do the same at ULM. He will bring a winning culture to Monroe and be a great addition to the community.
