MOBILE, Ala. - University of Mobile Athletic Director Sally Shouppe officially announced that Kyle Friday has been named the next head coach of the University of Mobile Baseball program following the 2024 season, removing the interim tag in the process. The announcement was made official on Monday, July 1.
Friday, a former player and graduate of the University of Mobile, concluded his first season as interim head coach of the University of Mobile Baseball program following the 2024 campaign, where he led the team to a 19-21 overall record. The 2024 season was Friday's third year coaching at UM overall after holding the assistant coach role the two seasons prior. He was named the 2023 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the Small College Division after helping guide the Rams to the program's first-ever SSAC Championship title during the 2023 season.
Friday is a native of Orrville, Ala. and played two seasons of baseball at the University of Mobile during the 2018 and 2019 seasons prior to starting his coaching career. Before his time Mobile, Friday played two seasons at Wallace Selma Community College.
During his playing career with the Rams, Friday was a weekend starting pitcher for the Rams while also being tabbed as the designated hitter in games he did not pitch. In 2018, Friday was named to the SSAC Second-Team All-Conference team, hitting .358 on the year. In 2019, Friday hit .345 and was once again named to the SSAC Second-Team All-Conference team. Additionally, he earned a conference gold glove award for the pitching position and was named to the SSAC All-Academic team both seasons.
"From playing on the field to now coaching, I am excited and honored to take on this role," said Friday after Monday's official announcement. "We've got a lot of talent here and I am looking forward to watching these guys put in the work and continue the winning tradition of UM Baseball, as well as watching them grow spiritually off the field." During his first season leading the program, Friday picked up notable wins across the season, including winning a series against ranked rivals William Carey at Jacobs Field and splitting a doubleheader with a top-10 team in Faulkner. "I'd like to thank the athletic department for trusting a young guy to lead this program and all the support I've had so far," he stated. "I'm excited for this next season. Go Rams!"
"Kyle has done a tremendous job leading our baseball program at the University of Mobile in the few months he has held the title," said athletic director Sally Shouppe. "I have complete confidence that he will continue to do a fantastic job in leading these young men on and off the field and look forward to seeing where this program goes under his leadership."
Friday graduated from the University of Mobile in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. He spent two seasons as the graduate assistant for UM Baseball and received a Master's Degree in Physical Education from the University of West Alabama. He married Morgan Cleveland, a UM Alumna, in March of 2021 and the two are expecting their first child together in 2024.
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
