Barker Named New Baseball Coach

The Gators will take the baseball field this season under new head coach Todd Barker.

Thomas Nelson Athletics Coordinator Angela Jackson announced the hiring of Todd Barker as the College's new baseball coach. He takes over for Ben Delgado, who was the interim coach last season.

Barker was born and raised in Newport News, playing baseball at Menchville High School and then-Longwood College. He was the varsity baseball coach at Warwick High School for 15 years, stepping down in 2016 to spend more time with his family. With his son now a senior in high school, he thought it was time to get back into coaching.

"Definitely. I missed it," he said.

Barker, who is in his seventh year as a health and physical education teacher at Newport News Juvenile Detention Center, was a student assistant coach at Longwood when he was finishing his degree. He also has worked at numerous college baseball camps, including William & Mary and Old Dominion University. But he has never been in charge of a college program. That's what attracted him to the position.

"Something different. A new challenge," he said.

Coincidentally, Barker coached Delgado in high school, and the two spoke about the job.

"I knew a little bit about the position," Barker said. "I wanted a program I could try to mold and build."

That building began Jan. 10, Barker's first official day on the job. The season opens with the Hampton Roads Cup on Feb. 5-7 at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton.