Stillman College names Rashad Webster as Head Baseball Coach

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Stillman College Athletics Director Terrance Whittle announced Rashad Webster as the newest Stillman baseball head coach at a press conference Thursday, May 8 in the Wynn Center's Tuscaloosa Room.

Webster, who has served as Stillman's associate head coach, will now fully take over the program from Whittle, who has served eight years as the Tigers' baseball head coach, including the last four seasons as AD and head coach.

"I am pleased to announce Rashad Webster's appointment as head baseball coach. I have watched his growth and maturity as a coach continue to elevate each season that he has been on my staff. The shift in culture of our baseball program and the recent successes that we've achieved are in large a result of his work ethic and commitment to our student athletes," Whittle said. "It has always been my philosophy and history as a coach to make sure that a program is in a better space when I leave it than it was when I found it. I'm confident that the baseball program is in good hands with Coach Webster."

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Webster will become a college head coach at the age of 29. He graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 2017 and began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Claflin University in 2020 before coming to Stillman prior to the 2022 season. He was voted the 2023 & 2024 Assistant Coach of the Year for the Stillman College Athletics Department. 

In the last four seasons with Webster on staff, Stillman has seen the team's batting average rise from .248 to .306 and the fielding percentage grow from .910 to .970. The Tigers produced double-digit wins each season, and saw measurable successes from defeating NAIA Top 25 teams, winning the program's first Southern States Athletic Conference series in 2024 and producing the program's first conference sweep in 2025 since 2016.

"I am truly honored and humbled to accept the position as the next head baseball coach at Stillman College. This is more than just a coaching opportunity, it's a chance to build on a proud tradition and help shape the future of our student-athletes both on and off the field," Webster said. "I want to thank Dr. (Yolanda) Page, Coach Whittle, and the administration for placing their trust in me. I'm committed to upholding the values of this institution and fostering a culture of excellence, discipline, and teamwork. We're going to compete with heart, with purpose, and with pride in the name on our jerseys.

"To the players—I'm here for you. We're going to grow together, work hard, and chase greatness one pitch at a time."

Whittle's choice to step aside from being the baseball head coach comes after he and Webster coached the Tigers to their best season since 2014 with a 28-22 record and third-place finish in the HBCU Athletic Conference regular season and tournament. Earlier this year, Whittle passed 100 career wins as the Stillman College head coach, amassing 112 wins in eight seasons. He has 427 wins in his 27-year coaching career. During his tenure at Stillman, Whittle was able to coach his son, Bilal, during his tenure at Stillman, including in the HBCU Classic at the Pittsburgh Pirates' PNC Park in October 2022.

"The decision to step away from baseball and focus solely on athletics administration is fiercely tied to helping all of our sports programs to continue elevating the brand and culture of Stillman Athletics," Whittle said. "We are experiencing extraordinary heights with success across multiple sports in addition to elevating our academic expectations. My focus will be to continue to lead and work with a team of committed personnel dedicated to student achievement, national athletic recognition and servant leadership. I'm excited and encouraged about the upward trajectory of athletics and look forward to elevating the brand of Stillman to even greater heights."

Webster is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and Black Baseball Coaches Association. The son of 12-year MLB veteran Lenny Webster and Robin Webster, he grew up around Major League Baseball and has continued working with the organization with MLB Develops Tour and Major League Baseball Players Association development events. He has also worked with the Minority Baseball/Softball Prospects Association, attending the Minority Baseball/Softball Prospects HBCU All Star Games and Tours each year since 2021.

Webster and his fiancé, Kaela Robinson, are scheduled to be married this summer. 

ABOUT STILLMAN COLLEGE
Stillman College, an accredited, four-year liberal arts institution in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs and is committed to providing a transformative educational experience. A historically black college and university (HBCU) founded in 1876 by the Presbyterian Church, Stillman has a rich history of educating students from various backgrounds and promoting academic excellence. The college is dedicated to developing critical thinkers and leaders who will make significant contributions to their communities. For more information about Stillman College, visit www.stillman.edu.

About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.