ULM Names Ford Pemberton as New Head Baseball Coach

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College baseball players practicing under the sun at ULM.

News Summary

The University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) has appointed Ford Pemberton as its new head baseball coach after Michael Federico’s departure. Pemberton, who has a strong coaching background, aims to revitalize the program following a challenging season. He previously served as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Memphis, leading the team to a record offensive season in 2024. ULM seeks improvement in its Sun Belt Conference standing under Pemberton’s leadership, marking his first head coaching position at the Division I level.

Monroe, Louisiana – Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) has appointed Ford Pemberton as its new head baseball coach, following the departure of Michael Federico, who held the position for eight seasons. Pemberton steps in at ULM with a strong coaching background and aims to reinvigorate the team after Federico’s tenure, which ended with a 23-33 record in 2025 and a disappointing 8-22 mark in Sun Belt Conference play.

Pemberton arrives at ULM after serving as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Memphis for the past two years. During his time at Memphis, he demonstrated significant success, particularly in 2024, when he contributed to one of the team’s most productive offensive seasons in history. The Memphis Tigers finished that year with 68 home runs, ranking fifth in the program’s history, and secured second place in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) with 284 walks. The team also led the AAC with 89 stolen bases and ranked among the national top 15 for double plays turned.

However, the offensive output saw a decline in 2025, as Memphis posted a .244 team batting average and recorded 57 home runs. Prior to his tenure at Memphis, Pemberton spent two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana. There, he played a pivotal role in developing an offense that achieved top 10 marks in the program’s history for doubles, triples, and home runs. His efforts contributed to Southeastern Louisiana winning the Southland Tournament in 2022 and setting or tying more than a dozen offensive records within the conference.

The 2025 season was a challenging one for ULM and led to Federico’s exit. Under his leadership, the team did not meet expectations, which ultimately prompted the university to seek new direction for its baseball program. Pemberton, a native of Bossier City, Louisiana, has strong ties to the state’s baseball recruiting scene and is expected to leverage these connections to enhance ULM’s recruiting efforts.

This transition marks Pemberton’s first head coaching position at the Division I level. His extensive background includes previous coaching roles at Nicholls State University and experience with the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association, providing him with a broad understanding of the game and the unique challenges within collegiate baseball.

As ULM transitions under Pemberton’s leadership, the baseball community will watch closely to see how he develops the program. With a fresh approach, he aims to improve the competitive edge of the Warhawks in the Sun Belt Conference.

In other news from the region, LSU baseball recently secured a spot in the College World Series after a decisive victory over West Virginia. LSU triumphed 12-5 in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional held at Alex Box Stadium, demonstrating a strong offensive display where players Steven Milam and Jake Brown each drove in four runs. The win propelled LSU to its 7th appearance in the College World Series, with the most recent championship secured in 2023. LSU is scheduled to face Arkansas in its opening game of the College World Series.

The winning pitcher for LSU in this crucial matchup was Anthony Eyanson, improving his season record to 11-2. West Virginia concluded its impressive 2025 season with a 44-16 record, showcasing its strength throughout the year.

The NCAA is anticipated to announce the schedule and game times for the College World Series on Monday, an event awaited by both fans and teams alike.