Career Record: 80-84 (22-40 SoCon) - Three Seasons
VMI Baseball alumni and former standout Sam Roberts was hired in August 2022 to be the program's 21st head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the previous five seasons.
For the third straight season, Roberts led his squad to 25 or more wins, the first time in 17 seasons. With a 27-26 record, the Keydets earned a winning record for the first time since 2014, with 27 victories being the fifth-most in franchise history. VMI's path was a roller coaster, starting the season 7-0, and would improve to 11-1 for the best start since 2010. The Runnin' Roos earned a three-peat title in stolen bases with 209, shattering the program's previous record, and would go on to lead the SoCon in six statistical categories and break six program single-season records. Roberts propelled four All-SoCon honorees, two preseason All-SoCon players, and two conference weekly award winners.
In his second season, Roberts eclipsed the 50 win mark to become the fastest head coach to reach 50 wins in program history. Roberts led the Keydets to 27 wins, the fifth-most in VMI history, and defended their stolen base title, ranking number one in the nation in stolen bases per game (3.18) and stolen bases (178). VMI broke multiple single-season records including on-base percentage (.410) and walks (287).
Following the team’s success in his first year, Roberts earned VMI’s Distinguished Coaching Award. VMI finished the season fifth in the nation with a .322 batting average, tied for 44th in hits and tied for 49th in runs. The Keydets ranked 16th in slugging percentage (.529) and 25th in on base percentage (.409). VMI's SoCon winning percentage was the best for the team since 2018 and 26 total wins ties the 2018 squad. VMI tied the school record for the seventh-most wins in a single season in school history. The Keydets had 192 stolen bases to lead NCAA Division I, 26 ahead of the second-place team. VMI broke the Division I record for most stolen bases in an inning with nine in the second frame against Norfolk State University on March 19, breaking a mark that had been on the books since the 1993 season.The Keydets stole 14 bags total in that contest against NSU to snap the school record for stolen bases in a game.
During the 2018 year, Roberts served as the team's pitching coach, working with a staff that included junior Josh Winder, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Twins. Winder's selection made him the third-highest selection in program history, and only the fourth player selected in the first 10 rounds. Roberts also mentored Matt Eagle, who posted the third-most saves in a single season in VMI history and went on to sign a free agent contact with the Los Angeles Angels. In 2019, junior Zak Kent was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round after setting the program record for strikeouts in a single season and the team finished seventh in the SoCon regular season after being picked ninth in a poll of the league's coaches.
Roberts had spent the 2017 season as a volunteer assistant with the VMI program after retiring from the professional ranks following Spring Training 2016.
Roberts, once VMI's all-time hits leader until 2024, ranks in the program's top-three in nine career categories, and leads in at-bats and walks. He was also a regular on the mound, both in starting and relief roles.
He was a first-team All-Big South honoree at shortstop in 2011 after hitting .347 with 46 runs and 37 RBI with four saves on the hill. In his junior season, Roberts hit .336 with an on-base percentage of .448. He tied for the third-most runs scored (56) in school history and became just the second player to have at least 50 RBI and 50 runs scored in a single season. As a sophomore Roberts led VMI with a .440 on-base percentage, 53 runs and 38 walks. In his first season on Post, he was named to the All-Ping! Freshman Team after leading VMI with a .348 batting average, 14 doubles, a .431 on-base percentage and 28 walks.
Roberts was drafted by Oakland following the 2011 season and spent five seasons in the A's system, reaching high-A in the 2015 season. Following the 2013 season, Roberts transitioned full-time to the mound and spent his final two professional seasons in that role. He went 5-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 72 relief outings as a pro.
Roberts is married to the former Haley Taylor and has two children, Madison and Grady.
