Baseball
Sikes, Graham
Graham Sikes
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- gsikes@ath.msu.edu
- Phone:
- 355-0259
Graham Sikes will be entering his 15th year as an assistant coach for the Michigan State baseball program in 2025 season. He also serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Sikes primarily works with the Spartan outfielders and assisting with hitters, while also coordinating the base running program. Sikes also is the third base coach during MSU's games.
During his tenure at MSU, the Spartans have had 32 MLB Draft selections, including a program-record eight in 2015.
In his first two seasons on the Spartan staff, Sikes played an integral role in helping the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship in 2011 and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
In his first two seasons on the Spartan staff, Sikes played an integral role in helping the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship in 2011 and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
During the 2024 season, Sikes mentored senior outfielder Jack Frank, who earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades and was named an All-American DI Right Fielder by 64Analytics. Throughout the season, Frank was named the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger of the Week Award on May 1, and followed that honor up by being named Big Ten Player of the Week on May 6. Frank also collected two MSU team awards as he was tabbed the recipient of both the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award, in addition to the Kirk Gibson Co-Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Frank led the Big Ten in B1G only games with a .439 average, as well as a .509 on-base percentage in B1G only games, ranking second in the league, as well as a .724 slugging percentage and a 1.233 in B1G only games, both also ranking second in the conference, in addition to a 1.089 OPS in all games, ranking fifth in the league. In overall games, Frank was tied for seventh in doubles (17), tying with Kark. Frank knocked 11 doubles in B1G only games, also good for second, boosted by four doubles in the final weekend series of the weekend against Nebraska.
Frank also swiped 19 stolen bases on the season, finishing fourth in the league overall.
In 2023, Sikes worked with infielder Brock Vradenburg, who led MSU at the plate, while ranking second in the B1G and 24th in the NCAA in batting average exactly a .400 average in 2023, becoming the first Spartan to hit .400 or better since 2002 and becoming the 28th member of MSU’s “.400 Club.” The Spartan first baseman was the first member of the club since 2002 when Brady Burrill (.414), Chris McCuiston (.404) and Bob Malek (.402) all hit over .400.In 2022 under Sikes' tutelage, sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb ranked among the conference leaders in hitting, finishing the regular-season ranked ninth in the league with a .356 average. Jebb also led the B1G and ranked 17th in the NCAA in toughest to strikeout - with just one K every 13.7 ABs - on just 16 Ks in 219 ABs. Additionally, Jebb was eighth in the conference with 20 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes also led the Big Ten and ranked tied for third in the NCAA with seven triples.
Jebb garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker was tabbed to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, after hitting .271 ranking tied for fifth on the team.
The 2021 season saw Sikes mentor sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker, who was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list. Walker was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with Bryce Kelley. Walker led MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and rank 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI. He also led the team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420). Walker also tied for third with total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs.
Senior Bryce Kelley led MSU and ranked sixth in the B1G with 11 stolen bases. Kelley became the new MSU career stolen base king in 2021, as he broke the record on April 11 vs. Purdue, swiping his 80th career base, passing Anthony Cheky's previous record of 79 from 2012-15. Kelley broke the record in the first inning, by stealing third. He reached on a walk, then moved to second on a groundout, before swiping third. After swiping No. 80, he was congratulated by third base coach Sikes, and presented the record setting base by a member of the MSU Facilities grounds crew in a special presentation, while the small crowd of family of the student-athletes gave Kelley a standing ovation. Kelley's record-setting moment was No. 5 on NCAA Baseball's Player of the Week. Kelley padded his record finished his Spartan career with 83 swipes.
At the plate, Kelley led the team and ranked third in the B1G with 30 walks, as well as ranking sixth in the league in walks/game (0.68). Kelley also finished third on the team in runs scored (26), fifth in hits (39) and on-base percentage (.357).
Sikes also helped Joe Stewart adapt to playing outfielder, shifting from infield. Stewart entered the 2021 season with just three total hits in 17 total games played, posting only 19 career at bats prior to this season. However, he had a torrid start to the 2021 season and swung a hot bat throughout, finishing with a .276 average, leading MSU in total extra base hits with 15 on nine doubles, one triple and five home runs, ranking second or tied for second in all three categories. Stewart was also second on the team in RBI (24), and total bases (66), as well as third in slugging percentage (.455), and fifth in both average and runs scored (21).
Stewart hit .471 (8-for-17) in the four games of the Ann Arbor pod vs. Illinois and Michigan on March 20-22, including four doubles, coming in a span of three games, with one vs. Illinois in the opener on March 20, then two in the game on March 21 vs. Illinois before another one in the nightcap vs. Michigan, one of his season-high four hits. Stewart also had a team-best five RBI, with three coming March 20 vs. Illinois, coming to bat with the bases loaded and clearing them with a three-run double. He also had a standout play in the field of the win on March 22, getting an outfield assist to end the fourth inning, firing a frozen rope to junior catcher Adam Proctor at home, and Proctor made a nice snag and tag on the UM runner for the out to end the inning and preserve MSU's 2-0 lead.
With five multi-RBI games, Stewart was second on the team, logging two games with two ribbies, two with three, and a season-high four RBI, coming at Rutgers on May 23. Stewart also had 10 multi-hit games, with five games with two hits, four contests with three hits and one game with career-high four hits. He had a season-long seven-game hitting streak (March 12-21), as well as a seven-game reached base streak over the same span. In the field, Stewart made 34 starts in center field, making 71 putouts and five assists.
In the shortened 2020 season, Sikes coached outfielder Bryce Kelley, was tabbed as recipient of the Danny Litwhiler Defensive Player of the Year MSU team award for the second-straight season. Kelley started in center field in 13 games, while starting in left in the first two games of the season. He posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, with 19 putouts and two assists, along with using his speed to cut down several hits, turning several doubles into singles. His highlight outfield assist was his throw to catcher Gabe Sotres for the tag at the plate in top of ninth for defensive walk-off vs. Western Carolina on Feb. 29, to preserve a 4-3 win. Kelley's other outfield assist came vs. Morehead State on Feb. 16 with a double play on a flyout and doubling-up the runner at second.
Kelley joined Bailey Peterson as the only Spartans to play and start in all 15 games, and one of three players to play in all 15 contests, along with Ahn. He was second on the team with a .400 average, ranking tied for fifth in the B1G and tied for 88th in the NCAA, along with ranking sixth in the conference with a .486 on-base percentage, and added a .417 slugging percentage. Kelley ranked second on the team, along with tied for fourth in the B1G and tied for 74th in the NCAA with 24 hits. He shared the team and Big Ten lead with eight stolen bases with Peterson, ranking tied for 45th in NCAA, and also ranked tied for second in the conference and tied for 44th in the country with 0.53 stolen bases/game.
He was tabbed as the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 17, for his performance in the opening weekend for his first career Big Ten Player of the Week award. Kelley hit .647 (11-of-17) for the weekend, which led the Big Ten by over .100, as well as ranking 15th in the NCAA after the first weekend of the season, leading Michigan State to a four-game sweep of Morehead State in Charleston, South Carolina at Shipyard Park, as the Spartans were the only Big Ten team to win all four of their games on the weekend. Kelley's 11 hits also led not only the Big Ten, but shared the lead for the most in the NCAA, and was three hits more than any other player in the conference. He had at least two hits in all four games played, including going 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, adding one stolen base in Michigan State's 15-3 win in the series and season-opener on Feb. 14.
Kelley led the team with the longest hitting streak of the season, getting a hit in the first 13 games of the season, before going hitless in game 14, but had a hit in the 15th game, giving him at least one hit in 14 of the 15 games of the season. He also shared the team-lead with reaching base in all 15 games, joining Peterson.
In 2019, Sikes mentored junior outfielder Bryce Kelley, who moved up to No. 2 on MSU's career stolen base list with 64 swipes, entering his senior season just 15 shy of the record of 79 stolen bases held by Anthony Cheky (2012-15). Kelley teamed with senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior outfielder Danny Gleaves to form a speedy Spartan trio that was the only the active threesome in the country to have three players on the respective school stolen base list. Kelley is No. 2 with 64 stolen bases, Bechina was No. 9 with 35 and Gleaves at No. 10 with 34.
Sikes also worked with sophomore catcher Adam Proctor, who led MSU and ranked 16th in the Big Ten with nine home runs. With nine round-trippers out of his 17 hits last season, Proctor was the only player in the country with five or more round-trippers to have half of their hits be home runs. The next closest player was Jason Hinchman of Tennessee Tech, who ha 24 home runs of his 55 hits. Over half of Proctor's hits were for extra bases, as along with his nine home runs, he had two double for 11 extra-base hits of his 17 total hits.
The 2018 Spartans established a new team school record for stolen bases, swiping an even 100 for the season, topping the 98 base swipes by the 2005 squad. MSU led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in the NCAA with 1.92 stolen bases per game, while the 100 stolen bases led the B1G and ranked 14th in the nation. Michigan State wasla also second in the B1G in stolen base attempts (128), while also ranking fourth in the league in triples (13).
Additionally, sophomore outfielder Bryce Kelley broke the MSU single-season stolen base record with 33, surpassing former teammate Brandon Hughes' previous record of 30 set a season ago. Kelley was third in the NCAA in stolen bases per game (0.66), while the 33 base swipes ranked tied for 10th in the country.
Under Sikes’ tuteledge in 2017, MSU’s offense led the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.378), while ranking second in the B1G in batting average (.290), second in slugging percentage (.440), on-base percentage (.378), doubles (113) and stolen base attempts (123), along with ranking third in stolen bases (96). The 96 stolen bases was the second-most in school history at the time. Brandon Hughes led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the NCAA with 30 stolen bases, breaking the MSU single-season record, also leading the league and ranking third in the nation with 0.63 stolen bases per game. Bryce Kelley earned Freshman All-American accolades and was on the B1G All-Freshman Team after he led MSU with a .353 batting average overall, ranking third in the B1G. Kelley ended the season on a 13-game overall hitting streak, which started a day after his previous 13-game hitting streak was halted, finishing the season with a hit in 26 of last 27 games and 29 in 31 games. Alex Troop was a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
Sikes helped tutor a Spartan offense that posted the Big Ten’s third-best batting average (.283) in 2016. For the second straight year, MSU also produced a league batting champion as Jordan Zimmerman’s .376 average in Big Ten play led all players. Ryan Krill was the 2015 Big Ten batting champ, hitting .451 in league games.
In 2015, the Spartans posted a .290 team batting average, which ranked third in the Big Ten, while MSU’s .422 slugging percentage was second best in the league. The Spartans also combined for 45 home runs, which ranked third in the conference.
Sikes helped the Spartan offense rank in the top half of the conference in several key categories in 2014, including ranking first in stolen bases with 88 - the second-highest total in program history. Individually, Anthony Cheky led the Big Ten in steals with 29, while Bliase Salter ranked third in RBIs with 50.
The Spartans ranked in the top four in the Big Ten in in 2013 in several key offensive categories, including: batting average (.281), slugging percentage (.377) and on-base percentage (.357). Spartan hitters also struck out fewer times than any other team in the league.
In 2012, Michigan State ranked in the top three in the Big Ten Conference in batting average (.297), on-base percentage (.378), runs (345), hits (645), RBIs (319), walks (228) and total bases (858). In addition, MSU finished 16th in the nation in hits and 35th in batting average. The 645 hits were the second most in a single-season in MSU history, while the 356 runs were eighth most, the 97 doubles tied for ninth most, and the 319 RBIs were 10th most in the school record books.
During Sikes’ first season in 2011, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked seventh in the nation with a .318 batting average. The Spartans also ranked among the conference’s leaders in hits (first with 639), slugging (second at .427), on-base percentage (second at .385), runs scored (second with 348), RBIs (second with 317) and doubles (second with 115). In addition, the Spartans were fourth in the Big Ten with 77 stolen bases, which also ranked seventh most in an MSU season. Spartan center fielder Brandon Eckerle, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, not only won the Big Ten batting title with his .379 average, but was also one of the top defensive players in the nation. The Spartan outfield helped MSU turn in an overall fielding percentage of .976, which was tops in the Big Ten and 24th in the nation.
Prior to arriving in East Lansing, Sikes spent three seasons (2008-10) as the volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame and has also coached at James Madison, Young Harris (Ga.) College, Nicholls State and Independence Community College (KS). Throughout his career, Sikes has coached 67 players who have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including seven who have reached the Major Leagues. Sikes coached current Major League All-Stars Charlie Blackmon at Young Harris and AJ Pollock at Notre Dame.
While at Notre Dame, Sikes primarily coached the catchers and outfielders. He also oversaw UND’s expansive baseball camp operations and helped coordinate the program’s annual Opening Night Dinner. Sikes coached 14 players who were drafted during his three seasons at Notre Dame.
In working with the Irish catchers, Sikes tutored Cameron McConnell, who threw out 26 base stealers in 2009 - the most by an Irish catcher since 1996 and seventh most in the nation. McConnell threw out 36.1 percent (26 of 72) of attempted base stealers on the season, which was the second-highest percentage for an Irish catcher since 1996, and followed that effort by throwing out 12 more runners in 2010. In addition, Sikes coached Will Harford, who was selected in the 45th round (No. 1,357 overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
An assistant at James Madison for the 2007 season, Sikes helped instruct the Dukes hitters while working directly with the catchers, the position he played at Liberty University. While at JMU, Sikes coached Kellen Kulbacki who was named 1st Team All-American in 2006 & 2007, CAA Player of the Year in 2006 & 2007 and Co-National Player of the Year (NCAA). He had been promoted to recruiting coordinator at JMU three weeks before heading to Notre Dame.
Sikes previously was the recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and catcher’s coach at Young Harris (Ga.) College in 2006, helping direct a Mountain Lions team that racked up 48 wins while being ranked eighth among the nation’s junior college teams. He coached seven players on that team who were MLB Draft picks during the 2006 season.
Sikes’ first coaching position came in the fall of 2004, when he was named the assistant coach for Independence (Kan.) Community College and worked primarily with the team’s hitters, catchers and outfielders. After the fall season at Independence, Sikes earned an assistant coaching position at Nicholls State (La.) University and went on to work with the team’s catchers while assisting with the hitters during the 2005 season. Sikes mentored Nicholls State player John Brummet as he made the transition from third base to catcher, and that position switch helped land Brummet a professional contract with the Oakland Athletics’ organization (he went on to be promoted to AAA in his first professional season).
From 2005-07, Sikes worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates as an associate Major League Baseball scout, with his coverage area including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. He also coached one season (2005) for the Florence RedWolves of the Coastal Plain League.
Sikes was a four-year letterman at Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., helping lead the Flames to a pair of Big South Conference championships and two NCAA Regional appearances. During his career as the Flames’ catcher, Sikes threw out better than 50 percent of attempted base-stealers. He started behind the plate for the team’s win over Seton Hall in the South Atlantic Regional, producing the school’s first NCAA Tournament victory in any sport.
During his senior season, Liberty finished among the nation’s top-10 leaders in nearly every offensive statistic, as the Flames hit .337 with 86 home runs, 30 triples, 151 doubles and 111 stolen bases. Twenty-four of his Liberty teammates went on to careers in professional baseball.
Sikes earned his undergraduate degree from Liberty in 2002 and went on to earn a master’s degree in health and physical education from Emporia (Kan.) State University in 2006.
Sikes and his wife Katie, have two daughters, Lucy and Lydia.
THE SIKES FILE
YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: 14 Seasons. Joined staff on July 19, 2010, from Notre Dame.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: Assistant Coach at Independence (Kan.) Community College (2004); Assistant Coach at Nicholls State (2005); Assistant Coach at Young Harris (Ga.) College (2006); Assistant Coach at James Madison (2007); Volunteeer Assistant Coach at Notre Dame (2008-10).
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from Liberty in 2002. Master’s degree from Emporia (Kan.) State in 2006.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwinner at Liberty (1999-2002).
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Player - 1998 NCAA Regionals, 2000 NCAA Regionals; Assistant Coach - 2012 NCAA Regionals.
Sikes primarily works with the Spartan outfielders and assisting with hitters, while also coordinating the base running program. Sikes also is the third base coach during MSU's games.
During his tenure at MSU, the Spartans have had 32 MLB Draft selections, including a program-record eight in 2015.
In his first two seasons on the Spartan staff, Sikes played an integral role in helping the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship in 2011 and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
In his first two seasons on the Spartan staff, Sikes played an integral role in helping the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship in 2011 and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
During the 2024 season, Sikes mentored senior outfielder Jack Frank, who earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades and was named an All-American DI Right Fielder by 64Analytics. Throughout the season, Frank was named the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger of the Week Award on May 1, and followed that honor up by being named Big Ten Player of the Week on May 6. Frank also collected two MSU team awards as he was tabbed the recipient of both the John Kobs Most Valuable Player Award, in addition to the Kirk Gibson Co-Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Frank led the Big Ten in B1G only games with a .439 average, as well as a .509 on-base percentage in B1G only games, ranking second in the league, as well as a .724 slugging percentage and a 1.233 in B1G only games, both also ranking second in the conference, in addition to a 1.089 OPS in all games, ranking fifth in the league. In overall games, Frank was tied for seventh in doubles (17), tying with Kark. Frank knocked 11 doubles in B1G only games, also good for second, boosted by four doubles in the final weekend series of the weekend against Nebraska.
Frank also swiped 19 stolen bases on the season, finishing fourth in the league overall.
In 2023, Sikes worked with infielder Brock Vradenburg, who led MSU at the plate, while ranking second in the B1G and 24th in the NCAA in batting average exactly a .400 average in 2023, becoming the first Spartan to hit .400 or better since 2002 and becoming the 28th member of MSU’s “.400 Club.” The Spartan first baseman was the first member of the club since 2002 when Brady Burrill (.414), Chris McCuiston (.404) and Bob Malek (.402) all hit over .400.In 2022 under Sikes' tutelage, sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb ranked among the conference leaders in hitting, finishing the regular-season ranked ninth in the league with a .356 average. Jebb also led the B1G and ranked 17th in the NCAA in toughest to strikeout - with just one K every 13.7 ABs - on just 16 Ks in 219 ABs. Additionally, Jebb was eighth in the conference with 20 stolen bases. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes also led the Big Ten and ranked tied for third in the NCAA with seven triples.
Jebb garnered All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, while redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker was tabbed to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, after hitting .271 ranking tied for fifth on the team.
The 2021 season saw Sikes mentor sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker, who was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team list. Walker was one of two Spartans to start and play in all 44 games, along with Bryce Kelley. Walker led MSU and ranked 22nd in the B1G with a .308 average, also leading the team and rank 20th in the B1G with 31 RBI. He also led the team in hits (52), runs scored (29) and total bases (71), while ranking second on the team in stolen bases (7), third in both home runs (3) and on-base percentage (.367), and fifth in slugging percentage (.420). Walker also tied for third with total extra base hits with 12 on eight doubles, one triple and three home runs.
Senior Bryce Kelley led MSU and ranked sixth in the B1G with 11 stolen bases. Kelley became the new MSU career stolen base king in 2021, as he broke the record on April 11 vs. Purdue, swiping his 80th career base, passing Anthony Cheky's previous record of 79 from 2012-15. Kelley broke the record in the first inning, by stealing third. He reached on a walk, then moved to second on a groundout, before swiping third. After swiping No. 80, he was congratulated by third base coach Sikes, and presented the record setting base by a member of the MSU Facilities grounds crew in a special presentation, while the small crowd of family of the student-athletes gave Kelley a standing ovation. Kelley's record-setting moment was No. 5 on NCAA Baseball's Player of the Week. Kelley padded his record finished his Spartan career with 83 swipes.
At the plate, Kelley led the team and ranked third in the B1G with 30 walks, as well as ranking sixth in the league in walks/game (0.68). Kelley also finished third on the team in runs scored (26), fifth in hits (39) and on-base percentage (.357).
Sikes also helped Joe Stewart adapt to playing outfielder, shifting from infield. Stewart entered the 2021 season with just three total hits in 17 total games played, posting only 19 career at bats prior to this season. However, he had a torrid start to the 2021 season and swung a hot bat throughout, finishing with a .276 average, leading MSU in total extra base hits with 15 on nine doubles, one triple and five home runs, ranking second or tied for second in all three categories. Stewart was also second on the team in RBI (24), and total bases (66), as well as third in slugging percentage (.455), and fifth in both average and runs scored (21).
Stewart hit .471 (8-for-17) in the four games of the Ann Arbor pod vs. Illinois and Michigan on March 20-22, including four doubles, coming in a span of three games, with one vs. Illinois in the opener on March 20, then two in the game on March 21 vs. Illinois before another one in the nightcap vs. Michigan, one of his season-high four hits. Stewart also had a team-best five RBI, with three coming March 20 vs. Illinois, coming to bat with the bases loaded and clearing them with a three-run double. He also had a standout play in the field of the win on March 22, getting an outfield assist to end the fourth inning, firing a frozen rope to junior catcher Adam Proctor at home, and Proctor made a nice snag and tag on the UM runner for the out to end the inning and preserve MSU's 2-0 lead.
With five multi-RBI games, Stewart was second on the team, logging two games with two ribbies, two with three, and a season-high four RBI, coming at Rutgers on May 23. Stewart also had 10 multi-hit games, with five games with two hits, four contests with three hits and one game with career-high four hits. He had a season-long seven-game hitting streak (March 12-21), as well as a seven-game reached base streak over the same span. In the field, Stewart made 34 starts in center field, making 71 putouts and five assists.
In the shortened 2020 season, Sikes coached outfielder Bryce Kelley, was tabbed as recipient of the Danny Litwhiler Defensive Player of the Year MSU team award for the second-straight season. Kelley started in center field in 13 games, while starting in left in the first two games of the season. He posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, with 19 putouts and two assists, along with using his speed to cut down several hits, turning several doubles into singles. His highlight outfield assist was his throw to catcher Gabe Sotres for the tag at the plate in top of ninth for defensive walk-off vs. Western Carolina on Feb. 29, to preserve a 4-3 win. Kelley's other outfield assist came vs. Morehead State on Feb. 16 with a double play on a flyout and doubling-up the runner at second.
Kelley joined Bailey Peterson as the only Spartans to play and start in all 15 games, and one of three players to play in all 15 contests, along with Ahn. He was second on the team with a .400 average, ranking tied for fifth in the B1G and tied for 88th in the NCAA, along with ranking sixth in the conference with a .486 on-base percentage, and added a .417 slugging percentage. Kelley ranked second on the team, along with tied for fourth in the B1G and tied for 74th in the NCAA with 24 hits. He shared the team and Big Ten lead with eight stolen bases with Peterson, ranking tied for 45th in NCAA, and also ranked tied for second in the conference and tied for 44th in the country with 0.53 stolen bases/game.
He was tabbed as the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 17, for his performance in the opening weekend for his first career Big Ten Player of the Week award. Kelley hit .647 (11-of-17) for the weekend, which led the Big Ten by over .100, as well as ranking 15th in the NCAA after the first weekend of the season, leading Michigan State to a four-game sweep of Morehead State in Charleston, South Carolina at Shipyard Park, as the Spartans were the only Big Ten team to win all four of their games on the weekend. Kelley's 11 hits also led not only the Big Ten, but shared the lead for the most in the NCAA, and was three hits more than any other player in the conference. He had at least two hits in all four games played, including going 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, adding one stolen base in Michigan State's 15-3 win in the series and season-opener on Feb. 14.
Kelley led the team with the longest hitting streak of the season, getting a hit in the first 13 games of the season, before going hitless in game 14, but had a hit in the 15th game, giving him at least one hit in 14 of the 15 games of the season. He also shared the team-lead with reaching base in all 15 games, joining Peterson.
In 2019, Sikes mentored junior outfielder Bryce Kelley, who moved up to No. 2 on MSU's career stolen base list with 64 swipes, entering his senior season just 15 shy of the record of 79 stolen bases held by Anthony Cheky (2012-15). Kelley teamed with senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior outfielder Danny Gleaves to form a speedy Spartan trio that was the only the active threesome in the country to have three players on the respective school stolen base list. Kelley is No. 2 with 64 stolen bases, Bechina was No. 9 with 35 and Gleaves at No. 10 with 34.
Sikes also worked with sophomore catcher Adam Proctor, who led MSU and ranked 16th in the Big Ten with nine home runs. With nine round-trippers out of his 17 hits last season, Proctor was the only player in the country with five or more round-trippers to have half of their hits be home runs. The next closest player was Jason Hinchman of Tennessee Tech, who ha 24 home runs of his 55 hits. Over half of Proctor's hits were for extra bases, as along with his nine home runs, he had two double for 11 extra-base hits of his 17 total hits.
The 2018 Spartans established a new team school record for stolen bases, swiping an even 100 for the season, topping the 98 base swipes by the 2005 squad. MSU led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in the NCAA with 1.92 stolen bases per game, while the 100 stolen bases led the B1G and ranked 14th in the nation. Michigan State wasla also second in the B1G in stolen base attempts (128), while also ranking fourth in the league in triples (13).
Additionally, sophomore outfielder Bryce Kelley broke the MSU single-season stolen base record with 33, surpassing former teammate Brandon Hughes' previous record of 30 set a season ago. Kelley was third in the NCAA in stolen bases per game (0.66), while the 33 base swipes ranked tied for 10th in the country.
Under Sikes’ tuteledge in 2017, MSU’s offense led the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.378), while ranking second in the B1G in batting average (.290), second in slugging percentage (.440), on-base percentage (.378), doubles (113) and stolen base attempts (123), along with ranking third in stolen bases (96). The 96 stolen bases was the second-most in school history at the time. Brandon Hughes led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the NCAA with 30 stolen bases, breaking the MSU single-season record, also leading the league and ranking third in the nation with 0.63 stolen bases per game. Bryce Kelley earned Freshman All-American accolades and was on the B1G All-Freshman Team after he led MSU with a .353 batting average overall, ranking third in the B1G. Kelley ended the season on a 13-game overall hitting streak, which started a day after his previous 13-game hitting streak was halted, finishing the season with a hit in 26 of last 27 games and 29 in 31 games. Alex Troop was a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
Sikes helped tutor a Spartan offense that posted the Big Ten’s third-best batting average (.283) in 2016. For the second straight year, MSU also produced a league batting champion as Jordan Zimmerman’s .376 average in Big Ten play led all players. Ryan Krill was the 2015 Big Ten batting champ, hitting .451 in league games.
In 2015, the Spartans posted a .290 team batting average, which ranked third in the Big Ten, while MSU’s .422 slugging percentage was second best in the league. The Spartans also combined for 45 home runs, which ranked third in the conference.
Sikes helped the Spartan offense rank in the top half of the conference in several key categories in 2014, including ranking first in stolen bases with 88 - the second-highest total in program history. Individually, Anthony Cheky led the Big Ten in steals with 29, while Bliase Salter ranked third in RBIs with 50.
The Spartans ranked in the top four in the Big Ten in in 2013 in several key offensive categories, including: batting average (.281), slugging percentage (.377) and on-base percentage (.357). Spartan hitters also struck out fewer times than any other team in the league.
In 2012, Michigan State ranked in the top three in the Big Ten Conference in batting average (.297), on-base percentage (.378), runs (345), hits (645), RBIs (319), walks (228) and total bases (858). In addition, MSU finished 16th in the nation in hits and 35th in batting average. The 645 hits were the second most in a single-season in MSU history, while the 356 runs were eighth most, the 97 doubles tied for ninth most, and the 319 RBIs were 10th most in the school record books.
During Sikes’ first season in 2011, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked seventh in the nation with a .318 batting average. The Spartans also ranked among the conference’s leaders in hits (first with 639), slugging (second at .427), on-base percentage (second at .385), runs scored (second with 348), RBIs (second with 317) and doubles (second with 115). In addition, the Spartans were fourth in the Big Ten with 77 stolen bases, which also ranked seventh most in an MSU season. Spartan center fielder Brandon Eckerle, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, not only won the Big Ten batting title with his .379 average, but was also one of the top defensive players in the nation. The Spartan outfield helped MSU turn in an overall fielding percentage of .976, which was tops in the Big Ten and 24th in the nation.
Prior to arriving in East Lansing, Sikes spent three seasons (2008-10) as the volunteer assistant coach at Notre Dame and has also coached at James Madison, Young Harris (Ga.) College, Nicholls State and Independence Community College (KS). Throughout his career, Sikes has coached 67 players who have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including seven who have reached the Major Leagues. Sikes coached current Major League All-Stars Charlie Blackmon at Young Harris and AJ Pollock at Notre Dame.
While at Notre Dame, Sikes primarily coached the catchers and outfielders. He also oversaw UND’s expansive baseball camp operations and helped coordinate the program’s annual Opening Night Dinner. Sikes coached 14 players who were drafted during his three seasons at Notre Dame.
In working with the Irish catchers, Sikes tutored Cameron McConnell, who threw out 26 base stealers in 2009 - the most by an Irish catcher since 1996 and seventh most in the nation. McConnell threw out 36.1 percent (26 of 72) of attempted base stealers on the season, which was the second-highest percentage for an Irish catcher since 1996, and followed that effort by throwing out 12 more runners in 2010. In addition, Sikes coached Will Harford, who was selected in the 45th round (No. 1,357 overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
An assistant at James Madison for the 2007 season, Sikes helped instruct the Dukes hitters while working directly with the catchers, the position he played at Liberty University. While at JMU, Sikes coached Kellen Kulbacki who was named 1st Team All-American in 2006 & 2007, CAA Player of the Year in 2006 & 2007 and Co-National Player of the Year (NCAA). He had been promoted to recruiting coordinator at JMU three weeks before heading to Notre Dame.
Sikes previously was the recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and catcher’s coach at Young Harris (Ga.) College in 2006, helping direct a Mountain Lions team that racked up 48 wins while being ranked eighth among the nation’s junior college teams. He coached seven players on that team who were MLB Draft picks during the 2006 season.
Sikes’ first coaching position came in the fall of 2004, when he was named the assistant coach for Independence (Kan.) Community College and worked primarily with the team’s hitters, catchers and outfielders. After the fall season at Independence, Sikes earned an assistant coaching position at Nicholls State (La.) University and went on to work with the team’s catchers while assisting with the hitters during the 2005 season. Sikes mentored Nicholls State player John Brummet as he made the transition from third base to catcher, and that position switch helped land Brummet a professional contract with the Oakland Athletics’ organization (he went on to be promoted to AAA in his first professional season).
From 2005-07, Sikes worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates as an associate Major League Baseball scout, with his coverage area including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. He also coached one season (2005) for the Florence RedWolves of the Coastal Plain League.
Sikes was a four-year letterman at Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., helping lead the Flames to a pair of Big South Conference championships and two NCAA Regional appearances. During his career as the Flames’ catcher, Sikes threw out better than 50 percent of attempted base-stealers. He started behind the plate for the team’s win over Seton Hall in the South Atlantic Regional, producing the school’s first NCAA Tournament victory in any sport.
During his senior season, Liberty finished among the nation’s top-10 leaders in nearly every offensive statistic, as the Flames hit .337 with 86 home runs, 30 triples, 151 doubles and 111 stolen bases. Twenty-four of his Liberty teammates went on to careers in professional baseball.
Sikes earned his undergraduate degree from Liberty in 2002 and went on to earn a master’s degree in health and physical education from Emporia (Kan.) State University in 2006.
Sikes and his wife Katie, have two daughters, Lucy and Lydia.
THE SIKES FILE
YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: 14 Seasons. Joined staff on July 19, 2010, from Notre Dame.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: Assistant Coach at Independence (Kan.) Community College (2004); Assistant Coach at Nicholls State (2005); Assistant Coach at Young Harris (Ga.) College (2006); Assistant Coach at James Madison (2007); Volunteeer Assistant Coach at Notre Dame (2008-10).
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from Liberty in 2002. Master’s degree from Emporia (Kan.) State in 2006.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwinner at Liberty (1999-2002).
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Player - 1998 NCAA Regionals, 2000 NCAA Regionals; Assistant Coach - 2012 NCAA Regionals.
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