James Sheltrown - Baseball Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

James Sheltrown

Title:
Volunteer Assistant
Email:
sheltrown@ath.msu.edu
Phone:
355-4486

Michigan State baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. announced on Jan. 22, 2021, that James Sheltrown has joined the Spartan staff as the volunteer assistant coach.

“We’re excited to have James on board, he’s excited to be here,” Boss said. “He’s passionate about the game of baseball and in helping players get better both on and off the field. He’s a great fit for our program.”

Sheltrown comes to MSU from Akron, where was a volunteer assistant coach for the Zips for the 2020 season and this past fall season, working with Akron’s catchers and outfielders. Sheltrown replaces Matt Rembielak, who left to MSU staff to be an assistant coach at Bowling Green. Sheltrown will work with the Spartan infielders and assist with the hitters.

“It’s really exciting to join the Michigan State staff and I feel very, very proud to wear Green & White. There’s a lot of pride that goes with this University, so I’m happy to be a part of that,” Sheltrown said. “I feel very grateful to Coach Boss and the rest of the staff for trusting me to join them in the 2021 season, so I’m excited to hit the ground running and get to work going for a Big Ten Championship.”

Prior to his time on the Akron staff, Sheltrown coached summer baseball, and was an individual instructor, working specifically with infielders, and helped baseball players transition from high school to playing college baseball.

Sheltrown was an infielder and catcher at Akron from 2010-14, overcoming major arm surgery during his playing career, and was also team captain. He was an integral part of leading Akron to the 2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament run, leading the seventh-seeded Zips to the MAC Championship game, Akron’s first appearance in the title tilt since 1995.

During his senior season, Sheltrown topped Akron with a .448 on-base percentage, which led the MAC during the regular-season, before finishing second in the league overall. Sheltrown also ranked fifth on the team with a .271 batting average, with 15 RBI, seven doubles and one triple. He also ranked second on the team with 13 stolen bases and drawing a team-best 34 walks, including 20 hit-by-pitch. Defensively, he posted a .972 fielding percentage with 160 assists and was a part of 30 double plays. Sheltrown was third on the team with 53 starts in playing 54 of Akron’s 57-game season.

Also while at Akron, Sheltrown was teammates with his predecessor, Rembielak.

After starting his catcher career as a sophomore at Springboro High School, Sheltrown was coached by long-time Cincinnati Reds catching coordinator Mike Stefanski, and developed into a first-team All-State honoree.

Sheltrown is a native of Springboro, Ohio, and earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2013 from Akron, along with a master’s degree in education/sport science and coaching in 2015, also from Akron.