Baseball Coaching Staff Moves
KNOXVILLE, TN- As the Johnson University Royals gear up for the upcoming baseball season, significant changes have taken place within the coaching staff during the offseason. The program has seen the departure of three key coaches, each leaving to pursue new opportunities.
Gehrig Mosiello, who was a vital part of the Royals' coaching staff this past season, has accepted a position at the Division I level with the University of Texas. Mosiello's move is a testament to his growth and success as a coach, and while the Royals will miss his contributions, they wish him the best as he advances in his career.
Robby Howard, another cornerstone of the Royals' coaching team, has decided to retire from coaching. Howard's dedication and impact on the program have been immeasurable, and his retirement marks the end of an era for Johnson University Baseball.
Finally, Zach Linginfelter, who played a pivotal role in the development of the Royals' pitching staff, has taken a coaching position at a local high school. Linginfelter's passion for the game and his ability to develop young talent will undoubtedly benefit the next generation of baseball players.
Head coach Dave Serrano expressed his gratitude to the departing coaches, stating, "I would like to thank Gehrig Mosiello, Zach Linginfelter, and Robby Howard. All those men were such a huge part of starting the build of this baseball program. Not only are they all great people, their loyalty and friendship will always be appreciated by this program. We wish them all well."
With these departures, the Royals have also made exciting new additions to their coaching staff, aiming to continue the program's upward trajectory.
Mason Graves has been appointed as the new offense and position players coach. Graves joins Johnson from Division II Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, where he served as the graduate assistant coach for two years. During his time at LMU, Graves was responsible for outfield play, baserunning, and assisting with hitters. His tenure saw the Railsplitters achieve back-to-back 30+ win seasons, accumulate over 100 stolen bases, and maintain a fielding percentage over .970. Under his guidance, the team set program records in doubles and home runs, with five hitters named to all-conference teams, including the conference and region player of the year.
Graves brings a wealth of experience as a former player, having competed for four years as an infielder at Point University, where he was part of the 2018 conference tournament champions and was named to the 2019 AAC Champions of Character team. Originally from Schertz, Texas, Graves attended high school in Mobile, Alabama, at Cottage Hill.
Coach Serrano expressed his enthusiasm for the addition of Graves, saying, "Mason comes highly recommended by every person I talked to about him. He has energy, players seem to gravitate to him, and he seems to have the passion to work hard and grow in his young career. He played a part in areas of LMU's aggressive offensive numbers which fits perfectly into what we will continue to do here. I'm very excited to welcome Mason to our Royals family."
Kyle Serrano will step into the role of pitching coach for the Royals. A seasoned player with a strong background, Kyle graduated from Farragut High School in 2013 and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round. He went on to play at the University of Tennessee from 2014 to 2017, during which he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 40th round in 2016 and the Houston Astros in the 10th round in 2017. His professional career includes stints with the Houston Astros MiLB system (2017-2021), the Ottawa Titans in the Frontier League (2022), and Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League (2023).
Coach Serrano shared his thoughts on Kyle's transition from playing to coaching, stating, "Kyle is another great addition to my staff. He has always been passionate about baseball and now he turns his passion from playing to coaching. I'm excited about the impact he will have on our pitching staff. We talk about developing not only people but also players here at Johnson and it's my belief Kyle will bring new concepts to our pitching staff."
In addition to both Graves and Serrano, the staff will be welcoming graduate assistant Ty Carter, a former Royal, as the bullpen coach. Former Royal infielder Luke Vest will serve as an undergraduate assistant, and Blake Courson will serve as Student Director of Baseball Operations. Another former Royal, Tyler Shelton, will return as Recruiting Coordinator for his second season.
With these new additions, the Royals are poised for another competitive season, building on the strong foundation laid by the previous coaching staff and welcoming fresh perspectives that promise to propel the program forward.