Elon University announced this week that Brandon Riley has been appointed as an assistant baseball coach, a move that brings a familiar face back to the program and signals a renewed focus on developing home‑grown talent.
A Homecoming for Riley
Riley, a Burlington native who starred at Williams High School before excelling at the University of North Carolina from 2016 to 2018, returns to North Carolina after a professional stint with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
His coaching career began with two seasons at Wingate University, where his teams led the South Atlantic Conference in several batting categories, and he later served as a student assistant for the University of North Carolina’s 2024 College World Series squad.
Mike Kennedy, Elon’s head coach, praised Riley’s passion, experience and commitment to mentoring student‑athletes, noting that his deep community ties will enrich the program’s culture and performance.
The hiring underscores Elon’s strategy to blend proven expertise with local insight as the baseball program aims to contend in upcoming seasons and strengthen its competitive edge.