Bobby Mesker has been the head coach for the Sul Ross State University’s baseball team since the fall of 2008. In 2015, Mesker became the university’s Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach, which is the position he relinquished in July of 2019.
During Mesker’s tenure as head baseball coach, the program has shown dramatic improvement. Sul Ross State has twice produced the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year (Josh Vasquez in 2014 and Javier Arrieta in 2009). The Lobos have also produced the ASC Freshman of the Year (Brennyn Smith), the conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Monte Piper), the ASC Newcomer of the Year (Dakota Dill) and the first winning season (2010) for the baseball program in 11 seasons. The 2010 turnaround season earned Mesker ASC Coach of The Year honors.
In 2014, the Lobos advanced to the ASC post-season tournament for the first time in 15 years, and earned a pair of victories before finishing as one of the final four teams remaining in the tournament.
After the 2014 season ended, Derrick Bernard became the second Lobo pitcher in as many seasons to sign a professional contract when he joined the New York Mets. Following the 2013 season, the Atlanta Braves selected Dakota Dill in the 26th round of the Major League Baseball draft. Dill was the 21st player drafted in the MLB draft since the American Southwest Conference was formed.
Under Mesker, Sul Ross State has produced numerous Academic All-Conference selections and multiple Distinguished Scholar-Athletes. Mesker has also seen many of his players receive their degree from Sul Ross State.
During Mesker’s tenure with the Lobos, they have improved in every statistical category. The Lobos more than doubled their wins the last five years after winning only 30 games between 2005 and 2009. Sul Ross State's batting average climbed from .244 (2008) to .285 (2009) in his first season, and eclipsed the .300 mark in 2010 and 2011. Since that 2011 season Sul Ross hitters have finished in the top 5 every year (2011-2017) and lead the conference in 2014.
The Lobos’ team batting average of .309 led the ASC in 2014, and made them the only conference team to hit over .300 for the season. In 2010, Sul Ross hitters were among the nation’s leaders with 58 home runs in 35 games. Defensively, the Lobos turned enough double plays to earn them the national statistical leader award for double plays turned per game.
Following his graduation and playing career at Frenship High School in Lubbock, Mesker enrolled at SRSU. A four-year starter for the Lobos, and a three-time recipient of the Golden Glove Award, Mesker was named the second baseman on the American Southwest Conference All-West Division Team, and was elected captain of the Lobos.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Sul Ross State in 2004, Mesker began his coaching career. In 2005, he served as an assistant coach at Lubbock Christian High School, where he helped lead the Eagles to a TAPPS Class 4A state runner-up finish. Mesker later became an assistant coach at Lubbock High School before returning to Sul Ross in May of 2007.
Mesker returned as a graduate assistant with the baseball program and earned his master of education degree, which he completed in May of 2008. Later that summer Mesker became the head coach for his Alma Mater. Coach Mesker’s wife, Elizabeth, is a Speech Pathologist at the 588 Educational Cooperative in Alpine. The Meskers have two sons and a daughter; Brody (8), Brock (5) and Brooke (2).
