Eastern Michigan Athletics
Jonathan Roof Named EMU Baseball Assistant Coach
7/2/2018 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jonathan is the younger brother of Head Coach Eric Roof
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Head Baseball Coach Eric Roof announced today, July 2, the hiring of new Assistant Coach Jonathan Roof to the 2019 coaching staff. Jonathan, the younger brother of Eric, will work with the EMU hitters and defense.
"We are very excited to have Jonathan apart of the Eagle Baseball Family, said Head Coach Eric Roof. "His track record speaks for itself and he has been around the game at some of the highest level both in the college and professionally. He will be a tremendous asset to the program and will bring a lot of value to the program. We are very lucky to have him."
Jonathan comes to Ypsilanti after a stint at the University of Missouri as the teams' volunteer assistant coach in 2018. While with the Tigers, Jonathan served as the defensive coordinator, as well as the first base coach. He helped take the Mizzou defense from 195th in the country in fielding percentage in 2017, to seventh in the nation in 2018.
"I am honored and thrilled to join my brother and his staff," added Assistant Coach Jonanthan Roof. " I want to thank Eric and the administration for giving me this opportunity to work with Eastern Michigan baseball. I am excited to work with Eric and his staff to help EMU contend for a Mid-American Conference Championship and more."
Before joining the Missouri coaching staff, Jonathan returned to Michigan State in 2016 as a student assistant coach as he finished up his undergraduate degree. While back with the Spartans, Jonathan assisted the infielders and offense, while also helping with camps and other daily office duties.
The Paducah, Ky. native spent six seasons as a professional baseball player in the Red Sox, Phillies, Padres, and Rangers systems, as well as a season with the New Britain Bees in the Atlantic League. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rangers. Jonathan finished his career in AAA with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and batted .254 in 504 career games, while belting 18 home runs, driving in 176 runners, and stealing 35 bags, all while playing every infield and outfield position. He was a Carolina League All-Star in 2014, as well as an organizational All-Star for Philadelphia in 2013.
During his time as a three-year letterwinner for the Spartans, Jonathan native started all 160 games he played in during his three-year career. Roof then bypassed his senior season of eligibility after getting drafted by the Rangers. At the time, he was the highest Spartan drafted since Bob Malek was chosen in the fourth round in 2002.
As a Spartan, Roof hit .299 for his career, registering 188 hits, with 31 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 95 RBI and 31 stolen bases. Defensively, Roof had a .948 career fielding percentage with 481 assists.
In his 2010 junior season, Roof ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference in the regular season with 53 runs scored and hit .317 with four homers and 43 RBIs. Roof also collected 72 hits, 16 stolen bases, 13 doubles and owned a .372 on-base percentage.
During the regular season, the slick fielding shortstop led the league in assists (173) and tied for fifth in fielding double plays (43); both of those marks were school single-season records at the time.
For his efforts in 2010, Roof became the first Spartan since 2006 to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors. Roof was also selected in the MLB Draft out of high school in the 39th round by the Boston Red Sox.
Jonathan completed his degree in social science at MSU in August of 2017. He is a 2007 graduate of St. Mary High School.
The Roof family is well known in the baseball world, as Eric and Jonathan's relatives have made marks all over the professional and college ranks. Their father, Gene, played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos in the 1980s, and is currently a coach in the Detroit Tigers organization as the baserunning coordinator. Their older brother, Shawn, played at Illinois and was with the Frederick Keys, a High A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He is now the manager for the Hillsboro Hops, the short season Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Finally, their younger sister, Jacqueline, was a three-time All-American softball player at Campbellsville University.
"We are very excited to have Jonathan apart of the Eagle Baseball Family, said Head Coach Eric Roof. "His track record speaks for itself and he has been around the game at some of the highest level both in the college and professionally. He will be a tremendous asset to the program and will bring a lot of value to the program. We are very lucky to have him."
Jonathan comes to Ypsilanti after a stint at the University of Missouri as the teams' volunteer assistant coach in 2018. While with the Tigers, Jonathan served as the defensive coordinator, as well as the first base coach. He helped take the Mizzou defense from 195th in the country in fielding percentage in 2017, to seventh in the nation in 2018.
"I am honored and thrilled to join my brother and his staff," added Assistant Coach Jonanthan Roof. " I want to thank Eric and the administration for giving me this opportunity to work with Eastern Michigan baseball. I am excited to work with Eric and his staff to help EMU contend for a Mid-American Conference Championship and more."
Before joining the Missouri coaching staff, Jonathan returned to Michigan State in 2016 as a student assistant coach as he finished up his undergraduate degree. While back with the Spartans, Jonathan assisted the infielders and offense, while also helping with camps and other daily office duties.
The Paducah, Ky. native spent six seasons as a professional baseball player in the Red Sox, Phillies, Padres, and Rangers systems, as well as a season with the New Britain Bees in the Atlantic League. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rangers. Jonathan finished his career in AAA with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and batted .254 in 504 career games, while belting 18 home runs, driving in 176 runners, and stealing 35 bags, all while playing every infield and outfield position. He was a Carolina League All-Star in 2014, as well as an organizational All-Star for Philadelphia in 2013.
During his time as a three-year letterwinner for the Spartans, Jonathan native started all 160 games he played in during his three-year career. Roof then bypassed his senior season of eligibility after getting drafted by the Rangers. At the time, he was the highest Spartan drafted since Bob Malek was chosen in the fourth round in 2002.
As a Spartan, Roof hit .299 for his career, registering 188 hits, with 31 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 95 RBI and 31 stolen bases. Defensively, Roof had a .948 career fielding percentage with 481 assists.
In his 2010 junior season, Roof ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference in the regular season with 53 runs scored and hit .317 with four homers and 43 RBIs. Roof also collected 72 hits, 16 stolen bases, 13 doubles and owned a .372 on-base percentage.
During the regular season, the slick fielding shortstop led the league in assists (173) and tied for fifth in fielding double plays (43); both of those marks were school single-season records at the time.
For his efforts in 2010, Roof became the first Spartan since 2006 to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors. Roof was also selected in the MLB Draft out of high school in the 39th round by the Boston Red Sox.
Jonathan completed his degree in social science at MSU in August of 2017. He is a 2007 graduate of St. Mary High School.
The Roof family is well known in the baseball world, as Eric and Jonathan's relatives have made marks all over the professional and college ranks. Their father, Gene, played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos in the 1980s, and is currently a coach in the Detroit Tigers organization as the baserunning coordinator. Their older brother, Shawn, played at Illinois and was with the Frederick Keys, a High A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He is now the manager for the Hillsboro Hops, the short season Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Finally, their younger sister, Jacqueline, was a three-time All-American softball player at Campbellsville University.
Drew Beckner's Comments After BGSU Win in MAC Tournament
Friday, May 23
Robbie Britt's Comments After MAC Tournament Win over BGSU
Friday, May 23
EMU Stuns BGSU for First Postseason Win Since 2017
Friday, May 23
Baseball 2025 MAC Tournament Practice Day Recap
Wednesday, May 21