Brad Stephenson enters his first season as an assistant baseball coach at Norfolk State University, where he primarily works with the Spartans’ catchers.
In 2026, Stephenson helped guide Norfolk State to its first 20-win season since 2021, finishing 20-31 overall. Picked 10th in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, the Spartans climbed to sixth in the standings and more than doubled their conference win total with 16 NEC victories.
A Chesapeake, Va., native, Stephenson graduated from Great Bridge High School, where he played under former Norfolk State coach Wiley Lee.
Recruited as a catcher, Stephenson began his collegiate career with one season each at East Carolina and Virginia Commonwealth before finishing at Norfolk State. During his career with the Spartans, he batted .364 with 14 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 33 RBIs, 27 walks, just 14 strikeouts, and a 1.002 OPS. His performance, combined with standout defense behind the plate, earned him Division I All-State honors in Virginia along with first-team all-conference and all-tournament recognition.
Following his collegiate career, Stephenson participated in a pre-draft workout with the Washington Nationals. After going undrafted, he became the first Norfolk State player to compete in the prestigious Cape Cod League, batting .293 while also pitching three scoreless innings between the Bourne Braves and Y-D Red Sox.
Stephenson later worked directly with four-time MLB All-Star and former American League strikeout leader Scott Kazmir while Kazmir pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays. When Kazmir was traded to the Los Angeles Angels prior to the postseason, Stephenson continued working alongside him with the organization.
Since concluding his playing career, Stephenson and his brothers have built a successful printing business.
Stephenson resides in Chesapeake with his wife, Kate, and daughter, Stella.
