ASHLAND, Va. – Former Randolph-Macon baseball student-athlete Daniel Wilkerson '20 recently sat down with the College to discuss his journey from Ashland to Chapel Hill. Since graduating in 2020, Wilkerson has established himself in collegiate athletics and now serves as Assistant to the Head Coach and Clubhouse/Equipment Manager for the University of North Carolina baseball program, competing at the highest level.

His responsibilities begin hours before first pitch and often continue long after the final out. From preparing the clubhouse and uniforms to coordinating with opposing teams, umpires, grounds crews, and event staff, Wilkerson helps ensure every aspect of game day runs smoothly.

"There is so much that goes on behind the scenes of a college baseball program that a lot of people do not realize," Wilkerson said. "My goal each day is to take as much as I can off the plate of our coaches and players so they can focus on coaching and playing."

Wilkerson credits Randolph-Macon with preparing him for that role by teaching lessons that extend beyond baseball.

"The biggest thing I learned while being at Randolph-Macon is that it's not about me," he said. "It's all about the team."

That team-first mentality became a defining part of his experience under Head Coach Ray Hedrick and assistant coaches CJ Rhodes and ML Morgan. Wilkerson said the coaching staff emphasized that every player, regardless of playing time or statistics, contributes to a team's success.

"The team always comes first," he said. "Everyone has a role, and everyone has to give their absolute best every day."

The philosophy continues to shape his work at North Carolina, where Head Coach Scott Forbes has built a similar culture centered on selflessness and accountability.

Wilkerson played four seasons for the Yellow Jackets from 2017 through 2020, appearing in 39 career games and compiling a .316 batting average with 18 hits and eight RBIs. His strongest offensive season came in 2019, when he hit .556 with a career-high 10 hits in limited action before batting .304 during the shortened 2020 season.

Although he initially planned for a career in medicine, Wilkerson realized during his senior year that baseball remained his greatest passion.

"My dad was a high school baseball coach," he said. "Watching the impact he had on young players made me realize I wanted to do the same thing through college athletics."

Following graduation, Wilkerson began his career as a graduate assistant at East Carolina before serving as the Director of Operations at Appalachian State. He then joined the UNC baseball staff and over time, his role has expanded beyond equipment management to include directing summer baseball camps, coordinating daily operations, and assisting Forbes with program logistics.

Wilkerson said effective communication is one of the most important parts of his position.

On any given day, he may coordinate with coaches, players, visiting teams, umpires, alumni, donors, marketing staff, and grounds crews to ensure every detail is accounted for.

"You try to overcommunicate as best you can so there's no confusion about what needs to be done," he said.

His work has also given him the opportunity to experience college baseball's biggest stage.

UNC has advanced to the Men's College World Series in Omaha twice during his tenure. The 2024 trip was particularly memorable because his younger brother, Colby, was a member of the Tar Heels roster.

"The first time I walked into the stadium was surreal," Wilkerson said. "To be able to share that with my brother and my family was really special."

This past season, UNC finished as the national runner-up. Even though the team lost the championship series in three games, the contest marked the Tar Heels' second College World Series appearance in three seasons.

Despite working at one of the country's top baseball programs, Wilkerson remains closely connected to Randolph-Macon. He still speaks regularly with his former coaches and welcomed the Yellow Jackets to Chapel Hill during his first season at UNC when the team stopped to watch the Tar Heels play on its way to another game.

"I love getting asked where I played because I get to brag on Randolph-Macon," he said. "The support Coach Hedrick has shown me throughout my career has been unbelievable."

Looking back, Wilkerson believes the relationships he built at Randolph-Macon have been just as valuable as the education he received.

His advice to current student-athletes is to prioritize character over statistics.

"Your coaches and teammates aren't going to remember your stats," he said. "They're going to remember the kind of person you were."

He also encourages students hoping to work in athletics to build relationships, make strong first impressions, and embrace every opportunity to help others.

"When you get your foot in the door," he said, "work your butt off."