Branch Kloess begins his third year as Alabama State's pitching coach and his fourth overall after serving one season as volunteer assistant coach in 2022.
In 2024, Alabama State pitchers led the SWAC in strikeouts (440) while ranking third in opponent batting average (.280), fourth in ERA (6.05) and fifth in fewest runs allowed (392). Pitchers Jorhan Laboy and Shadai Colon represented Alabama State on the U23 Puerto Rico National Team while Luis Rodiguez was selected to play for the USA Collegiate National Team.
In his first season as in charge of the pitchers, the Hornets led the SWAC in ERA (4.58), strikeouts (523), and fewest runs allowed (316). ASU was second in opponent batting average (.266) and third in fewest walks (226).
He came to Alabama State after spending time as an assistant coach at Missouri-Saint Louis. Prior to UMSL, he spent time at Florida Southern, where he spent the 2017 season as the pitching coach, helping the Mocs to a 45-11-1 record and a berth in the NCAA DII World Series.
Kloess has nearly 11 years of coaching experience and also spent six years playing professionally after graduating from Florida Atlantic University in 2008.
He was signed by the Chicago White Sox in June of 2009 and assigned to the Single A Great Fall Voyagers, posting a 2-0 record with four saves and a 2.45 ERA, recording 72 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings pitched. Kloess was named the 2009 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year after being tabbed to a Pioneer League All-Star. He continued to move up in the White Sox organization and was later a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2010, was a Southern League Pitcher of the Week in 2011 and was an Arizona Fall League Invitee in 2011 for the Mesa Solar Sox.
In November 2012, Kloess was traded to the San Diego Padres, assigned to the AAA Tucson Padres and was a major league spring training invitee. He ended his playing career with the Oakland Athletics.
Prior to his coaching stop at Florida Southern, Kloess coached youth club baseball in Florida and also served as varsity head coach at Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton for two years.
Kloess graduated from Florida Atlantic with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in political science.
The Montgomery, Ala., native prepped at St. James High School where he was the 2002 4A Player of the Year and threw two perfect games.
