Robert Clayton joined the Embry-Riddle baseball coaching staff in the summer of 2015. Clayton, a native of Miami, is in charge of the pitching staff and assists in the Blue and Gold recruiting efforts.
Clayton comes to Embry-Riddle after previous stops at Tennessee Wesleyan, Cumberland and UT-Pan American. His most recent position was in 2015 with the TWC Bulldogs as an assistant coach, helping lead TWC to a 45-12 record, Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Kingsville Bracket.
Before spending a season at Tennessee Wesleyan, Clayton was an assistant coach at his alma mater in 2014 as Cumberland claimed their third NAIA National Championship, going 49-20 overall with a Mid-South Conference Tournament crown and Opening Round title en route to the NAIA World Series win.
Clayton was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA I Texas-Pan American (now known as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) for three seasons (2011-13). UTPA posted a 79-84 mark during his three-year tenure while playing in the Great West Athletic Conference. The Broncs team ERA dropped from 5.75 in 2011 to 4.82 the following season to 4.25 in Clayton's final campaign on the staff.
Clayton's first collegiate coaching stint came at Cumberland from 2009-10 when he served as student assistant for Head Coach Woody Hunt. The Bulldogs set a program record in 2010 with 58 wins en route to claiming the NAIA National Championship that season.
Clayton pitched for two seasons at Cumberland, earning Honorable Mention All-America accolades in 2007, posting a 12-3 mark with a 2.93 ERA in 104.1 innings of work, striking out 60 with just 16 walks in 18 appearances with eight complete games, leading CU to the NAIA World Series. As a Preseason All-American in 2008, Clayton registered a 7-4 record with a 4.63 ERA in 79.2 innings that year with 72 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 14 appearances with four complete games.
Clayton transferred to Cumberland from Broward College in Davie, Fla. He garnered All-State accolades as a sophomore at Broward and helped the Seahawks reached the NJCAA World Series in 2006. He also played one season at Miami Dade College after graduating from Miami Killian High School in 2002.
Clayton graduated from Cumberland in 2010, receiving his bachelor's in Fitness and Wellness. Clayton and his wife Hilary reside in Port Orange.
