University of West Alabama Athletics

Gary Rundles brings almost 40 years of coaching experience to the University of West Alabama baseball program, 16 of those running a Tiger program where he has won 539 games (33.7 per year) and made five NCAA Regional appearances.

In all, Rundles has coached 1,503 games as a collegiate head coach. He is 539-315 in 16 years at West Alabama and 911-592 in 29 years as a college head coach at both UWA and Carson Newman.

Rundles has been inducted into both the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Central (Tenn.) High School HOF.

The 2015 season was one of the top in Rundles decorated career. He led the Tigers to a nation-leading 20-game winning streak and a 42-11 record before losing in the South Regional to eventual national champion Tampa. Along the way, UWA captured both the regular season and GSC conference tournament titles. He also earned 2015 GSC coach of the year honors.

In 2009 Rundles guided the Tigers to a 38-16 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional along with a conference tournament appearance. It was the fourth regional bid for UWA while under Rundles direction.

In 2008, Rundles directed UWA to a 45-13 record, a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament and an appearance in the NCAA South Central Regional in Cleveland, Miss. The 45 wins tied the school record set in 2005. Under Rundles guidance, a GSC- and school-record 12 Tigers were named to the All-GSC teams. UWA also had two All-Americans and three all-region players.

In 2007, Rundles led UWA to the Gulf South Conference East Division crown and a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament. The Tigers compiled a 41-16 record and earned a spot in the GSC Tournament Championship Game. Under his mentorship, seven Tigers were named All-GSC with one named to the All-South Central Region Team. In 2006, Rundles guided the Tigers to a 42-22 record, including a runner-up finish in the GSC Tournament and a berth in the South Central Regional.

He came to West Alabama from Carson-Newman, where he built and maintained one of the most solid programs in all of the land over a 13-year career. Rundles won five conference titles and finished runner-up on four occasions at Carson Newman.

He guided the Eagles to a Division II College World Series berth in 1999, earning Conference, Region, and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. He also led Carson-Newman to the NAIA World Series in 1993 and was named conference coach of the year on six separate occasions.

For Rundles, a long, success-filled coaching career began at Chattanooga Central (Tenn.) High School in 1977. Over an eight-year stretch, he compiled a record of 171-72. In 1985, Rundles departed for his alma mater Carson-Newman, where he served in the capacity of graduate assistant, and later as assistant coach. After two seasons on the Eagles staff he was promoted to head coach.

Rundles is married to the former Joan Lambert of Jefferson City, Tenn. They have three grown children, Alley, Megan and Richard.