Rundles Steps Down as West Alabama Baseball Coach

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – After posting 1,035 intercollegiate baseball victories, University of West Alabama head baseball coach Gary Rundles has decided to step away from the helm of the Tiger baseball program after 23 seasons.

"Twenty-three years ago, God told me that he wanted us in Livingston, Alabama and now he is telling me that my time as baseball coach at UWA is over," Rundles said. "During this time my family has been blessed beyond our deepest understanding. Please keep my family in your prayers as we continue to follow God's guidance and direction.

"To all the many friends, colleagues and community members, we want to say thank you for all your support over the years. Without you, our tenure here would have been empty," Rundles said. "A special thanks to all my peers that I had the privilege to work beside. Your hard work and commitment to excellence drove me to be the best I could be."

The 69-year old finishes his intercollegiate coaching career with a record of 1,035-764 in 36 seasons, 655-487 at West Alabama. Prior to coming to West Alabama, Rundles coached at his alma mater, Carson-Newman College, and left there after 13 seasons with a 380-277 record. He is one of just eight collegiate coaches in Alabama to win 1,000 games.

"To all the players and coaches, it was an honor. Thank you for all you did for the program and your loyal support. Any success that we had would not have been possible without your dedicated efforts," Rundles said. "To Mrs. Penny Dew, you are the best. Your willingness to help, your beautiful personality and witty smile always helped, especially on those days that were not going so well."

His first baseball head coaching job was in his hometown, at Chattanooga Central High School, where he directed the program to a 171-72 record, giving him a 46-year combined college and high school baseball coaching record of 1,206-836.

Rundles won a pair of Gulf South Conference titles at UWA and guided the Tigers to six NCAA Regional appearances. He had seven players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, 88 All-GSC selections and 12 All-American choices.

"Coach Rundles has been an exemplary role model for generations of young men who were fortunate to have played on his teams over the years," UWA President Dr. Ken Tucker said. "I know Gary to be a man of great character and integrity and deep faith.

"He has mentored countless players on not just how to become better athletes and win baseball games, but more importantly how to become better men and win in the game of life," Tucker said. "Coach Rundles has had a long and successful career and has served our university exceedingly well. We wish him all the best as he enters this next chapter of his remarkable life."

Rundles is a member of the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Central (Tenn.) High School HOF, the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame and UWA Athletic Hall of Fame.

"I want to say a special thanks to Dr. Ed Roach, Dee Outlaw, and Micky Smith for their votes of confidence when they offered me the head baseball job at UWA," Rundles said. "Thank you to Dr. Richard Holland and Dr. Ken Tucker for your continued support and confidence through the good seasons and the ones that were not so good."

He was a two-time GSC coach of the year and the GSC coach of the decade (2000-09) and finishes his UWA career as the fifth all-time winningest coach in Gulf South Conference history with 675.

"I have been fortunate over the course of my career to have the opportunity to work with some great baseball coaches and some really great men in that position," UWA Director of Athletics Kent Partridge said. "Gary Rundles takes a backseat to no one.

"I grew up in a coaching family and I know what a great coach and a great man looks and lives like," Partridge said. "Not just by my standards, but by anyone else's measurables, Gary Rundles is both a great coach and a great man. I already miss having him as our baseball coach."

Print Friendly Version