LIVINGSTON, Ala. – University of West Alabama head baseball coach
Eric DuBose has been named the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association (AlaBCA) Small College Coach of the Year following a historic 2026 campaign that saw the Tigers capture the Gulf South Conference Regular Season Championship and advance to the NCAA South Regional for the second consecutive season.
The honor marks another milestone in DuBose's tenure at West Alabama, as the Tigers' third-year head coach has continued to elevate the program to new heights since taking over prior to the 2024 season.
Under DuBose's direction, West Alabama finished the 2026 season with a 35-17 overall record and a 23-10 mark in GSC play. The Tigers opened the season with a 10-0 record, including a sweep of their first GSC series, before racing to a 19-3 record through their first 22 games. The 19 wins through 22 games marked the best start through that number of games in program history.
The Tigers' success continued throughout the season, culminating in their first GSC Regular Season Championship since 2015 and a return to the NCAA South Regional for the second consecutive season. The back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances marked the first time West Alabama had accomplished the feat since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
DuBose's 2026 campaign continued a remarkable run of individual and team recognition for the Tigers. Seven West Alabama players earned All-GSC honors, tying for the fourth-most selections in program history, while the Tigers produced two All-Region selections for the second straight season. West Alabama also reached a program-best ranking inside the top five of the national polls for the first time in school history.
The 2026 season also saw DuBose earn his first GSC Coach of the Year recognition. In 2026, DuBose was named GSC Coach of the Year, while
Blake Westry earned GSC Freshman of the Year honors. The awards marked the first time since 2017, when Luke Phillips earned the honor, that a Tiger had been named GSC Freshman of the Year and the first GSC Coach of the Year honor for West Alabama since Gary Rundles received the award in 2015.
West Alabama's success in 2026 was reflected across the statistical categories, particularly on the mound and defensively.
The Tigers finished the season ranked fourth nationally in earned run average, ninth in WHIP, 10th in hits allowed per nine innings, tied for 30th in shutouts and 41st in fielding percentage. In the GSC, West Alabama ranked first in ERA and opposing batting average, tied for first in fielding percentage, tied for third in shutouts and fourth in saves.
Offensively, the Tigers ranked sixth in the GSC in batting average and fifth in hits, doubles, home runs and walks.
Individually, Westry continued to establish himself as one of the nation's premier pitchers, finishing sixth in Division II in ERA.
Rashad Robinson ranked fourth in the GSC in home runs, while
Nick Wilson finished 13th in the conference in RBIs.
One of the defining moments of DuBose's tenure came during the Tigers' NCAA South Regional run. On May 15, DuBose celebrated his birthday by earning his first NCAA Tournament victory as West Alabama's head coach, guiding the Tigers to a 7-3 victory over Trevecca Nazarene.
The victory added another chapter to a season that already featured numerous program milestones and reinforced the direction of West Alabama baseball under DuBose.
In just three seasons at the helm, DuBose has guided the Tigers to back-to-back NCAA South Regional appearances, a GSC Regular Season Championship, a GSC Tournament Championship, a GSC Coach of the Year honor, multiple All-Region selections and a historic rise into the top five of the national rankings.
Now, DuBose adds AlaBCA Small College Coach of the Year to an already impressive list of accomplishments as he continues to build West Alabama baseball into one of the premier programs in the region.
