SPORTS LEDGER June 2023 Read Free Online at www.TheSportsLedger.com Page 6 The
Jim Case, Jacksonville State's head baseball coach since 2002 and the man who guided the Gamecocks to national prominence at the Division I level, has announced his retirement. Case made his decision following the 2023 season, which was his 22nd at the helm of the Gamecocks and his 41st as a coach at the Division I level. He was just the sixth head coach in program history and just the second since 1970 and leaves Jax State with a 673-559 overall record and numerous conference titles. "I want to thank Jacksonville State for blessing my family with the opportunity to be a part of this great University for the last 22 years. There would never be an easy time to walk away from something that means so much to me, and it's not easy now. With that being said, I know that now is the right time for me to retire," said Case. "I am thankful for every player, coach, manager and trainer that have poured their hearts into this program through the years, for every administrator that has supported us and for each Athletic Department employee that has given so much to me and our players. Each one has made a lasting impact on my life, and I am thankful for all of your efforts. I feel so blessed to be able to have had such long lasting relationships with the people for which I have so much respect." The program's state-of-the-art stadium, which Case was instrumental in making a reality, opened prior to the 2019 season and is named Jim Case Stadium in his honor. His teams thrived at home, putting together a 287-193 (.598) winning percentage. "What an unbelievable job Coach Case has done in his 22 years as our head baseball coach here at Jax State," Athletics Director Greg Seitz said. "He has won so many games, awards and championships here but, more importantly, he has run a program based on integrity, hard work and service to our University and community. He has molded so many young men that have gone on to become successful husbands, fathers and members of society, not just baseball players. I'm proud to call him a friend and wish he and his family the very best in his retirement." Success on the field is definitely something that Case has enjoyed in his time with the Gamecocks. He led the Gamecocks to three regular season conference titles in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and then won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title five times in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2019. The Gamecocks appeared in five NCAA Regionals under his guidance and advanced to the 2019 Oxford Regional Championship Game after eliminating Illinois and Clemson from the tournament. Case was voted the OVC Coach of the Year three times, receiving the honor in 2005, 2008 and 2019. He coached 85 all-conference players and 18 All-Americans. Clay Whittemore was named the OVC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, and Garrett Farmer earned OVC Pitcher of the Year accolades in 2019. Three players grabbed OVC Freshman of the Year honors - Donovan Hand in 2005, Todd Cunningham in 2008, Kyle Bluestein in 2009. The Gamecocks have seen 28 players move on to sign with MLB organizations, 22 of which were drafted Cunningham was the highest drafted player in the Jim Case Era when the Atlanta Braves selected him with the first pick of the second round in 2010. Case's Gamecocks competed in the ASUN Conference in his two seasons in 2002-03 and then dominated the OVC over the next 18 seasons before returning to the ASUN in 2022. In the OVC, his teams finished in the top five in 16 of the 17 seasons in which a champion was crowned. They finished in the top three 12 times, seven of which were in the top two. In all, the Gamecocks were 272-150 (.645) in conference play when Case filled out the lineup. His teams won more than 30 games 16 times and won more than 20 league games four times. In 2008, the Gamecocks set an OVC record with 23 conference wins on their way to the conference title. In 16 OVC Tournament appearances, his Gamecocks posted a 38-24 (.680) record. Case took over the Jax State program after a four-year run as an assistant coach at Mississippi State that followed an 11-year stint as an assistant at UAB. JSU will begin a nationwide search to find a new head coach, who will lead the Gamecocks into their first season in Conference USA in 2024. Montana Fouts Wins 2023 Honda Sport Award For the first time in program history, an Alabama softball player has won the Honda Sport Award as Montana Fouts was named this year’s softball recipient from the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards. The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 47 years to the top women athletes across 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, signifying “the best of the best” in college athletics. The winners of this year’s sport awards become finalists for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2023 Honda Cup. JSU Baseball Coach Jim Case Retires
Rob Vaughn Named Alabama Baseball Coach of the community. Roll Tide!” Members of the Collinsville 10U All-Star girls softball team took time to pose for a picture during a recent tournament in Boaz. Collinsville 10U All-Stars Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Rob Vaughn, the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year, has been named the head baseball coach at the University of Alabama. Vaughn is the 33rd head baseball coach in Crimson Tide baseball history. “We are thrilled to welcome Rob Vaughn as the next head baseball coach at The University of Alabama,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. “I talked to a number of people throughout this process and was so impressed with Rob from the start. He is one of the young, bright talents in college baseball and has done an excellent job leading Maryland’s program. The success on the field speaks for itself, but even more impactful were the conversations with those who have played for Rob. We look forward to welcoming Rob, his wife Kayleigh, and children, Wyatt and Beau to Tuscaloosa.” In addition to Vaughn’s hiring, interim head coach Jason Jackson was retained on the coaching staff. Jackson will now serve as the associate head coach of the Crimson Tide while continuing his role as pitching coach. “I could not be prouder of the job Coach Jackson did in serving as our interim head coach for the final six weeks of the season,” said Byrne. “He was incredible at managing a tough situation and ultimately leading this team somewhere it had not been in quite some time. He has great relationships with our team, the department, our fans and beyond, and we are thrilled to keep JJ here in Tuscaloosa and elevate him to associate head coach.” “First off, I’m so very proud of this team and this group of players,” said Jackson. “This team will always hold a special place in Alabama Baseball history. “My family and I are very happy here in Tuscaloosa. I love this university and I love coaching these players and am excited about the opportunity to continue to be able to do that. Rob has done an amazing job at Maryland and I know he will be a great fit here as well. I’m thankful for the opportunity and look forward to working together. I also want to thank Greg Byrne and the administration for the support of both my family and me and of our program. I know we are all ready to hit the ground running.” Vaughn comes to Tuscaloosa after spending the previous six seasons at the University of Maryland. He led the Terps to a 183-117 record, including an 84-54 mark in Big Ten play, finishing atop the conference standings in both 2022 and 2023 while earning Big Ten Coach of the Year in consecutive seasons. He was a part of the staff for the three winningest seasons in Maryland history, including the only 40-win seasons for the Terps in 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023. “I could not be more excited to join the Alabama Crimson Tide,” said Vaughn. “The culture, the people and the program speak for themselves. Watching the team from afar, I could tell just how special it is, and I cannot wait to get started and help get this group get back to Omaha. The fact that Coach Jackson will be here by my side makes me even more excited because he’s done such an incredible job and will be a big part of what we do going forward.” “I want to thank Greg Byrne and the administration for this opportunity of a lifetime. My family and I are thrilled for the move to Tuscaloosa and look forward to being part
Maryland put together a 42-21 record in 2023, claiming the first Big Ten Tournament Championship in program history and a second consecutive Big Ten title. The Terps also advanced to a third straight NCAA Regional and eclipsed the 40-win mark for the fourth time in program history. For his efforts, Vaughn was named the 2022 ABCA/ ATEC East Region Coach of the Year. Maryland’s high-powered offense set the program records for runs (578), hits (684), walks (385) and RBI (552) in 2023. The roster was highlighted by Big Ten Player of the Year Matt Shaw who compiled a .361 average with 23 home runs and 66 RBI across 55 games. He became Maryland’s all-time home run leader with 52 for his career and tied for the Big Ten lead in batting average at .412. The 2023 team built on the success of Vaughn’s 2022 squad that earned the first Big Ten Championship in program history as part of a 48-14 record. One of the most historic seasons for Maryland baseball, the 2022 team set the program record for wins and conference wins (18) to claim the Terps’ first regular-season conference championship since 1971 on the way to hosting the NCAA College Park Regional. Vaughn’s 2022 team featured Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-American Chris Alleyne. The fifth- year senior led the conference in homers, RBI and total bases while ranking second in hits and slugging, and third in stolen bases. Alleyne joined Ryan Ramsey and Jason Savacool in earning All-America honors with the trio helping to make up a collection of six players on the First Team All-Big Ten list. Maryland finished 2021 at 30-18 against an all-Big Ten schedule, advancing to its first NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. Vaughn’s 2020 squad went 10-5 during the pandemic-shortened season, one-year removed from a 2019 season that finished at 29-29. That 2019 team saw a then-program record six student-athletes earn All-Big Ten honors, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year Marty Costes. Including Costes, Vaughn has coached 29 players who have been drafted or signed professional contracts during his time as a coach. The list of pro players under Vaughn is highlighted by Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays along with LaMonte Wade Jr. of the San Francisco Giants. Vaughn’s time in College Park began as an assistant from 2013-17. He served under the title of assistant for two seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in July of 2016. Maryland won 30 games in each of his five seasons as an assistant, a school-record streak for 30-win campaigns. Vaughn began his coaching career at his alma mater, Kansas State. He served the 2011-12 seasons as the Wildcats’ volunteer assistant coach after spending the 2010 season as a student assistant. He entered the coaching ranks following a two-year stint in the Chicago White Sox organization. Vaughn was selected in the 30th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Sox following a four-year career at Kansas State. As a collegiate catcher, Vaughn helped KSU reach the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
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