ASSISTANT COACHES

Neal Holliman took over as the Tigers' fulltime assistant coach in 2001, and assumed recruiting, bench coaching, practice planning and administrative responsibilities.

"With Neal’s background, character and knowledge of local players in the surrounding area, he’ll be a great asset to the program and the University," said UWA head baseball coach Gary Rundles.

Holliman spent the last three seasons as an assistant at East Central Community College in Decatur, MS, where he helped guide the Warriors to three consecutive Region 23 Tournament appearances and a conference tournament championship. He was an Academic All-Conference third baseman and pitcher at UWA (then Livingston University), before graduating with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1995.

The 32-year-old native of Aliceville, Ala., went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, while playing professional baseball for the Meridian Brakemen of the independent Big South League. He is married to the former Tracy Blackburn of Decatur, Miss. (Aug. 26, 2000).

Graduate Assistant Coach
Hunter Royer

Hunter Royer begins his third season on the West Alabama coaching staff and will serve as volunteer assistant and work with the Tiger outfield.

Royer played two years at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tenn., under Head Coach Larry Works. He also spent the 1996 season playing in the Bluegrass Wooden Bat League in Lexington, Ky.

As a coach, Royer spent the 2003 season at Tuscaloosa County High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He also coached summer ball for eight years, and in 1999 coached the Dixie Pre-Major State Championship team in Tennessee that went on to finish fifth in the World Series.

Royer is a 1995 graduate of Sweetwater High School in Sweetwater, Tenn. He received a degree in Human Performance from the University of Alabama in August of 2003.

Graduate Assistant Coach 
Michael Avalon

Michael Avalon enters his second season on the UWA coaching staff and will serve in the capacity of graduate assistant.

Avalon played his senior season at UWA after playing at GSC East Division rival Lincoln Memorial. In his one season at UWA, he struck out 22 opposing hitters in 19.1 innings of work.

The Jackson, Miss., native played two seasons at Holmes Community College, where he went 6-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 50 innings of work as a sophomore for the Bulldogs. He helped lead the team to a national ranking and a 34-11 record, while earning Second Team All-State and All-Region honors.

Student Assistant Coach 
Cody Brown