HEAD COACH GARY RUNDLES

Head Coach Gary Rundles brings 28 years of coaching experience into a Tiger program that carries high expectations into every season. Last season, Rundles led the Tigers to a 45-19 record, complete with the school's first GSC Championship since 1992. The 45 wins was the most ever for a Tiger program, and UWA appeared in the Regional Tournament in Cleveland, Miss. He also earned GSC Coach of the Year honors.

From his beginnings as a coach and teacher of the game at Central High School in Harrison, Tenn., to his current status as one of the most well-known coaches in the Southeast, Rundles attacks every season with a burning desire to succeed and a firm belief in fundamental baseball.

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 posted a record of 372-277 at Carson-Newman while winning five Conference Titles and finishing runner-up on four occasions. He guided the Eagles to a Division II College World Series berth in 1999, earning Conference, Region, an Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year" honors. He also led Carson-Newman to the NAIA World Series in 1993 and has been named Conference Coach of the Year on five 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 Eagle staff, he was promoted to the head coach.

Today, Rundles brings the same tireless work ethic in recruiting, motivating and teaching the game to West Alabama. A firm believer in dedication and discipline, he leads by example and achieves success through hard work.  Rundles, 51, is a native of Chattanooga, Tenn. He is married to the former Joan Lambert of Jefferson  City, Tenn. They have three children, Alley, Megan, and a son Richard, who plays professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinal organization.