27 May 2006

Wallace State Coach Randy Putman inducted in NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—Wallace State (Hanceville) baseball coach Randy Putman was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame Friday night at the JUCO Hall of Fame Banquet in Grand Junction, Colo., the site of the 49th Annual NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series.

   Former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Felix “Tippy” Martinez was the keynote speaker for the pre-tournament event, which brought the 10 tournament teams, organizers, supporters and community members together at Two Rivers Convention Center. Martinez pitched 14 years in the majors, 10 of those for the Baltimore Orioles.

   Three fellow inductees were admitted with Putman to the elite Class of 2006. They included Valis McLean, longtime coach of Allen County (Kan.) Community College; Dan Keely, current athletic director and former baseball coach at Rockland (N.Y.) Community College; and Walt Bergman, director or co-director of JUCO tournament play since 1979.

   This year marks Putman’s 17th season as the head baseball coach at Wallace State, where he has posted an overall record of 653-242. His teams have won seven Conference Championships, six Southeastern Regional Championships and have now made six trips to the Division I JUCO World Series.

   Putman had the rare privilege of having his team with him at the induction ceremony as participants in this year’s JUCO World Series. They gave him a standing ovation when he was introduced as a Hall of Fame inductee.

   Putman has called this honor the highlight of his career. And making it to Grand Junction is his goal for the team every year.

   “I should be getting paid by the city of Grand Junction because I talk about how great it is all year long,” Putman said. “People at home think Grand Junction is a city in Alabama I refer to it so much.”

   Putman spoke about the sport of baseball—America’s favorite pastime--and his eternal love for the game. “Isn’t it the best sport around?” he asked. “Nearly every town in small town America has a baseball field lit up at night. I’m very lucky to be able to do this for a living.”

   He joked that when he married his wife Danna of 26 years, he told her, “I may love baseball more than anything, but I love you more than football or basketball.” Lucky for him, Danna Putman is his team’s biggest supporter. She calls Grand Junction “heaven for baseball.” The Putmans have two daughters, Shelby and Cassidy.

   Putman thanked Wallace State, his assistant coach Chuck Davis, and the current and former players and coaches who have played a significant role in his career.

   Putman was elected into the Alabama Junior College Hall of Fame in 1991. He was selected ACCC Baseball Coach of the Year in 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006 by Louisville Slugger, Diamond Baseball and the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association.

   Before becoming a coach, he played baseball at Calhoun Community College, Jacksonville State University and for three years with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres organization. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree from UAB.

   Prior to assuming the head coaching position at Wallace State in 1988, Putman spent six years as the head baseball coach at Tate High School in Pensacola, Fla. There, his teams had a record of 152-28 and won two state championships and one national championship.

   More than 30 of his players have gone on to play professional baseball. Two played in the Olympics, and 18 are now coaches themselves.

   This year marks Wallace State’s first year to earn back-to-back state championships and back-to-back trips to the World Series. The Lions went undefeated through the Alabama Community College Conference Baseball Tournament, taking out Southern Union, who was ranked No. 5 in the nation, twice.

   Wallace State opens against Yavapai College (Ariz.), currently ranked No. 1, on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).

   For live play-by-play and up-to-date scores and stats, visit www.jucogj.org.

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PHOTOS:

1-2) Wallace State Head Baseball Coach Randy Putman was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame Friday in Grand Junction, Colo.

3-4) Wallace State Head Baseball Coach Randy Putman

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  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu