NAIA/RRAC/Baseball Texas College baseball program was in need of a jolt. With all due respect the Steers hadn’t had a winning season since 2012 which includes 27-27 in 2011. Before then they averaged 15 wins a season in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Their best overall record in that time was their 27-24 mark in 2012.
A once-proud baseball program, the Steers have finished in the middle or at the bottom in the RRAC for some time. They’ve finished no better than second in the RRAC conference standings. Their best overall record was their mark in 2012. And it’s not like the program was winning the hearts of the Lone Star State sending echoes throughout the Rio Grande.
Preceding to that 2012 season, the fact of the matter is there isn’t that much talent for Steer fans to immediately take notice. The program needed a jolt largely to compete in the rugged RRAC.
With the hiring of former Savannah State assistant coach Stanley Stubbs as Texas College head coach earlier this year, I’m anticipating TC getting their needed thunderbolt leading Steers baseball.
Stubbs, the former Savannah State assistant coach will lead Texas College having spent 16 seasons in coaching Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball programs.
Stubbs is such a big name to HBCU coaching base and baseball fans. His resume jumps out at you in his 16 years as a head and assistant coach. His tenure as head coach was an inspiring success by any means.
Stubbs value to any HBCU baseball staff doesn’t come from winning alone; but rather, it comes from his experience in handling all of the harsh duties that comes with being in a baseball program we’re the product is among the most consistent on the field at the end of the day.
Prior to coming to Texas College, arrives with a wealth of experience. Stubbs started his coaching career at Jackson State, 1994-1998, won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship in 1995.
Head coach Paine College in Augusta, GA 1998-2000, winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), SIAC Coach of the Year in 2000.
Albany State head coach in Albany, GA 2001-2002, winning the SIAC conference championships and Coach of the Year both in his two seasons at the helm.
Benedict College head coach 2003.
Stubbs departed from the coaching ranks became the Florida Marlins associate scout, 2004-2006, left coaching opening up a personal training facility for baseball in Corinth, MS.
Resuming his coaching career as Lemoyne Owens College head coach, 2011-2013, hired as Savannah state assistant, 2013-2015 before accepting the Texas Collage job.
Born in Booneville, MS, Stubbs played JUCO college baseball at Northeast Community College in Booneville transferred finished his four-year baseball career at Lane College in Jackson, TN.
Stubbs coaching achievements is not by any coincidence. He was instrumental in recruiting most of the players, had a huge hand in getting the Jackson State program where it is now, which is among the most consistent programs in the SWAC.
With 26 freshmen for the 2016 season, coach Stubbs states “we are young with growing pains” wants to build the program into a RRAC title contender. His ultimate goal, RRAC Conference and a national Championship.
Texas College athletics officially added Shaquille Thomas as Stubbs top assistant and two student assistants, Julian Coffin- Linear and Chris Burroughs to his staff.
The rebuilding at Texas College is probably going to take some time. The success in college baseball starts largely from square one. But with Stubbs leading the way in Tyler, it’s not hard to imagine big things when things do get turned around for good. That will make people immediately sit up and take notice, but he is just the right guy for the Steer program.