Columbus State University Men's Baseball

The winningest coach in Columbus State baseball history, Greg Appleton, is entering his 29th season at the helm of the Cougars in 2025-26. With a record of 997-520 with Columbus State, Appleton has established himself as one of the best NCAA Division II coaches in the nation. His overall winning percentage puts him inside the top-20 on the NCAA Division II winningest active coaches list and top-50 of all-time.  In his 28 years in charge of the CSU program, Appleton has led the Cougars to the 2002 National Championship, national runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2018, 13 NCAA postseason appearances, four Division II College World Series Appearances, two Peach Belt Conference regular season championships, and five PBC Tournament championships. Overall, Appleton holds an overall coaching record of 1,124-597 entering the 2025-26 year. Appleton led Columbus State to its first-ever National Championship in 2002 as the Cougars finished the year with a 48-15 record. In the World Series, the Cougars fell in the opening game to Central Missouri but rebounded to win five straight, including three in their final at-bat. CSU defeated Cal State-Chico 5-3 in the championship game to bring the title home to Columbus. In 2007, the Cougars set a new school record for victories with a 51-19 mark as Appleton led CSU to the national championship game before falling to Tampa.  Columbus State had another outstanding season in 2011 as the Cougars won the Peach Belt Conference West Division. The Cougars finished the season with a 32-19 record and advanced to the Southeast Regional for the second consecutive season.  The Cougars returned to postseason play in 2014, posting a 40-17 mark and reaching the NCAA Tournament Southeast Region final. Appleton coached seven All-PBC players, the most in program history, and recorded the school’s 10th 40-win season. During the year, Appleton recorded a milestone victory, recording his 600th career Cougar victory against Francis Marion on March 21. The program also won its 1,500th game during the 2014 season. CSU put together one of its best seasons under Appleton's watch in 2016. The Cougars won both the PBC regular season and tournament championships and earned the host spot in the NCAA Southeast Regional. The Cougars featured arguably the country's top offense, leading the nation in runs and hits, while ranking in the top 10 nationally in runs per game, home runs, and slugging percentage. Appleton and the Cougars were at it again in 2018, matching the second-highest win total in program history with a 48-15 mark. The Cougars received the four seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional, winning their first two games before falling into the loser's bracket. CSU would battle back, though, winning three straight games to capture the regional title and a spot in the World Series. Columbus State reached the national championship game for the fourth time in program history, ultimately falling to Augustana. Appleton has coached nearly 100 All-Conference players, over 20 All-American players, and 28 players who have signed professional contracts. In 2014, former Cougar All-American Jason Rogers made his Major League debut, becoming the first ever Cougar to play in a MLB game. Kolton Ingram, class of 2019 and CSU all-time career strikeout holder, made his MLB debut in June 2023 with the Angels. Additionally, Appleton has coached four Peach Belt Players of the Year (Bouras 2000, Pittmon 2004, Rogers 2010, Scott 2013), two Peach Belt Pitchers of the Year (Pierce 1999, Noles 2008), two Peach Belt Freshmen of the Year (Bouras 1998, Bouton 2021) and a NCAA DII Pitcher of the Year (Noles 2008).  In addition, Appleton was named the National Coach of the Year in 2002, the South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2007 and the Southeast Regional Coach of the Year in 2018. Before arriving at Columbus State, Appleton restarted the Young Harris baseball program in 1994 leading the Mountain Lions to a 127-74 mark in four seasons. Prior to assuming his duties at Young Harris, Appleton was an assistant coach at the University of Georgia from 1987-92. He was the pitching coach for the Bulldogs and helped lead the team to the 1990 NCAA National Championship. He also helped guide the Bulldogs to the 1987 Southeastern Conference crown and a trip to Omaha for the NCAA College World Series.  Appleton worked his way into coaching after serving as a graduate assistant coach for UGA during the 1985 and ’86 seasons. He was a player for the Bulldogs from 1981-84 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, as well as a Masters of Education in Sports Management, both from UGA.  Appleton, born in Chicago but a lifelong resident of Atlanta, is married to the former Anne Ferrell of Snellville, Georgia, who works as an Administrative Assistant/Athletics Photographer in the CSU Athletic Department. The Appleton’s have a daughter, Kaylee. Milestone Victories • 500th Columbus State victory: March 11, 2011 vs. Ohio Dominican (2-1) • 600th Columbus State victory: March 21, 2014 vs. Francis Marion (6-4) • 700th Columbus State victory: February 24, 2017 vs. Georgia Southwestern (8-3) • 1,000th Career victory: March 19, 2022 vs. Augusta (12-5) • 900th Columbus State victory: February 5, 2023 vs. West Alabama (12-0) Appleton's CSU Record Year-By-Year  Season Overall Record PBC Record Postseason 1998 34-27 14-14 South Atlantic Regional (1-2) 1999 34-16 20-9 --- 2000 32-24 19-11 --- 2001 37-19 15-15 --- 2002 48-15 21-9 National Champions (8-1) 2003 33-20 15-14 --- 2004 40-21 20-10 Division II College World Series (4-2) 2005 22-30 10-20 --- 2006 41-20 16-11 South Atlantic Regional (0-2) 2007 51-19 22-8 Division II College World Series (8-2) 2008 43-19 19-8 South Atlantic Regional (2-2) 2009 27-23 12-14 --- 2010 44-12 16-7 Southeast Regional (2-2) 2011 32-19 16-8 Southeast Regional (0-2) 2012 30-23 15-15 --- 2013 30-22 19-10 --- 2014 40-17 23-7 Southeast Regional (4-2) 2015 35-14 17-2 --- 2016 42-14 23-7 Southeast Regional (0-2) 2017 29-21 15-9 --- 2018 48-15 20-9 Division II College World Series (8-3) 2019 31-20 15-14 --- 2020 18-3 11-1 --- 2021 31-16 19-13 Southeast Regional (2-2) 2022 46-13 20-6 Southeast Super Regional (4-2) 2023       36-17 19-11 Southeast Regional (0-2) 2024 33-21 17-10 --- 2025 30-23 17-10 --- Overall 997-523 485-292 13 Appearances, Record: 43-28

Patrick Collins is in his 24th year as an assistant coach for the Columbus State University baseball program since re-joining the CSU coaching staff in 2003. Collins is the hitting instructor for the Cougar baseball program, works defensively with infielders and serves as the recruiting coordinator. Since re-joining the Columbus State staff, Collins has helped continue the winning tradition of CSU. During his time as an assistant, the Cougars have advanced to 12 NCAA Tournaments including three Division II College World Series appearances with two national runner-up finishes. Columbus State also won the 2006, 2010, 2016 and 2021 Peach Belt Conference Tournaments and the 2008, 2011, 2016 and 2022 PBC regular season titles. In 2016, Collins helped coach arguably the top offense in the country as the Cougars led the nation in runs and hits, and ranked in the top 10 nationally in runs per game, home runs and slugging percentage. Collins' work on the infield also helped the Cougars lead the country in double plays per game, a feat they repeated in 2017 and 2018. Collins played for and coached with current CSU head coach Greg Appleton at Young Harris College, where he was an All-Conference second baseman, team captain and team MVP in 1995. After a back injury ended his playing career, he became an assistant coach and later served as the interim head coach at YHC after Appleton accepted the CSU position in 1998. Collins later followed Appleton to Columbus as he served as a student assistant coach for the Cougars in the 1999 season while obtaining his degree. After earning his degree from CSU, Collins served as recruiting coordinator and worked with hitters and infielders at Division I Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina. He helped lead the team to an appearance in the 2000 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship and then through two years of transition to Division I status. During the transition years, GWU advanced to the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) World Series. Collins is in his 30th year of coaching overall and holds a bachelor’s degree in history from CSU and a master's degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb. He is married to the former Amanda Rains of Snellville, and has two daughters, Carson and Rabun, and one son, Logan.

Styers is in his 13th year as an assistant coach with the Columbus State University baseball program. Styers serves as the first base coach for the Cougars, works defensively with the outfielders and assists with the hitters, as well as recruiting. He is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Ragsdale Field. Since joining the Columbus State staff, Styers has helped lead the Cougars to seven NCAA Tournaments including a Division II College World Series appearance in 2007. Columbus State also won the 2006, 2010 and 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tournaments and the 2008 and 2016 PBC regular season titles. Styers, a former four-year starter at Gardner-Webb University, is ranked among the top in career games played. He was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-Region and honorable mention All-American teams his senior season.   Styers holds a Business Administration degree from Gardner-Webb and an M.B.A. from Columbus State. He is married to the former Emily VanMeter of Wilkesboro, NC. They have a son, Inman, that was born in November of 2013. Sammy Styers Assistant Baseball Coach Sammy Styers is in his 13th year as an assistant coach with the Columbus State University baseball program. Styers serves as the first base coach for the Cougars, works defensively with the outfielders and assists with the hitters, as well as recruiting. He is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Ragsdale Field. Since joining the Columbus State staff, Styers has helped lead the Cougars to seven NCAA Tournaments including a Division II College World Series appearance in 2007. Columbus State also won the 2006, 2010 and 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tournaments and the 2008 and 2016 PBC regular season titles. Styers, a former four-year starter at Gardner-Webb University, is ranked among the top in career games played. He was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-Region and honorable mention All-American teams his senior season.   Styers holds a Business Administration degree from Gardner-Webb and an M.B.A. from Columbus State. He is married to the former Emily VanMeter of Wilkesboro, NC. They have a son, Inman, that was born in November of 2013.