University of West Alabama Men's Baseball

Eric Dubose enters his third season with the University of West Alabama baseball program in 2026.    In his second season as Head Coach of the Tigers, DuBose won the GSC, marking the first GSC Title for West Alabama since 2015. In the middle of the season, UWA held a record of 20-22, before turning their season already, finishing 15-3 to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament. Before the 2025 season, DuBose overhauled the roster, bringing in Joe Watkins, Eli Burwash, Jake Goolsby, Tanner Jones, and Nolan Phillips. In 2025, DuBose arguably put together the best year of his coaching career. Under DuBose's tutelage, Judah Buckner and Bryant Quimby were named All-Region and All-GSC while Buckner was named a Third Team All-American.  Playing 12 years in professional baseball, including five with the Baltimore Orioles, Dubose was drafted straight out of Patrician Academy in Butler, Ala. In the sixth round of the 1994 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he decided to play collegiately at Mississippi State.  During his time in Starkville, he was an All-American in each season in the center of the diamond, including being named a Freshman All-America by Baseball America and Mizuno in 1995.  A two-time All-SEC selection, he led the pitching staff in strikeouts in each of his three seasons. With 428 strikeouts, he still holds the most strikeouts in Starkville. Additionally, he hurled 364.2 innings for second-most in Bulldog history.  During his sophomore year in 1996, he fanned 174 men in 133.1 innings for the second-most in a season.  In 2020, Dubose was inducted into Mississippi State's Ron Polk Ring of Honor. Participating in the USA Collegiate National Team in 1995, he was on the USA National Team in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.  From a 160th selection out of high school in the 1994 MLB Draft to 21st in 1997, Dubose was the seventh first-round selection to come out of Mississippi State as the Oakland Athletics drafted him.  After a four-year stint with the A's in their minor league system, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2002. Starting the season in AA Bowie, he worked his way up to "The Show" at the end of the season. He made his MLB Debut on Sept. 19, 2002 versus the Toronto Blue Jays.  Playing five seasons with the O's, he played in 52 games with 27 starts, posting a 9-15 overall record in 188.1 innings pitched.  Since 2012, he has been the president and co-owner of East Coast Baseball, working as the Director of Pitching and Player Placement Coordinator.  He also served as head coach at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa and an assistant at UWA.  Dubose earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Mississippi State University. 

Rundles brings almost 40 years of coaching experience to the University of West Alabama baseball program, 16 of those running a Tiger program where he has won 539 games and made five NCAA Regional appearances. In all, Rundles has coached 1,503 games as a collegiate head coach. He is 539-315 in 16 years at West Alabama and 911-592 in 29 years as a college head coach. Rundles has been inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame and the Central (Tenn.) High School HOF. The 2015 season was one of the top in Rundles decorated career. He led the Tigers to a nation-leading 20-game winning streak and a 42-11 record before losing in the South Regional to eventual national champion Tampa. Along the way, UWA captured both the regular season and GSC conference tournament titles. All conference, all region and All-America awards were commonplace for UWA players following the 2015 season. The year was capped off by pitchers Tanner Rainey and Gandy Stubblefield being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Rainey was taken by the Cincinnati Reds with the 71st overall selection and Stubblefield by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 28th round. He also earned 2015 GSC coach of the year honors. In 2009 Rundles guided the Tigers to a 38-16 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional along with a conference tournament appearance. It was the fourth regional bid for UWA while under Rundles direction. In 2008, Rundles directed UWA to a 45-13 record, a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament and an appearance in the NCAA South Central Regional in Cleveland, Miss. The 45 wins tied the school record set in 2005. Under Rundles guidance, a GSC- and school-record 12 Tigers were named to the All-GSC teams. UWA also had two All-Americans and three all-region players. In 2007, Rundles led UWA to the Gulf South Conference East Division crown and a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament. The Tigers compiled a 41-16 record and earned a spot in the GSC Tournament Championship Game. Under his mentorship, seven Tigers were named All-GSC with one named to the All-South Central Region Team. In 2006, Rundles guided the Tigers to a 42-22 record, including a runner-up finish in the GSC Tournament and a berth in the South Central Regional. 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 won five conference titles and finished runner-up on four occasions at Carson Newman. He guided the Eagles to a Division II College World Series berth in 1999, earning Conference, Region, and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. He also led Carson-Newman to the NAIA World Series in 1993 and was named conference coach of the year on six 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 Eagles staff he was promoted to head coach. Rundles continues to bring a 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. He also served a term as the chairman of the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee. Rundles, 61, is married to the former Joan Lambert of Jefferson City, Tenn. They have three grown children, Alley, Megan and Richard.   Gary Rundles Head Baseball Coach Twitter: uwa_baseball Head Coach Gary Rundles brings almost 40 years of coaching experience to the University of West Alabama baseball program, 16 of those running a Tiger program where he has won 539 games and made five NCAA Regional appearances. In all, Rundles has coached 1,503 games as a collegiate head coach. He is 539-315 in 16 years at West Alabama and 911-592 in 29 years as a college head coach. Rundles has been inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame and the Central (Tenn.) High School HOF. The 2015 season was one of the top in Rundles decorated career. He led the Tigers to a nation-leading 20-game winning streak and a 42-11 record before losing in the South Regional to eventual national champion Tampa. Along the way, UWA captured both the regular season and GSC conference tournament titles. All conference, all region and All-America awards were commonplace for UWA players following the 2015 season. The year was capped off by pitchers Tanner Rainey and Gandy Stubblefield being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Rainey was taken by the Cincinnati Reds with the 71st overall selection and Stubblefield by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 28th round. He also earned 2015 GSC coach of the year honors. In 2009 Rundles guided the Tigers to a 38-16 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional along with a conference tournament appearance. It was the fourth regional bid for UWA while under Rundles direction. In 2008, Rundles directed UWA to a 45-13 record, a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament and an appearance in the NCAA South Central Regional in Cleveland, Miss. The 45 wins tied the school record set in 2005. Under Rundles guidance, a GSC- and school-record 12 Tigers were named to the All-GSC teams. UWA also had two All-Americans and three all-region players. In 2007, Rundles led UWA to the Gulf South Conference East Division crown and a berth in the GSC Baseball Tournament. The Tigers compiled a 41-16 record and earned a spot in the GSC Tournament Championship Game. Under his mentorship, seven Tigers were named All-GSC with one named to the All-South Central Region Team. In 2006, Rundles guided the Tigers to a 42-22 record, including a runner-up finish in the GSC Tournament and a berth in the South Central Regional. 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 won five conference titles and finished runner-up on four occasions at Carson Newman. He guided the Eagles to a Division II College World Series berth in 1999, earning Conference, Region, and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors. He also led Carson-Newman to the NAIA World Series in 1993 and was named conference coach of the year on six 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 Eagles staff he was promoted to head coach. Rundles continues to bring a 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. He also served a term as the chairman of the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee. Rundles, 61, is married to the former Joan Lambert of Jefferson City, Tenn. They have three grown children, Alley, Megan and Richard.  

A former Tiger relief pitcher, Brock Ward has returned home. A former pitcher and assistant coach at UWA, Ward accepted the full-time position of pitching coach for the Tigers on Jan. 9, 2020.   Ward returned to UWA from the baseball staff at the University of West Florida.   Ward, 29, was a relief pitcher for West Alabama in 2014 and 2015, and after defeating cancer, returned to UWA as a member of the Tiger baseball coaching staff from 2017-19.    In 2025, Ward arguably put together the best year of his coaching career. Ward helped the Tigers to their first GSC Championship since 2015 after his pitching staff registered a 3.89 ERA as a unit. Under Ward’s Tutelage, Judah Buckner and Bryant Quimby were named All-Region and All-GSC while Buckner was named a Third Team All-American.    In 2014 Ward transferred to West Alabama from Mississippi State, then appeared in 16 games, posting an 0-3 record, 2.30 earned run average and three saves for the Tigers. The sidewinder struck out 15 and walked four in 15.2 innings.   As a Tiger senior in 2015 Ward worked in 15 games with one save and a 4.26 ERA as UWA won the Gulf South Conference championship and hosted the NCAA South Regionals. He pitched 12.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs. Ward had eight strikeouts and walked seven in his final year, an average of 5.68 strikeouts per nine innings.   Ward began his playing career at East Central Community College in 2011 before transferring to Mississippi State. He was 1-1 with a 1.80 earned run average as a freshman at ECCC and was 0-0 with a 5.02 ERA as a sophomore at ECCC.   Ward was also named a GSC Academic Honor Roll Member in his two seasons at West Alabama.   He played his high school baseball for Coach Justin Reed at Louisville (Miss.) High School. At LHS he was a two-time first team Division 2-3A selection, 2009 Gold Glove Award, Team MVP and captain in 2010. Ward lettered all four years that he was at Louisville High School.  

Jake Goolsby was named as West Alabama Baseball's Gradaute Assistant after competing with the Tigers in 2025. In the 2025 season, Goolsby served as UWA's First Baseman, starting in 51 games. Goolsby was instrumental in the Tigers capturing their first GSC Tournament Championship in 10 years. The First Baseman hit .247 on the year along with 10 Home Runs and 41 RBIs, including a .375 batting average one Home Run, and eight RBIs in the GSC Tournament, leading to an GSC All-Tournament selection. Before joining the Tigers in 2025, Goolsby had stints at Lawson State CC and UNC Charlotte, collecting 159 hits across his collegiate career.

Collin Scott was announced as the Tigers' Hitting Coach in the summer of 2025. Scott, a native of Richmond, Ohio, recently served as the Tigers Graduate Assistant Coach in 2023 and now returns to UWA in a full time role. In his first stint with West Alabama, Scott served under Head Coach Gary Rundles who currently ranks second in UWA Baseball in career wins. With Scott on the staff, the Tigers hit .279 as a team along with a .368 on base percentage. Under Scott's tutelage, Blake Vineyard, Michael Rich, Colden Peoples, Nick Thibodeau, and Jake Nemith all hit well over .300, with Vineyard, Rich, and Peeples, and Thibodeau carrying on-base percentages over .400.  After a year at UWA, Scott accepted a position at Ashland University under Head Coach John Schaly to be the program's Hitting Coach. In his first year with the Eagles, Scott hit the ground running as Ashland finished atop of the Great Midwest Conference in hitting with a .331 team batting average. With a dominant offense, the Eagles finished the 2024 season with a 42-15 record, winning the Great Midwest Regular Season Conference Championship.  This past season at Ashland, the Eagles offense, led by Scott, was just as good. Scott's offensive Philosophy led the Eagles to a .298 team batting average, 37 win season, and a trip to the NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive season. Under Scott's watchful eye, Max Caron was named the Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year while Sean Krueckeberg was named the Freshman of the Year.  On the summer ball scene, the Richmond, Ohio native coached 11 players that have either signed or drafted in the MLB draft, including Ryan Galanie (White Sox), Jonah Cox (Giants), Mac McCrosky (Angels), and Rhett Lowder (Reds).