Bobby Pierce Becomes Troy All-Time Baseball Wins Leader
[gtxvideo vid=”mN57Ezle” playlist=”” pid=”XiOflQdH” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/mN57Ezle.jpg” vtitle=”Bobby Pierce Becomes Troy All-Time Baseball Wins Leader”]
TROY, Alabama – Troy head coach Bobby Pierce won his 435th game with a 4-1 decision over Alabama A&M on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field. Pierce passes legendary Troy baseball coach Chase Riddle as the program’s winningest coach.
Riddle coached the Trojans from 1979 to 1990 leading the team to 434 wins, six regional titles, five Gulf South Conference crowns and two national championships.
Pierce took over the program in 2003 and has led the team to four conference titles and four NCAA Regional appearances; he’s produced 15 All-Americans and 42 all-conference selections. He is a two-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year and 2011 ANCA South Central Region Coach of the Year.
Since arriving at Troy, Pierce has averaged 35 wins a season and had 28 players sign professional contracts.
“Coach Riddle was a big part of my life and my coaching career,” Pierce said.
“He was always there as a mentor with encouraging words. My love and admiration for him as a man and a baseball coach is at the top of the meter. To have my son coaching by my side and Coach (Mark) Smartt here the entire time means the world.”
Troy assistant coach Mark Smartt has already been tabbed as Pierce’s successor upon his retirement following the 2015 season and also played under Riddle in 1986-87.
“It’s a wonderful day for Troy and for me personally. I played for Coach Riddle and have been side-by-side with Coach Pierce for 13 years, so it’s an emotional day for me,” Smartt said. “I know both men very well and I’m very excited that Coach Pierce got to break this record because I know how much it would have meant to Coach Riddle.”
