A History of West Virginia Mountaineers Baseball
The West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team represents West Virginia University (WVU) in NCAA Division I baseball. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, the Mountaineers have a rich baseball history dating back to the late 19th century. As of June 2025, the program has been a member of the Big 12 Conference since 2013 and plays its home games at Kendrick Family Ballpark. Steve Sabins has been the head coach since before the 2025 season.
Early Program History
Established in 1892, the West Virginia University baseball program stands as one of the oldest in the nation. Over the years, WVU has competed in various conferences, including the Southern Conference, the Atlantic 10, and the Big East. The Mountaineers transitioned to the Big 12 Conference in 2013, joining a highly competitive baseball environment.
Coaching Legends
Steve Harrick
Steve Harrick served as the head coach of the West Virginia University baseball team for 20 seasons, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in program history. He compiled an impressive career record of 334-160-1, resulting in a .678 winning percentage. Harrick's teams enjoyed consistent success throughout the 1960s, a decade that cemented his legacy in WVU baseball history. The Mountaineers posted multiple 20-win seasons during this era and were perennial contenders in the Southern Conference. His 1963 squad achieved a 30-3 record-the first 30-win season in school history-and finished ranked No. Throughout his tenure, Harrick developed numerous standout players, with 18 of his former athletes going on to be selected by professional organizations. Harrick also coached WVU's first baseball All-America selection, outfielder Bill Marovic, in 1964.
Dale Ramsburg
Dale Ramsburg, nicknamed “The Rammer,” led the Mountaineers from 1968 to 1994 and remains one of the most successful coaches in school history. Ramsburg guided the Mountaineers to four NCAA Tournament appearances (1982, 1985, 1987, and 1994). His 1994 squad set a school record with 40 wins, finishing the season 40-21. He was twice named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, earning the honor in both 1988 and 1990, and was selected as Eastern Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1994. A total of 27 of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
Greg Van Zant
Van Zant was the third baseman for West Virginia University from 1980 to 1983. In just his second season at the helm, Van Zant guided the Mountaineers to a 33-25 record in 1996, capturing the Big East American Division title and winning the Big East Conference Tournament. Van Zant was named Big East Conference Coach of the Year twice, in 1997 and 2003. Under his leadership, the Mountaineers produced several strong seasons, including a 36-19 campaign in 2003. However, the latter part of his tenure saw a decline in performance, culminating in a 23-32 record in 2012.
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Randy Mazey
Randy Mazey took on the challenge of making the Mountaineers competitive in one of the strongest baseball conferences in the country. Despite playing home games at multiple locations due to facility limitations, his first team in the 2013 season exceeded expectations, finishing 33-26 overall and 13-11 in Big 12 play during WVU's debut season in the conference. The program saw significant growth under Mazey, who guided West Virginia back to national prominence. Under his leadership, the Mountaineers made several major milestones: in 2017, WVU returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996; in 2019, they hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time since 1955, finishing the season 38-22 and ranked No. 21 nationally. In 2023, Mazey led WVU to a share of its first-ever Big 12 regular-season title, tying a school record with 40 wins and securing another NCAA Tournament appearance. In his final season in 2024, he guided the program to its first NCAA Super Regional in school history, going 3-0 in the Tucson Regional and finishing the year 36-24 and ranked No. Mazey announced his retirement following the 2024 season. Over 12 seasons at WVU, he compiled a 372-274 overall record, including a 133-133 mark in Big 12 play. His teams went 15-20 in Big 12 Conference Tournament games and 7-8 in NCAA Tournament competition.
Steve Sabins
Following the 2024 season and the retirement of longtime head coach Randy Mazey, veteran assistant Steve Sabins was named the 20th head coach in West Virginia baseball history. In his first season at the helm, Sabins guided the Mountaineers to an impressive 44-16 record and a Big 12 regular-season championship. West Virginia swept the Clemson Regional with two wins over Kentucky Wildcats and one over the No. 11 ranked Clemson Tigers. With the regional title, the Mountaineers advanced to the Baton Rouge Super Regional-marking their second consecutive Super Regional appearance-where they were eliminated by the No.
NCAA Tournament Appearances and Conference Success
As of June 2025, the Mountaineers have made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most recent appearance coming during the 2025 season. The team has also won five conference tournament championships, along with 21 conference titles and nine division titles over its history.
Kendrick Family Ballpark
Kendrick Family Ballpark, originally named Monongalia County Ballpark, has served as the home of West Virginia Mountaineers baseball since its opening in 2015. As of the 2025 season, the Mountaineers have compiled a 162-81 record at the ballpark. The stadium has been the site of numerous key Big 12 victories, non-conference matchups, and memorable moments, including hosting an NCAA Regional in 2019. These events have played a significant role in the team's overall success and postseason appearances during this era. With a fixed seating capacity of 3,500. The stadium's inaugural game took place on April 10, 2015, when WVU defeated Butler 6-5 in 13 innings. In 2024, West Virginia University officially renamed its baseball stadium Kendrick Family Ballpark at the Monongalia County Baseball Complex in honor of alumnus and Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, following a major gift from the Kendrick family. The donation supports facility upgrades, most notably the construction of a new 8,200-square-foot indoor pitching and hitting facility, scheduled for completion in February 2025.
Conference Affiliations
West Virginia competed in the Big East Conference from 1996 to 2012, during which time the conference sponsored baseball and featured 12 baseball-playing members. West Virginia has been a member of the Big 12 Conference since 2013.
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Notable Players
West Virginia has produced numerous nationally recognized players and coaches. The program boasts multiple First Team All-Americans, including JJ Wetherholt, Alek Manoah, Jedd Gyorko, and Chris Enochs. Several players have earned Conference Player, Pitcher, and Freshman of the Year honors in the Atlantic 10, Big East, and Big 12 conferences. Several Mountaineers have gone on to play professionally, including Major League Baseball standouts like Jedd Gyorko, John Means, and Alek Manoah, who was a first-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 and made his MLB debut in 2021.
Read also: Recent NCAA Baseball Standouts
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