Buddy Bolding
Encyclopedia
Buddy Bolding is an American baseball coach of the Longwood University
Lancers baseball team. Longwood is an NCAA Division I Independent competitor.
Bolding's tenure at Longwood is highlighted by six appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, and two trips to the Division II College World Series. Bolding's 1982 team was the first team to reach the national championship with a 31-10-1 record. The 1991 squad completed a school-record 41-8 campaign while advancing to the final four of the national championship. Bolding's 2007 and 2010 teams finished 34-19 and 28-20 respectively and was the #1 ranked Independent Division I team in the NCAA in each of those two seasons, and finished 28-18 in 2011 as the #2 ranked team, posting marquee wins over Indiana, Princeton, Army, West Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, James Madison, The Citadel, George Mason, Old Dominion, William and Mary, Samford, Virginia Commonwealth, Delaware, Liberty, Radford, Furman and Richmond from 2005-2011.
Longwood was third in the North Atlantic Region Tournament in 1993 after winning seven games in a row at season's end, finishing 26-9-1. Bolding teams have also notched third-place finishes in the North Atlantic in 1992 and the South Atlantic Region Tournament in 1984 and 1987. Bolding reached the 900-victory milestone May 10, 2011 with a 6-4 victory past James Madison University on the road in Harrisonburg, Va. Bolding reached 800 victories in 2008, 700 victories in 2004, 600 victories in 2000, 500 victories in 1997, 400 victories in 1993, 300 victories in 1990, 200 victories in 1986, and 100 victories in 1983. During his five-decade career, he has been ejected only six times.
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Fifteen of Bolding's former players either have been chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft (MLB) since 1988 or have signed as Free Agents. Kansas City chose Longwood outfielder Frankie Watson (7th-R) and shortstop Kelvin Davis (24th-R) in 1988, while in 1992, the Royals drafted Lancer shortstop Michael Tucker (1st-R, #10 overall) and catcher Scott Abell (37th-R). Outfielder LaRon Wilson (17th-R) was drafted by the New York Mets in 2002, and catcher Jeremy Knicely (42nd-R) was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. Lancer slugger Charlie Yarbrough (7th-R) was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, Kevin Light signed with the Washington Nationals in 2008, pitcher Paul Heidler signed with the New York Yankees in 2009, third baseman Phil Cerreto was drafted (40th-R) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010, and power closer Mark Montgomery (11th-R) was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2011. Additionally pitcher Derrick Ellison signed with the New York Mets in 2008. Former Longwood outfielder Brian Medley signed with the San Diego Padres in 2004. Additionally, pitcher Brian McCullough signed as a Free Agent with teams in the Frontier and Atlantic Leagues in 2007-2011, and catcher Jonathan Quigley signed with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League in 2009.
Tucker was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 1992 and was the clean-up hitter for team U.S.A in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He later played for Kansas City (twice), Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago (Cubs), San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, and New York (Mets) in his twelve-year Major League Career. Made the National League All-Star Ballot in 1997 with the Atlanta Braves, where he hit the first home run in Turner Field and the first two home runs in Turner Field.
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Bolding has served on many NCAA/USA Today/ESPN/ABCA committees. He was a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II National Committee, and was an area representative for the North Atlantic Region of the ABCA—one of eight nationwide as a liaison between the region’s coaches and the ABCA advisory committee. Additionally, Bolding has served on NCAA regional selection committees nine times, and presently serves on national Division I coaches polls for ranking of all Division I teams.
Throughout his career, Bolding has been highly regarded by his players and peers. In 2009, by special resolution of its Board of Visitors, Longwood University named its baseball complex, Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium, in honor of the legendary coach and established the Charles B. And Andrea G. Bolding Scholarship in honor of the couple's thirty plus years of devoted service to the university (Bolding's wife, Andrea, has been the voice of Lancer Baseball throughout her husband's career). In 1983 Bolding was appointed to the U.S.A Baseball Tryout Staff by the Olympic Committee for team U.S.A. He has been regarded throughout his long career as a master offensive baseball mind, with Longwood squads winning national team batting titles/categories numerable times. He was voted South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1982, and Virginia College Division Coach of the Year in 1997, 1993, 1991, and 1984. Bolding has been chosen Longwood Male Coach of the Year a record seven times.
, Virginia, where he was a multi-sport standout in Football, Baseball, and Track for coaches Jim Hammond and Jerry Eckart. In 1966, he was named the county's Athlete of the Year. As the first Bedford County, Virginia, athlete of American Indian ancestry to win this honor, Bolding was presented the award by legendary Bedford County resident and former Carlisle Indian School quarterback, Gus Welch, teammate of the immortal Jim Thorpe. Bolding later coached the Staunton River High School Golden Eagles to championships in varsity Cross Country, Baseball, and Eighth Grade Basketball before moving to college coaching.
Later played for the Elizabethton Twins
after returning from the Army.
Was a multi-event standout in Track and Field at Milligan College, Tennessee, setting school records in the 440, Pole Vault, Discus, and Javelin. Posted a 47.8 sec 440 outdoor time in the 1972 Davidson Relays. His college track coach, who also coached NBA coach, Del Harris and Auburn basketball coach and Charles Barkley mentor, Sonny Smith, was the renowned Duard B. Walker.
"I feel he's a player's coach," former All-American shortstop John Sullivan once told a sportswriter. "Coach gets the most out of you he possibly can. When I arrived at Longwood, I was a decent player, and when I left I was an All-American."
A highly successful high school coach, Bolding guided his alma mater, Staunton River High in Bedford County, Virginia to a 47-22 baseball mark before becoming head baseball coach at Longwood.
Bolding served a year tour of duty in Vietnam (1969–70) as a U.S. Army combat medic with Second Field Force, then received his B.S. in health, physical education and recreation from Milligan (Tenn.) College in 1973, and his M.S. from the University of Tennessee
in 1974.
Married Andrea Lynne Gobble of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Three children: Lauren, Suzanne, and Brad—all of whom attended and two who graduated from Longwood (Son, Brad, also played as a Lancer before graduating from Old Dominion University).
Longwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
Lancers baseball team. Longwood is an NCAA Division I Independent competitor.
Coaching career
Bolding is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Baseball, and accomplished the rare feat of moving the Longwood University Lancer Baseball program successfully from Division III beginning in 1978, to Division II in 1981, and up to Division I in 2005.Longwood University
Bolding has carried Longwood to 30 winning seasons in 33 years to date. His coaching record stands at 900-495-4 as of 2011.Bolding's tenure at Longwood is highlighted by six appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, and two trips to the Division II College World Series. Bolding's 1982 team was the first team to reach the national championship with a 31-10-1 record. The 1991 squad completed a school-record 41-8 campaign while advancing to the final four of the national championship. Bolding's 2007 and 2010 teams finished 34-19 and 28-20 respectively and was the #1 ranked Independent Division I team in the NCAA in each of those two seasons, and finished 28-18 in 2011 as the #2 ranked team, posting marquee wins over Indiana, Princeton, Army, West Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, James Madison, The Citadel, George Mason, Old Dominion, William and Mary, Samford, Virginia Commonwealth, Delaware, Liberty, Radford, Furman and Richmond from 2005-2011.
Longwood was third in the North Atlantic Region Tournament in 1993 after winning seven games in a row at season's end, finishing 26-9-1. Bolding teams have also notched third-place finishes in the North Atlantic in 1992 and the South Atlantic Region Tournament in 1984 and 1987. Bolding reached the 900-victory milestone May 10, 2011 with a 6-4 victory past James Madison University on the road in Harrisonburg, Va. Bolding reached 800 victories in 2008, 700 victories in 2004, 600 victories in 2000, 500 victories in 1997, 400 victories in 1993, 300 victories in 1990, 200 victories in 1986, and 100 victories in 1983. During his five-decade career, he has been ejected only six times.
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Fifteen of Bolding's former players either have been chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft (MLB) since 1988 or have signed as Free Agents. Kansas City chose Longwood outfielder Frankie Watson (7th-R) and shortstop Kelvin Davis (24th-R) in 1988, while in 1992, the Royals drafted Lancer shortstop Michael Tucker (1st-R, #10 overall) and catcher Scott Abell (37th-R). Outfielder LaRon Wilson (17th-R) was drafted by the New York Mets in 2002, and catcher Jeremy Knicely (42nd-R) was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. Lancer slugger Charlie Yarbrough (7th-R) was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, Kevin Light signed with the Washington Nationals in 2008, pitcher Paul Heidler signed with the New York Yankees in 2009, third baseman Phil Cerreto was drafted (40th-R) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010, and power closer Mark Montgomery (11th-R) was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2011. Additionally pitcher Derrick Ellison signed with the New York Mets in 2008. Former Longwood outfielder Brian Medley signed with the San Diego Padres in 2004. Additionally, pitcher Brian McCullough signed as a Free Agent with teams in the Frontier and Atlantic Leagues in 2007-2011, and catcher Jonathan Quigley signed with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League in 2009.
Tucker was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 1992 and was the clean-up hitter for team U.S.A in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He later played for Kansas City (twice), Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago (Cubs), San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, and New York (Mets) in his twelve-year Major League Career. Made the National League All-Star Ballot in 1997 with the Atlanta Braves, where he hit the first home run in Turner Field and the first two home runs in Turner Field.
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Bolding has served on many NCAA/USA Today/ESPN/ABCA committees. He was a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II National Committee, and was an area representative for the North Atlantic Region of the ABCA—one of eight nationwide as a liaison between the region’s coaches and the ABCA advisory committee. Additionally, Bolding has served on NCAA regional selection committees nine times, and presently serves on national Division I coaches polls for ranking of all Division I teams.
Throughout his career, Bolding has been highly regarded by his players and peers. In 2009, by special resolution of its Board of Visitors, Longwood University named its baseball complex, Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium, in honor of the legendary coach and established the Charles B. And Andrea G. Bolding Scholarship in honor of the couple's thirty plus years of devoted service to the university (Bolding's wife, Andrea, has been the voice of Lancer Baseball throughout her husband's career). In 1983 Bolding was appointed to the U.S.A Baseball Tryout Staff by the Olympic Committee for team U.S.A. He has been regarded throughout his long career as a master offensive baseball mind, with Longwood squads winning national team batting titles/categories numerable times. He was voted South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1982, and Virginia College Division Coach of the Year in 1997, 1993, 1991, and 1984. Bolding has been chosen Longwood Male Coach of the Year a record seven times.
Staunton River High School
Graduated from Staunton River High SchoolStaunton River High School
Staunton River High School is one of the three high schools in Bedford County, Virginia. SRHS opened in 1964.-Mission statement:The primary mission of Staunton River High School isto assist all students in acquiring the knowledge...
, Virginia, where he was a multi-sport standout in Football, Baseball, and Track for coaches Jim Hammond and Jerry Eckart. In 1966, he was named the county's Athlete of the Year. As the first Bedford County, Virginia, athlete of American Indian ancestry to win this honor, Bolding was presented the award by legendary Bedford County resident and former Carlisle Indian School quarterback, Gus Welch, teammate of the immortal Jim Thorpe. Bolding later coached the Staunton River High School Golden Eagles to championships in varsity Cross Country, Baseball, and Eighth Grade Basketball before moving to college coaching.
Playing career
Played his college baseball under Frosty Holt and Bobby Wilson at Carson-Newman College, Tennessee.Later played for the Elizabethton Twins
Elizabethton Twins
The Elizabethton Twins are a minor league baseball team in Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Minnesota Twins since 1974. The Twins play home games at Joe O'Brien Field...
after returning from the Army.
Was a multi-event standout in Track and Field at Milligan College, Tennessee, setting school records in the 440, Pole Vault, Discus, and Javelin. Posted a 47.8 sec 440 outdoor time in the 1972 Davidson Relays. His college track coach, who also coached NBA coach, Del Harris and Auburn basketball coach and Charles Barkley mentor, Sonny Smith, was the renowned Duard B. Walker.
Personal
Hometown: Hardy, Va. Coached more than 60 baseball players who became highly successful high school and college coaches. Bolding is known to be close to his players."I feel he's a player's coach," former All-American shortstop John Sullivan once told a sportswriter. "Coach gets the most out of you he possibly can. When I arrived at Longwood, I was a decent player, and when I left I was an All-American."
A highly successful high school coach, Bolding guided his alma mater, Staunton River High in Bedford County, Virginia to a 47-22 baseball mark before becoming head baseball coach at Longwood.
Bolding served a year tour of duty in Vietnam (1969–70) as a U.S. Army combat medic with Second Field Force, then received his B.S. in health, physical education and recreation from Milligan (Tenn.) College in 1973, and his M.S. from the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in 1974.
Married Andrea Lynne Gobble of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Three children: Lauren, Suzanne, and Brad—all of whom attended and two who graduated from Longwood (Son, Brad, also played as a Lancer before graduating from Old Dominion University).