Gene Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Gene Stephenson is the head baseball
coach at Wichita State University
. Through 28 seasons, he has compiled a 1552-511-3(.752) record. He has the second most wins among active coaches, and ranks second all time in career victories. Only Augie Garrido
of the University of Texas
has had more wins. He reached 1200 career wins in 22 seasons, faster than any coach in history. On May 21, 2003, he became only the third head coach in NCAA
history to win 1400 games, and on May 21, 2005, he became only the second coach to win 1,500 games. Augie Garrido reached that mark two weeks later, and has since surpassed his win total.
Under his leadership, the Shockers
have made it to seven College World Series
, including NCAA tournament appearances in 24 out of his 27 seasons, including 14 straight from 1987-2000
. His teams have posted winning seasons every single year he has coached. His 1982 team is widely considered one of the best teams in college baseball history. That team went 73-14, establishing an NCAA record for single-season wins. The team, with 4 first team All-Americans (7 overall), finished second to Miami
in the College World Series
. Stephenson did get his first CWS championship in 1989
.
The Shockers established a major rivalry against Oklahoma State University, with the two schools meeting, usually with very high national rankings. His 1989 team, won a school record 24 straight games after starting off 0-1.
Prior to coaching at WSU, he served as an assistant coach at University of Oklahoma
. During that tenure, the Sooners won five league championships, and went to five CWS's.
For most of the day on July 10, 2005, Stephenson was the head coach for the University of Oklahoma
's baseball team. Several hours after accepting the job, Stephenson decided to instead remain at Wichita State, reportedly due to scholarship issues at Oklahoma.
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
coach at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
. Through 28 seasons, he has compiled a 1552-511-3(.752) record. He has the second most wins among active coaches, and ranks second all time in career victories. Only Augie Garrido
Augie Garrido
August Edmun Garrido, Jr. is a coach in NCAA Division I college baseball. As of June 12, 2011, Garrido has compiled a record of 1,817 wins, 823 losses, and 8 ties. He is currently in his 43rd season of collegiate coaching...
of the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
has had more wins. He reached 1200 career wins in 22 seasons, faster than any coach in history. On May 21, 2003, he became only the third head coach in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history to win 1400 games, and on May 21, 2005, he became only the second coach to win 1,500 games. Augie Garrido reached that mark two weeks later, and has since surpassed his win total.
Under his leadership, the Shockers
Wichita State Shockers
The Shockers are the athletic teams at Wichita State University, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years...
have made it to seven College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, including NCAA tournament appearances in 24 out of his 27 seasons, including 14 straight from 1987-2000
2000 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 26 through June 17, 2000. 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA Tournament. The tournament culminates with 8...
. His teams have posted winning seasons every single year he has coached. His 1982 team is widely considered one of the best teams in college baseball history. That team went 73-14, establishing an NCAA record for single-season wins. The team, with 4 first team All-Americans (7 overall), finished second to Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in the College World Series
1982 College World Series
The 1982 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 4 to June 12. The thirty-sixth tournament's champion was the University of Miami, coached by Ron Fraser...
. Stephenson did get his first CWS championship in 1989
1989 College World Series
The 1989 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 2 to June 10. The forty-third tournament's champion was Wichita State University, coached by Gene Stephenson...
.
The Shockers established a major rivalry against Oklahoma State University, with the two schools meeting, usually with very high national rankings. His 1989 team, won a school record 24 straight games after starting off 0-1.
Prior to coaching at WSU, he served as an assistant coach at University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. During that tenure, the Sooners won five league championships, and went to five CWS's.
For most of the day on July 10, 2005, Stephenson was the head coach for the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
's baseball team. Several hours after accepting the job, Stephenson decided to instead remain at Wichita State, reportedly due to scholarship issues at Oklahoma.