OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Dave Gage, previously the head baseball coach at Southern Vermont College, has been named head baseball coach at Stevenson University, Director of Athletics Brett Adams announced Thursday. Gage, who begins his tenure immediately, becomes the third baseball coach in Mustang program history.
"What impressed myself as well as the selection committee was not only the success he guided the Southern Vermont program to during his tenure, but his energy and enthusiasm that we know he will bring to the Stevenson baseball program.," said Adams. "I have no doubt that he will continue the success the Mustang baseball program has had both on, but most importantly, off the field."
"I'd like to thank athletic director Brett Adams and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to lead Stevenson baseball into its next chapter. The program has tremendous potential on and off the field, and I am excited to continue to build a program that can reach that level," said Gage. "Coach (Jason) Tawney has done a tremendous job building the baseball program at Stevenson. We will continue the tradition he has built and strive to reach even higher levels."
"It will be our goal to not only build a championship program on the baseball field but a championship program of people. Our players will be held to the highest standard of excellence for us to achieve success in all facets of our lives, including post graduation."
Gage, a 2010 alum of SVC, was named head coach of the Mountaineer baseball program in May, 2012 following one season as the program's pitching coach. In 2016, Gage guided Southern Vermont to a school-record 20 victories and a runner-up finish in the New England Collegiate Conference. Two players were selected to the D3baseball.com "Team of the Week".
Over his tenure, Gage coached a total of nine NECC All-Conference performers, while a pair of players went on to play professionally. In the classroom, Gage's program found success with three players being named to the NECC Academic All-Conference Team. The 2016 and 2017 squads each posted over a 3.0 GPA after the 2013 team also finished the year with a team GPA over 3.0.
From 2008-2011, Gage was the starting second baseman for the Mountaineers and served as one of the team's captains during his final three seasons. His leadership and play helped guide his team to the NECC playoffs in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the first three playoff appearances in program history. A career .305 hitter, Gage holds many school records, as he is the school's all-time leader in saves and hit by pitches. Gage also has the highest career on-base percentage (.480) in school history and ranks second in games played for the Mountaineers.
Gage has also been actively involved in summer baseball, serving as field manager and director of player development for the Wachusett (Mass.) Dirt Dawgs of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in 2015. He was also the pitching coach for the league's Pittsfield (Mass.) Suns in 2012. Gage got his start in coaching while a student at Southern Vermont, guiding the Tri-County Bees 18U squad from 2007-11.
The valedictorian of the 2010 graduating class at Southern Vermont, Gage completed his undergraduate degree in sport management in three years. While at SVC, he also served as the athletic department's transportation coordinator. Inducted into the SVC Hall of Fame in 2016, Gage married his wife Hannah in August, 2017.