LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee athletic director Jan Hathorn has announced that baseball coach Jeff Stickley has decided to begin phased retirement.
Stickley could remain with the university for up to four years as an associate professor of physical education, but will no longer be coaching the baseball team.
"It has been my pleasure to be a part of the Washington and Lee baseball program for 31 years, including 29 years as the head coach," said Stickley. "The support granted me by the University and its administration has been second to none and I would like to thank Bill McHenry for hiring me and showing confidence in a young coach. I would also like to thank Mike Walsh for his influence in the program and my development as a coach, and Jan Hathorn for being a great supporter of both me and the baseball program. As for coaching football, I was lucky to work with some tremendous coaches, including one of the biggest influences of my life, coach Gary Fallon."
Stickley added "I would also like to thank all of the assistant coaches I have had. They are all special to me, including my assistant for the last nine years, Brian Smith. Most importantly, I would like to recognize all of the players that have invested in the program and enhanced my life and experience as a coach. They helped make W&L a special place to coach and I am grateful. I look forward to the next four years and the continued pleasure of working at Washington and Lee."
Stickley has served as W&L's head baseball coach since 1987, amassing a 426-422-4 (.502) overall record across his 29 seasons. He is the Generals all-time wins leader in the sport, totaling 198 more wins than any skipper in school history.
"It is with a mix of happiness and sadness that I accept Jeff Stickley's decision to retire from coaching and enter our university's phased retirement plan," said Hathorn. "We couldn't be more happy for Jeff and his family that he has decided to move into this phase of his life and career. Yet, we are admittedly sad to see the era of W&L baseball under Coach Stickley come to a close. Jeff has been an excellent leader and role model in so many ways: To the men in our program; to many of us within the Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation Department; and to his colleagues and peers within the conference and within Division III baseball. I want to thank Jeff for everything he has done throughout his entire W&L career to represent himself and the University with class, and we wish him and his family only the best as he transitions into this new phase of his life."
A four-time ODAC Coach of the Year, Stickley guided W&L to eight seasons of 20 or more wins and 11 straight winning seasons from 1999-2009. Additionally, the Generals advanced to the ODAC Tournament 11 times in his final 13 seasons, claiming the program's first ODAC title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2009.
W&L advanced to the ODAC title game four times during his tenure, including in 2003 when the Generals set a program record with 28 wins (28-8).
W&L baseball players experienced unprecedented success under Stickley's watch, with 35 players earning First Team All-ODAC honors, including three Players of the Year. Eight players earned Academic All-America laurels, while Michael Hanson became just the second All-American in program history when he was named to the Third Team in 2003.
In addition to coaching baseball, Stickley served as assistant football coach from 1987-2004, including six seasons as the team's offensive coordinator. He is in his second stint at W&L after serving as an assistant baseball and football coach from 1982-85. In between, he was the athletic director and head baseball coach at Lexington High School from 1985-87.
A national search for a new baseball coach will begin shortly.