Rushing spent 17 seasons as head coach of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ baseball
program. Rushing led his Bulldogs to 11 straight seasons with at least 30 wins.
Overall, he had tallied 30-plus wins 14 times and posted at least 40 wins three
times. In his 17 years at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Rushing's win total has dropped below 30 just
three times (29 in 1993 & 2005, 27 in 1989). Rushing, a 1976 graduate of Â鶹ÊÓƵ
University, won the TranSouth Conference regular season and tournament titles in
2002, and he also lead his Bulldogs to a TranSouth regular season title in 2000.
In the past seven years, Rushing and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Bulldogs have participated in
four NAIA Region Tournaments.
Rushing compiled a 21-year baseball
coaching record of 664 wins and 460 losses (60%), earning his 600th career win
in a win over Martin Methodist during the 2003 season. His 17-year Â鶹ÊÓƵ record
is 582-362 (62%). Rushing was named TCAC Coach of the Year twice (1987, 1995),
NCCAA MidEast Region Coach of the Year (1998), TranSouth Coach of the Year twice
(2000, 2002), NAIA Region Coach of the Year twice (2000, 2002), and ABCA Region Coach of the
Year twice (2000, 2002). He led the Bulldogs to two conference championship and one
conference co-championship, participated in five district tournaments, and six
regional tournaments. He served as Chairman of the Conference Baseball Committee
for 10 years (1994-2002, 2004). He also served as the region chair from
2000-2005.
Rushing began his coaching career at South Side High School in
Jackson. There he won a pair of district championships and compiled a 59-34
record. Rushing then turned his attention to the collegiate level by serving as
head coach for four years at Lambuth College (now University). While at Lambuth,
Rushing was named the 1987 TCAC Coach of the Year while leading the Eagles to a
school record 27 victories and a first ever playoff appearance.
As a player at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Rushing was named the Most Valuable Player
in 1976 while batting .378 and earned his third Outstanding Defensive Player
award. During his playing career at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Rushing played all nine positions,
but found his talents best suited the catching spot. Rushing served as Â鶹ÊÓƵ's
team captain for two seasons before graduating Â鶹ÊÓƵ and then heading to Memphis
State University where he received a masters degree in 1980.
He is married to the former Susan Clark of Jackson and has three
children, Amy, Jennifer, and Kelly.
Coach