Rushing, a 1976 graduate of Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, enters
his tenth season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Coming off one of his seventh
30-win season at Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a 31-27 record, Rushing hopes the success will
continue into the 1998 season. The Bulldogs plan to once again participate
in the Mid-South Regional Tournament and aspire to qualify for the NAIA World
Series.
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. 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 heading to Memphis State University where he received a master's degree in 1980.
Rushing has compiled a 13-year coaching record of 370 wins and 289 losses (56%). His nine-year Â鶹ÊÓƵ record is 286-191 (60%). Rushing has been named TCAC Coach of the Year (1995), has led the Bulldogs to two conference tournaments, one conference co-championship, five district tournaments, and one regional tournament. He has served as Chairman of the TCAC (now TranSouth) Baseball Committe for five years.
He is married to the former Susan Clark and has three children, Amy, Jennifer, and Kelly.
Making the transition from player to coach this season will be Genus Miller. His leadership as team captain in 1997 for the Bulldogs was experienced both on and off the field. Miller, who finished last season with a 9-3 record, led the entire nation during 1997 in strikeouts with 115. This also established a new school record at Â鶹ÊÓƵ for strikeouts in a season. The All-TranSouth Conference righthander also ranked ninth in the nation in individual earned run average (2.18).
Beginning his collegiate baseball career at the University of North Alabama, Miller decided to transfer to Â鶹ÊÓƵ after only two seasons with the Lions. Miller prepped at Russellville High School in Alabama where he was named Most Valuable Player as well as All-Area, All-County, and All-State.
Miller will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in special education in May and will be student teaching this spring. Long-term plans include teaching and coaching.
Brent Fronabarger returns to Â鶹ÊÓƵ after a year at Huntingdon High School where he helped coach he Mustangs in both football and baseball while student teaching. Fronabarger, a 1996 graduate of Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, plans to share his experiences as a college pitcher to help the Bulldog pitching staff dominate during the 1998 season.
Fronabarger, the 1995 TCAC Player of the Year, holds the school records for Most Victories in a Season (13), Most Victories in a Career (33), Most Strikeouts in a Career (306), and Most Innings in a Season (117.2). In 1995 Fronabarger led the team with the lowest earned run average (1.97) and had an incredible 11-2 record.
Fronabarger received a Bachelor of Science in physical education and health from Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1995 and is currently pursuing a Master of Education degree. He is married to the former Sandy Cothran.
Another new addition to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ coaching staff this season will be Stephen Hall. Hall was a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Bulldog for two seasons in 1995 and 1996. After returning to his hometown of Huntingdon, Tennessee, for one year, Hall returns to Â鶹ÊÓƵ in order to complete his undergraduate degree in special education.
In 1995 because of a shoulder injury, Hall was limited to status as a pinch hitter. Before coming to Â鶹ÊÓƵ in the fall of 1994, Hall spent two seasons at Jackson State Community College. Hall helped guide the Generals to a second place finish in the junior college state tournament. Hall is a 1992 graduate of Huntingdon High School where he earned All-District honors in both baseball and football.
Hall plans to complete degree requirements in the fall of 1998 so he can continue with career plans of teaching and coaching.
Last updated on January 26, 1998.