LEGENDARY COACH PROFILE: CHASE RIDDLE
Above: Riddle watches the final inning of Mike Perez’s complete-game one-hitter over Columbus College in the 1986 NCAA Championship game. Below: Riddle is carried off the field following Troy’s 5-0 victory over Columbus College in the 1986 title game. Left: Riddle’s No. 25 was retired on April 13, 1991. Between 1979 and 1990, while Chase Riddle roamed the dugouts and coaches boxes of Pace Field, the Troy State baseball program rose from regional obscurity to national powerhouse. Riddle was the winningest coach in school history -- in any sport -- with 434 wins at the time. His overall record of 434-147-2, a .747 winning percentage, ranked him among the top 10 Division II coaches in winning percentage. His legacy continues as the Trojans walk through the gates of RiddlePace Field each day. Riddle was also inducted into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2012. His teams won two national championships (and narrowly missed out on three others), six regional titles and captured five Gulf South Conference crowns. He was named Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1987 and nabbed Regional Coach of the Year awards in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986 and 1987. His teams won 71.2 percent of their conference games (92-37-1) and had an .809 winning percentage at TSU’s Pace Field (253-59-1). His teams were 36-18 in NCAA post-season play, including an amazing 24-10 mark in regional play and a 12-8 record at the College World Series. Three of Riddle’s teams won more than 40 games and four more won at least 35 games. He produced 10 first-team All-Americans, 30 total All-America and 36 first-team All-Gulf South Conference performers.
CHASE RIDDLE’S RECORD YEAR-BY-YEAR
GSC GSC Year Overall Home GSC Tourn. Finish 1979 33-14 18-2 11-5 0-2 -1980 30-12 20-6 12-2 2-0 1st 1981 37-10 21-4 12-0 4-1 1st 1982 31-10 16-5 8-3 4-0 1st 1983 23-10-1 14-3-1 5-3-1 --1984 39-16 23-8 8-2 2-2 -1985 43-14 22-5 4-2 4-2 -1986 46-8 27-3 -5-0 1st 1987 38-10-1 24-3 8-5 3-0 1st 1988 35-17 20-5 9-4 3-2 -1989 29-16 19-8 6-8 --1990 50-10 29-7 9-3 2-2 2nd Totals 434-149-2 253-59-1 92-37-1 29-11 --
NCAA NCAA Regional CWS 1-2 -4-1 1-2 3-0 1-2 --1-2 -4-1 2-2 3-0 0-2 3-0 4-0 3-0 4-0 0-2 ---2-2 -24-10 12-8
National Finish 12th 4th 4th 13th 7th 3rd 6th 1st 1st 18th ----
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