MEET THE COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Randy Putman
Randy Putman embarks on his 36th season with the Lions. Putman has amassed a remarkable 1,228-594 career record (.674 winning percentage) at Wallace State, including 31 winning seasons. Putman’s teams have missed the postseason only once
Putman has led his teams to seven Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) championships, six Southeastern Regional Championships and six NJCAA Division I World Series appearances.
Putman, who surpassed the 1,200-win milestone during the 2023 season, was named a NJCAA Hall of Fame coach in 2006 and is a seven-time ACCC Coach of the Year. He has also been named to the Alabama Junior College Hall of Fame (1991), the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (2006), the Alabama Coaches Hall of Fame (2009), and the Cullman County Hall of Fame (2013).
Originally from Birmingham, Putman has coached 36 Wallace State players who have continued their careers professionally, including eight-time All-Star and World Series champion Craig Kimbrel of the Chicago White Sox and free agent left-hander Derek Holland. Former Wallace State players Jake Elmore, Zelous Wheeler and Graham Godfrey have also cracked the major leagues over the past 10 years.
Before coaching in Hanceville, Putman compiled a 152-28 career record at Tate High School in Pensacola, FL., where he won two Class 4A state championships and coached former big leaguers Jay Bell and Travis Fryman. Putman played collegiately at Jacksonville State, earning All-Conference honors, and played professionally for three years with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres.
Assistant Coach Blake Miller
Blake Miller enters his first season as assistant coach of the Lions baseball team. Miller comes to Wallace State from Presbyterian College, where he served as assistant coach. During his time at Presbyterian, he helped lead the program to its first Big South Conference Tournament championship in 2021 and its first regular season Division I championship in 2024. After the 2024 season, Miller saw two of his pitchers sign professional contacts. Daniel Eagen was a third round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Charlie McDaniel signed as free agent with the San Francisco Giants. Miller’s 2024 pitching staff at Presbyterian finished in the top 30 in Division I baseball in several pitching categories and set school records for strikeouts, walks per game, and strikeouts per game.
Miller previously coached at Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Fla., as well as the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. In his four seasons there, he helped the team collect a program-record 381 strikeouts in 2015 and 385 in 2016. The team posted a program-best 4.54 ERA in 2015, its lowest since 1979. Miller saw three of his players drafted during his time at the Air Force Academy, including current MLB player and 2016 third round pick of the Minnesota Twins, Griffin Jax; Ben Yokley who was a 29th round draft pick for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015 and Jacob DeVries, who was drafted in 2016 by the Cleveland Indians.
Miller also coached at Savannah State University in 2012 and 2013, where he worked with former MLB player and fifth round draft pick of Anaheim Angels, Kyle McGowin. Miller has also worked at Emerald High School in Greenwood, S.C, and Coker College. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Coker College, where he played for four years. As a relief pitcher, Miller’s career record was 6-2 and during the 2005 season he set the previous school record for the most appearances with 28.
Volunter Assistant Coach Daniel Howard
Daniel Howard is an experienced coach who has been actively involved in coaching baseball, football, basketball, flag football and track and field from youth to high schools. He also serves as Wallace State Athletics Coordinator and Flag Football coach. This marks his second season with the Wallace State Lions. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in sports management from Waldorf University.
DAY DATE OPPONENT
Friday Jan. 31 Frontier College (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Saturday Feb. 1 Frontier College (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Saturday Feb. 8 Pensacola St (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Tuesday Feb. 11 Bevill St (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Tuesday Feb. 18 Columbia St (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Friday Feb. 21 East Central Tournament (DH} Decatur, MS 2:00
Saturday Feb. 22 East Central Tournament (DH} Decatur, MS 2:00
Tuesday Feb. 25 Columbia St (DH} Columbia, TN 1:00
Saturday March 1 NE Mississippi (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Sunday March 2 NE Mississippi (DH} Booneville, MS 1:00
Thursday March 6 Gadsden St (DH) Hanceville, AL 2:00
Saturday March 8 Gadsden St (DH} Gadsden, AL 12:00
Thursday March 13
Lawson St (DH} Birmingham, AL 12:00
Saturday March 15 Lawson St (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Thursday March 20 CVCC (DH} Phenix City, AL 12:00
Saturday March 22 CVCC (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Thursday March 27 NW Shoals (DH) Hanceville, AL 2:00
Saturday March 29 NW Shoals (DH} Muscle Shoals, AL 2:00
Thursday April 3
Saturday April 5
Thursday April 10
Shelton St (DH) Hanceville, AL 2:00
Shelton St (DH} Tuscaloosa, AL 2:00
Snead St (DH) Hanceville, AL 2:00
Saturday April 12 Snead St (DH} Boaz, AL 2:00
Thursday April 17 Calhoun (DH} Decatur, AL 12:00
Saturday April 19 Calhoun (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Thursday April 24 Coastal South (DH) Bay Minette, AL 2:00
Saturday April 26
Coastal South (DH) Hanceville, AL 1:00
Thursday May1 Southern Union (DH) Hanceville, AL 2:00
Saturday May 3
Southern Union (DH) Wadley, AL 2:00
