FARMVILLE, Va. – Charles Buddy Bolding, who is in his 35th year at Longwood University, has announced that he will retire as the head baseball coach of the Lancers following the upcoming 2013 season. He has attained an outstanding overall record of 927-516-4 since taking over during the fall of 1978, including 31 winning seasons as mentor of the tradition-rich program. Coach Bolding's teams have posted 31 overall 20-win campaigns, and 24 seasons with at least 25 wins.
“All good things must end … and having served as Longwood's baseball coach from the obscurity of Division III, to Division II, to Independent Division I, and finally to Division I, Big South Conference member, has been a great thing in my life,” said Bolding. “My wife, Andrea ('Mama' to my players), and I have given our best to Longwood day after day, year after year, and we have done so in a way that we trust has made six Longwood presidents, their administrations, the student body and alumni, faculty, and greater Southside Community we have served, proud of us, and prouder still of the 341 young men who came to play our special style of baseball for the past 34 years -- a style that has been predicated upon the simple maxim of leveraging a 34 inch baseball bat, top-half style, against a 5 ounce leather spheroid, year in and year out, arguably better than any other college team in America.
“We have few regrets, and I am cognizant of the ancient quote, 'All glory is fleeting!' We now stand at the threshold of a new day for Longwood's rich athletic history and for Longwood's well-conceived ambitions for a bright future. The prudent time for me to pass the baseball torch along to another is at hand, and I joyously extend that torch forward while it yet burns bright. Countless professional scouts, opponent coaches, and others have over the years said that Buddy Bolding possessed the greatest batting practice arm known to man; and even I might agree with that assertion; but as that arm is now seven-plus million pitches well-worn, it cannot continue to develop great Lancer batsmen for a successful future in the Big South Conference, as will be needed. In short, I cannot be Buddy Bolding forever, and my standard, and the pride I have had in throwing that BP, is such that I cannot suffer to offer my hitters less than they deserve. I, therefore, walk away from the ball yard having given my best and having left nothing on the diamond for the crows to pick over. In scriptural terms, I have fought the good fight.”
Bolding coached Longwood to 26 consecutive winning seasons (1979-2004), including a remarkable run of 24-straight, 20-win seasons (1981-2004). His tenure is highlighted by six appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, including two trips to the Division II College World Series, most recently in 1991 that featured a program-best 41-8 record while advancing to the final four of the national championship. Bolding earned his milestone 900th collegiate coaching victory on May 10, 2011 in a 6-4 road win at James Madison. Longwood dedicated its baseball facility as 'Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium' on October 3, 2009.
“Charles Buddy Bolding is a Longwood University legend,” said Longwood Director of Athletics
Troy Austin. “Coach Bolding built a dominant baseball program virtually from scratch. More importantly, through his great sacrifice and dedication, Buddy successfully mentored and developed countless young men because he cared about their personal well-being and achievements.
“Personally, this announcement is bittersweet. Buddy has been extremely supportive of me and I am thankful for his friendship. I have had the opportunity to learn from one of the great professors of life and I will miss him when he steps down at the end of the year. That said, Buddy has more than earned this time to spend with his family and I am extremely happy for he, Andrea, Lauren, Suzanne and Brad.
“I offer Coach Bolding sincere gratitude and appreciation for his tireless leadership on behalf of Longwood University. We all wish Buddy all the best.”
Nine of Bolding's former players have been chosen in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft since 1988, including Michael Tucker in the first round (#10 overall) by Kansas City in 1992 when he became the first and only Olympic athlete from Longwood. Tucker enjoyed a 12-year (1995-2006) career in MLB. Most recently,
Mark Montgomery was an 11th round pick in 2011, and finished the 2012 minor league season between the Class A Florida State League and the Class AA Eastern League while named the best pitcher in the New York farm system By Baseball America.
Highly regarded by his peers, Bolding has served on NCAA regional selection committees nine times. In 1983, he was a member of the Olympic baseball tryout staff for Virginia. Bolding was voted the South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1982, and the Virginia College Division Coach of the Year in 1997, 1993, 1991, and 1984. He has been chosen the Longwood Male Coach of the Year a record seven times.
The Hardy, Virginia native served as a United States Army Medic in Vietnam before receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Milligan (Tenn.) College in 1973. He then earned his Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in 1974. He and his wife, Andrea, have three children: Lauren, Suzanne and Brad -- all of whom attended, and two who graduated from, Longwood. Brad also played as a Lancer before graduating from Old Dominion.
