Terry Stigall says ‘thank you’ to UofC community for years of support while serving as coach, teacher

I have lived in Williamsburg for over two-thirds of my life. I am very thankful to be a part of the community, and I am especially happy to have worked as a health professor for over 40 years, and as a baseball coach for 26, at the University of the Cumberlands, formerly known as Cumberland College.

I was so lucky to have been a student at Cumberland in the early 70s while receiving a partial baseball scholarship, and being part of KIAC championship teams from 1971-1974. I was very fortunate to have played for and coached under Coach Walter Mathes, who was like a second father to me, and a truly great influence on my life.

I would also like to thank Dr. JM Boswell, Dr. Jim Taylor and Dr. Mike Colegrove for being so helpful to me during my tenure at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Boswell paid for my Masters Degree through this college, and he and Dr. Colegrove hired me as an assistant baseball coach under Coach Mathes. Both were great mentors for me.

I have also remained friends with Jim Taylor, who hired me as our first women’s softball coach in 1982, and what a year that was. Our first team compiled a 30-win season, and only had four losses. I am very proud to have coached our first softball team. I am also glad that Dr. Taylor gave me the chance to begin my teaching career as a full-time faculty member in 1983.

I would also like to mention my very good friends Bo Kidd and Brandon Hensley for their great work in the Sports Information Department.

Thank you to the people of Williamsburg for their support for our baseball program in the years I worked. We always had really good local support for our games. I want to remember our players’ parents for their help, and also thank my good friend and former Williamsburg High School baseball coach Don Stricklin for the chance to help him in the two years that they made it to the Class A high school tournament.

I am so grateful to have taught over 8,000 students in my classes, and coached over 900 baseball players. I was very fortunate to have over 500 wins as a head coach at the University of the Cumberlands, and to have had ten of my players sign pro contracts, including Jason Ellis, who was probably our baseball program’s greatest player.

In closing, I would like to thank my two children, Adam and Alicia, and my wife Carol for all of their help during my years at the college. I want to thank our President, Larry Cockrum, for being such a good friend. I am so thankful for this wonderful job here at the Cumberlands.

Thank you to everyone locally, and everyone at the University for all your help in my 43 years teaching and coaching.

– Coach Terry Stigall, University of the Cumberlands