Loren Hibbs, Charlotte 49ers

Loren Hibbs is in his 25th season as head coach of the Charlotte 49ers. Under his direction, the 49ers have won seven regular season conference championships, four conference tournament titles, and made five NCAA tournament appearances, including a regional final in 2007. He has been named Coach of the Year in each of the three different leagues that Charlotte has played in during his tenure, which includes the Metro, Atlantic 10 and Conference USA. Hibbs played college baseball at Wichita State University under legendary head coach Gene Stephenson. He played in the College World Series as a member of the Shockers and then later served as a coach in 1989 when Wichita State won the national championship. Since joining the 49er program, Hibbs has coached 100 players who have earned all-conference honors along with eight All-Americans. Hibbs has guided a plethora of players into the coaching ranks after graduation with many former athletes coaching at the major league level all the way to high school and travel ball. The “coaching tree” includes Jay Matthews (Colorado Rockies), Joel Matthews (Kansas City Royals), Mike Shildt (St. Louis Cardinals), Bo Durkac (Head Coach at Illinois State), Grant Achilles (HC at Brown), Ross Steedley (AC at Gardner-Webb), Shane Brown (HC at Concord HS), Jason Hill (On Deck Academy), Aaron Bray (Vipers Academy), BJ Hagen (Vipers Academy). The 49ers got back into the Conference USA Tournament in 2016 as the eight-seed, clinching the spot with a 6-4 win over UAB in a winner-take-all regular season finale on May 21. Hibbs improved the Niners in 2016 by posting a 23-win season with a dozen of those coming in Conference USA play. Charlotte broke the school record for fielding percentage, posting a .971 mark with just 65 errors. The 49ers hit .294 as a team during the year, up 44 points from 2015 while sporting several other positive changes.The 49ers have gotten oft to an even stronger start in 2017 by winning nine of their first 11 games, including a victory over North Carolina State.