Gene Stephenson

Who is Gene Stephenson?

Gene Stephenson is an American college baseball coach, who has served as the head baseball coach at Wichita State since the start of the 1978 season. As of the end of the 2012 season, he has compiled a 1798-647-3 record. He has the second most wins among active coaches, and ranks second all time in career victories. Only Augie Garrido of the Texas has had more wins. He reached 1200 career wins in 22 seasons, a record. On May 21, 2003, he became only the third head coach in NCAA history to win 1400 games, and on May 21, 2005, he became only the second coach to win 1,500 games. Augie Garrido reached that mark two weeks later, and has since surpassed his win total.

Under his leadership, the Shockers have made seven College World Series and 26 NCAA tournament appearances, including 14 straight tournaments from 1987-2000. His teams have posted winning seasons in each year he has coached. His 1982 team went 73-14, establishing an NCAA record for single-season wins. The team, with 4 first team All-Americans, finished second to Miami in the College World Series. Stephenson won his first CWS championship in 1989; also in 1989, the Shockers won 24 consecutive games.

Prior to coaching at WSU, he served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma. During that tenure, the Sooners won five league championships, and went to five College World Series.