Steve Kittrell

Steven G. Kittrell

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 7", Weight 153 lb.
• School University of South Alabama
• High School Davidson High School

• Born November 1, 1948

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Steve Kittrell has won over 1,000 games as a college coach.

Kittrell batted .368 at South Alabama, the best average in school history for anyone who played all four seasons. He hit .236/.301/.250 with 11 steals in 16 tries for the 1971 Winter Haven Red Sox, playing 42 games in his only minor league season. He had 74 putouts, 4 assists and no errors, leading Florida State League outfielders in most chances without an error.

Kittrell then became a coach. He was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1972. In 1974-1975, he went 35-15 at Niceville High School. He was 95-34 at UMS Prep School from 1976-1978, including the school's first state title (in any sport). In 1979-1980, he got his first head coach job at the college level, going 52-30 at Enterprise State Junior College. He was at UMS again in 1981-1982, then went 33-19 at Spring Hill College in 1983, to be named co-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Steve then was picked to guide South Alabama when Eddie Stanky retired. His first season, the team went 50-19, not missing a beat. In his first 27 seasons at South Alabama, he had only three losing seasons and was 1,022-616-1. His school missed the College World Series by one win six different times. In 1996, he broke Stanky's school record for wins. On February 22, 2009, USA beat the University of Mississippi (then ranked 6th in the nation) for Kittrell's 1,000th win. He became the 50th NCAA coach to that prestigious figure. He retired at the end of the 2011 season, replaced by Mark Calvi.

Kittrell has coached over 15 future major leaguers, including Luis Gonzalez, Lance Johnson, Turner Ward, Jon Lieber, Marlon Anderson, Juan Pierre and Adam Lind.

Sources

• South Alabama bio
• 1972 Baseball Guide