North Alabama Lions baseball

The North Alabama Lions baseball team represents the University of North Alabama, which is located in Florence, Alabama. The Lions are an NCAA Division I college baseball program that competes in the ASUN Conference. They began competing in Division I in 2019 and joined the ASUN Conference the same season.

North Alabama Lions
2024 North Alabama Lions baseball team
Founded1932
Overall record1671-1214-16
UniversityUniversity of North Alabama
Head coachJad Prachniak (2nd season)
ConferenceASUN Conference
LocationFlorence, Alabama
Home stadiumMike D. Lane Field
(Capacity: 750)
NicknameLions
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
College World Series appearances
Division II: 1999
NCAA regional champions
Division II: 1999
NCAA Tournament appearances
Division II: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2012
Conference tournament champions
Division II: 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999
Regular season conference champions
Division II: 1992, 1993

The North Alabama Lions play all home games on campus at Mike D. Lane Field. Under the direction of Head Coach Jad Prachniak, the Lions are entering their 2nd season under full Division I membership. In the program's 35 years in Division II, the Lions played in 12 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the College World Series once in 1999.

Since the program's inception in 1932, 5 Lions have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 3-time World Series champion and 2013 All-Star Sergio Romo. Since 1982, 15 Lions have been drafted, most recently in 2018 when the Baltimore Orioles selected Tyler Joyner in the 30th round.

Conference membership history

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Mike D. Lane Field

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Mike D. Lane Field is a baseball stadium on the North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama that seats 750 people. It was opened in 1984. It was dedicated to former head coach Mike D. Lane on March 11, 2008, to a crowd of 1,874.[2]

Head coaches

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Records taken from the 2024 UNA Baseball Record Book. UNA began its baseball program in 1932 but records are incomplete or nonexistent for many of the early seasons. This results in incomplete records for Eddie Flowers and George Weeks. [2]

Season Coach Years Record Pct.
1932-1949 Eddie Flowers 18 23-19-3* .544
1950-1971 George Weeks 22 163-159* .506
1972 Jackie Pedigo 1 10-19 .345
1973-1974 Ricky Lindsey 2 33-26 .559
1975 Mike Dean 1 12-23 .343
1976 Tommy Jones 1 15-26 .366
1977-1978 Mike Knight 2 55-65 .458
1979 Gary Elliott 1 18-17 .514
1980–1983 Mike Galloway 4 72-87 .453
1984–2008 Mike Lane 25 908–398–12 .693
2009–2018 Mike Keehn 10 308–201–1 .510
Division I Era
2019-2022 Mike Keehn 4 38–132 .224
2023-Now Jad Prachniak 2 16–42 .276
Totals 12 coaches 93 seasons 1671–1214–16 .579

Program achievements

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Gulf South Conference League Championships 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999
Gulf South Conference Division Champions 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005
NCAA Division II Regional Tournament Appearances 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2012
NCAA Division II Regional Championships 1999
NCAA Division II National Championship Appearance 1999

Lions in the Major Leagues

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= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer
Athlete Years in MLB MLB Teams
Cedric Landrum 1991–1993 Chicago Cubs, New York Mets
Jim Czajkowski 1994 Colorado Rockies
Terry Jones 1996, 1998–2001 Colorado Rockies, Montreal Expos
Josh Willingham 2004–2014 Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals
Sergio Romo 2008–present San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins

Taken from the 2024 UNA Baseball Record Book.[2] Updated February 22, 2024.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "University of North Alabama Branding Guide" (PDF). February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "2024 UNA Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved February 23, 2024.