BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb head baseball coach Rusty Stroupe announced his retirement from the sport on Wednesday. He will coach through the remainder of the 2019 season.

Stroupe has enjoyed a long, sturdy career on the diamond, posting an 829-695-2 overall record in 29 seasons. Those three decades include head coaching stints at Gardner-Webb, Lander, Brevard and North Greenville. The Cherryville, N.C., native has gone 474-461-2 during his 17 seasons leading the Runnin' Bulldogs – and will retire as the program's all-time leader in victories.

"I want to express my sincere gratitude to Gardner-Webb University and Athletic Director Chuck Burch for giving me the opportunity to lead this program and supporting me for the last seventeen years at Gardner-Webb," Stroupe said. "I love the GWU Baseball Brotherhood and Bulldog Nation and always will. Above all I am thankful to the Lord for allowing me to make a living coaching the game I have loved since I was a child. I want to make it clear this decision was totally mine. For the past few years I have been praying for God to give me wisdom and discernment, asking Him to let me know when the time was right to move on to another chapter in my life. That time is now.  I am extremely grateful to have coached at seven different schools, and in each case I have been able to depart those schools on my own terms, which is one of the greatest blessings a coach can receive.

"Being a college baseball coach can be all-consuming at times and there are lots of things I want to do in life while I still can," Stroupe added. "I am looking forward to what God has in store for me and my family now as I close the book on this chapter of my life. This decision has nothing to do with our current season and our current group of players, whom I love deeply and enjoy being around every day. I'm looking forward to coaching these kids the rest of this season and I'm excited about the possibilities for this year's team."

Stroupe led two different Gardner-Webb teams to their respective conference championship games, with runner-up finishes in the Atlantic Sun Conference (2008) and the Big South Conference (2011).

He has seen 13 of his pupils go on to play professionally since arriving at Gardner-Webb, including Hall of Famers Zach Ward (Reds) and Blake Lalli (Cubs). Lalli, currently manager of the Double A Jackson Generals, made his major league debut in Chicago and also had stints in the big leagues with Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Stroupe's teams hold 17 single-season records offensively, including the top-three home run totals in school history. His pitching staffs have captured 18 team single-season marks as well, with dominant staffs in 2003 and 2004 among the most decorated in school history – despite pitching against A-Sun lineups littered with high draft picks and future major league standouts.

Notable wins over opponents from Power 5 conferences have been plentiful, including the most recent victory over No. 23 South Carolina earlier this season. Stroupe has also coached numerous All-Conference players, Academic All-Americans and All-Americans during his time in Boiling Springs. In 2012 he was honored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes with the prestigious Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award – one of Stroupe's most cherished personal honors.

"We are beyond grateful for the positive impact Rusty has provided for our baseball program, campus and community during his time as head coach," Vice President for Athletics Chuck Burch said. "His commitment to Christian higher education and overall care and commitment to the values of this institution have been commendable. We will miss his leadership on and off the field." 

Stroupe played collegiately at Appalachian State University following a Hall of Fame high school career at nearby Cherryville (N.C.) High. He and his wife, Karen, are the parents of three sons – Will, Cal and J.T.

Gardner-Webb continues its 2019 season on Thursday night at Winthrop. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm in Rock Hill, S.C.