Ross Steedley is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2019, and his fifth overall season as a member of the Gardner-Webb baseball staff.
Steedley serves as the team's hitting coach and works with the catchers, while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator.
In 2018, Gardner-Webb batted a robust .276 with 51 home runs, with the Runnin' Bulldogs ranking in the top-four in the Big South Conference in every offensive category. Junior Corey Howard batted a career-best .347 on the season with 15 doubles and 34 RBI, earning All-Big South First-Team honors. Junior Chandler Redmond continued to show his power at the plate, leading the 'Dogs with 14 home runs and 48 RBI.
GWU won 31 games in 2018, reaching the 30-win mark for the second time in the past six seasons, and advanced to the Big South tournament semifinals for the first time since the 2012 season.
The Diamond 'Dogs flashed power at the plate all throughout the 2017 season, setting a school record with 71 home runs. Senior Danny Sullivan also set the program's single season home run mark with 17, followed closely by teammate sophomore Chandler Redmond with 16. In all, Gardner-Webb led the Big South with 169 extra base hits.
Gardner-Webb bounced back in 2016, batting a robust .294 in Steedley's first season as assistant coach, en route to a program-record 37 win season. Junior Collin Thacker belted a NCAA-best 28 doubles, while leading GWU with a .394 batting average with 46 RBI. Thacker was named to the All-Big South first-team, as well as the Louisville Slugger Division I All-America Second Team.
In 2015, Steedley served as the volunteer assistant where he assisted with the hitters, worked with the catchers, and served as the team's first base coach.
Prior to joining the Runnin' Bulldog staff, Steedley served as the head junior varsity baseball coach at Marvin Ridge High School during the 2014 season. Steedley also spent time as the hitting and catching instructor at the Waxhaw Athletic Barn from 2013-14. Additional experience includes being an assistant coach for the Carolina Vipers of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League during the summer of 2013, as well as an assistant coach at Pfeiffer University from 2012-13.
Steedley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in communications. While at Charlotte, he was a standout catcher on the 49er baseball team, posting a career batting average of .324.
