MOBILE, Ala. – Long-time assistant baseball coach Ronnie Powell is retiring after 20 years of service at South Alabama and 32 years in the state retirement system to take a coaching position at George County High School in Lucedale, Miss. “This was a very difficult decision because of my 25 years of coaching and playing experience at South Alabama,” Powell said. “I am fortunate in that I have 32 years in the Alabama Retirement System and can draw my retirement and continue to coach and teach. George County High School has offered me an excellent opportunity to continue to coach in my profession.” “Ronnie Powell made major contributions to our baseball program,” South Alabama Director of Athletics Joe Gottfried said. “Coach Powell has a reputation throughout the country as one of the nation’s top pitching coaches and we have been the beneficiary of his coaching for the past 20 years. He made a difference in our program.”
Powell played for the legendary head coach Eddie Stanky at South Alabama from 1970-73. After his playing career, Powell served as the graduate assistant coach at USA for one year before taking the head coaching position at his high school alma mater, Davidson High School. Powell enjoyed success at the high school level for six years, capturing two state titles and two Alabama Coach of the Year Awards with the Warriors, before jumping to junior college as the head coach at Enterprise Junior College. Six years and two state championships later, he became the pitching coach at USA, with head coach Steve Kittrell.
“One of the best decisions I've made at South Alabama was to hire Ronnie Powell as pitching coach,” Kittrell said. “I can't put into words what he has meant to the program and to me. I hate to see him leave, but I understand his decision and we will miss him.” Powell has put his stamp on Jag pitchers for two decades. Five of his hurlers have reached the Major Leagues, including All-Star Jon Lieber, who now pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies, recognizes Powell’s contributions to his success. “He was a big influence on where I am today and a big reason why I am still pitching in the Major Leagues,” Lieber said from St. Louis, Mo. “I owe him a lot and he will be missed.” Other Jag pitchers to reach the big leagues are Mark Ettles (San Diego Padres, 1993), Steve Falteisek (Milwaukee Brewers, 1997), Steven Sparks (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2000) and Mike Nakamura (Minnesota Twins, 2003). “South Alabama has been among the final 16 teams playing seven times in school history and Coach Powell has been a part of six of them - one as a player in 1972 and five as an assistant coach,” Kittrell said.
South Alabama has been to 17 NCAA Regionals with Powell as USA’s pitching coach. This past season saw three of his pitchers (P.J. Walters, Chase Christianson and Zach Piccola) sign professional contracts, bringing the total to 34 pitchers to turn pro under his tutelage. “I want to thank Joe Gottfried and Coach Kittrell for giving me the opportunity to coach at South Alabama,” Powell said. “In addition to being my superiors, they have been great friends. The University of South Alabama has been and always will be a special part of my family and me.”
