Alabama Baseball Coach Jim Wells Announces Retirement
6/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Jim Wells, the winningest coach in University of Alabama baseball history, announced his retirement on Thursday afternoon, UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore announced.
"Coach Wells has served our baseball program with class for the last 13 seasons," Moore said. "I was saddened to hear of his wish to retire, but I completely understand and respect his reason for making this decision. After having several conversations with Jim over the last few days, it became evident to me that he feels strongly about this decision. I wish him the best in his future pursuits."
"Over the course of the last week, I have had discussions with Coach Moore about leaving the University of Alabama," said Wells. "There comes a time in everyone's career when they have to make decisions on what is best for all concerned. This was a decision that was not easy for me, because my family and I have the deepest love and respect for the University of Alabama. I have been extremely fortunate to be the coach of the Crimson Tide and compete at the highest level at one of the nation's most prestigious Universities and in one of the best athletic conferences, the SEC. First of all, I want to thank my family for the support they've given me during my years in coaching. I look forward to spending more time with my wife and three children as well as my mother.
"No one has success in athletics without loyal and dedicated assistant coaches and we always had a staff that was committed to the student-athletes and the University. Of course, the one thing I will miss will be the players. We have had some outstanding competitors over the years, and I'm proud that so many have gone on to be successful when they left Alabama. Finally, I want to thank (former UA athletic director) Hootie Ingram for believing in me back in 1995 and offering me this opportunity to be a part of the Alabama athletic family. I also want to thank all the support personnel who did so much for our program through the years; and of course, the loyal fans who made Sewell-Thomas Stadium a unique place to compete."
Wells, 52, has coached the Crimson Tide for the past 13 seasons and compiled a 553-272 (.670) record.
Wells led Alabama to two Southeastern Conference Championships (1996 and 2006), six SEC Tournament Championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003) and 10 NCAA Regional appearances during his tenure. He also led UA to four NCAA Regional Championships (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2006), two NCAA Super Regional appearances (1999 and 2006) and three trips to the College World Series (1996, 1997 and 1999).
Wells became the school's all-time winningest coach during the 2006 season and set the record this past season for most games coached at Alabama.
He became the school's all-time winningest coach as he notched his 488th victory on March 3, 2006 against Appalachian State to break the previous record of 487 wins held by Dr. Barry Shollenberger (1980-94). Â`
He set the UA standard by coaching his 823rd all-time for Alabama on May 19, 2007 at Mississippi State, breaking the previous record of 822 games held by Shollenberger. Wells finishes his UA career with 825 games.
Overall, Wells spent 18 years as a Division I head coach and has compiled a 735-361 (.681) record in 1,106 career games. In addition, Wells has won five regular-season conference championships, eight post-season conference championships and taken 13 of his 18 teams to NCAA Regional play, with three teams advancing to the College World Series.
The Crimson Tide captured the 2006 SEC Championship with a 20-10 record this season. Alabama (44-21) won its sixth NCAA Regional championship and fourth under Wells last season. Bama played in the NCAA Super Regionals for the second time in school history and first since 1999.
He has twice been named SEC "Coach of the Year" (1996, 2002) by his peers. He was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year three times.
A native of Bossier City, La., Wells was born March 21, 1955. He is married to the former Lisa Breazeale of Natchitoches and has three children, Lauren (17), Melissa (12) and Drew (7).
Jim Wells YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD
Year School Overall Conference
1990 Northwestern State 38-13 9-9 (5th)
1991 Northwestern State 40-21 13-5 (1st)
1992 Northwestern State 29-26 8-13 (7th)
1993 Northwestern State 40-14 18-6 (1st)
1994 Northwestern State 45-15 16-5 (1st)
1995 Alabama 42-23 18-11 (3rd West)
1996 Alabama 50-19 20-10 (SEC Champions)
1997 Alabama 56-14 20-9 (2nd)
1998 Alabama 46-18 19-9 (3rd West)
1999 Alabama 53-16 22-8 (SEC West Champions, 2nd Overall)
2000 Alabama 42-24 16-14 (4th West)
2001 Alabama 32-23 15-15 (5th West)
2002 Alabama 51-15 20-10 (SEC West Champions, 2nd Overall)
2003 Alabama 38-24 14-16 (5th West)
2004 Alabama 29-26 10-20 (6th West)
2005 Alabama 40-23 17-13 (3rd West)
2006 Alabama 44-21 20-10 (SEC Champions)
2007 Alabama 31-26 15-15 (4th West)
Jim Wells MILESTONE VICTORIES
Date Win No. Result of Game
February 12, 1990 1 Northwestern State 7, Houston Baptist 0
April 4, 1992 100 Northwestern State 3, Sam Houston 1
February 16, 1994 150 Northwestern State 11, Centenary 2
*February 18, 1995 193 Alabama 2, Middle Tennessee 1 (11)
March 6, 1995 200 Alabama 8, Penn State 0
March 16, 1996 250 Alabama 3, Florida 2
March 11, 1997 300 Alabama 7, Winthrop 2
March 1, 1998 350 Alabama 5, Cal State Fullerton 4
March 12, 1999 400 Alabama 12, Tennessee 7
March 4, 2000 450 Alabama 9, Purdue 4
April 2, 2001 500 Alabama 7, South Carolina 5
April 28, 2002 550 Alabama 7, Auburn 0
May 25, 2003 600 Alabama 10, LSU 3 (SEC Tournament Championship)
March 27, 2005 650 Alabama 10, Vanderbilt 8
April 22, 2006 700 Alabama 14, Vanderbilt 7
May 19, 2007 735 Alabama 9, Mississippi State 7
* -- First Game as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide
Jim Wells CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
*Alabama averaged 42.5 wins per season under Coach Wells.
*Three College World Series (1996, 1997 and 1999) appearances
*Two SEC Championships (1996 and 2006)
*Three SEC Western Division titles (1996, 2002 and 2006)
*Six SEC Tournament Championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003)
*Four, 50-win seasons, including school record 56 wins in 1997
*12, 40-win seasons, including six in-a-row from 1995-2000
*12 NCAA Regional Appearances
*Two-time SEC "Coach of the Year" (1996 and 2002)
*1997 Baseball America "Coach of the Year"
*1999 American Baseball Coaches South Region "Coach of the Year"
*1999 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Andy Phillips)
*2002 Johnny Bench Award Winner (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 Collegiate Baseball/Redline Defensive Player of the Year (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 Johnny Bench Award Finalist (Jeremy Brown)
*2003 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Beau Hearod)
*2004 National Freshman of the Year (Wade LeBlanc)
*2006 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Emeel Salem)
*2007 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Emeel Salem)
*2007 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Emeel Salem)
*Five, First-Team All-America Selections
*23, Second and Third-Team All-America Selections
*12, Freshman All-America Selections
*33 All-SEC Selections
*Seven Academic All-America Selections
*13 Academic All-District Selections
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