Steve Kittrell

Steven G. Kittrell

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 7", Weight 153 lb.
• School University of South Alabama
• High School Davidson High School

• Born November 1, 1948

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Steve Kittrell has won over 1,000 games as a college coach.

Kittrell batted .368 at South Alabama, the best average in school history for anyone who played all four seasons. He hit .236/.301/.250 with 11 steals in 16 tries for the 1971 Winter Haven Red Sox, playing 42 games in his only minor league season. He had 74 putouts, 4 assists and no errors, leading Florida State League outfielders in most chances without an error.

Kittrell then became a coach. He was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1972. In 1974-1975, he went 35-15 at Niceville High School. He was 95-34 at UMS Prep School from 1976-1978, including the school's first state title (in any sport). In 1979-1980, he got his first head coach job at the college level, going 52-30 at Enterprise State Junior College. He was at UMS again in 1981-1982, then went 33-19 at Spring Hill College in 1983, to be named co-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Steve then was picked to guide South Alabama when Eddie Stanky retired. His first season, the team went 50-19, not missing a beat. In his first 27 seasons at South Alabama, he had only three losing seasons and was 1,022-616-1. His school missed the College World Series by one win six different times. In 1996, he broke Stanky's school record for wins. On February 22, 2009, USA beat the University of Mississippi (then ranked 6th in the nation) for Kittrell's 1,000th win. He became the 50th NCAA coach to that prestigious figure. He retired at the end of the 2011 season, replaced by Mark Calvi.

Kittrell has coached over 15 future major leaguers, including Luis Gonzalez, Lance Johnson, Turner Ward, Jon Lieber, Marlon Anderson, Juan Pierre and Adam Lind.

Year-by-Year Coaching Record

Year	School	Overall Record	Conference Record	Notes
1979	Enterprise State Junior College
1980	Enterprise State Junior College
1983	Spring Hill College	30-15
1984	University of South Alabama	50-19	11-6	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1985	University of South Alabama	22-32	6-12
1986	University of South Alabama	36-25	9-9	Sun Belt
1987	University of South Alabama	40-30	10-8	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1988	University of South Alabama	41-22	11-7	Sun Belt
1989	University of South Alabama	45-22	11-7	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1990	University of South Alabama	44-20	12-6	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1991	University of South Alabama	44-17	13-3	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1992	University of South Alabama	44-16	14-7	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1993	University of South Alabama	37-21-1	11-6	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1994	University of South Alabama	32-25	16-6	Sun Belt
1995	University of South Alabama	41-17	20-7	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1996	University of South Alabama	42-17	22-5	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1997	University of South Alabama	43-19	15-10	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1998	University of South Alabama	42-19	19-6	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
1999	University of South Alabama	39-20	27-5	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2000	University of South Alabama	27-33	14-15	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2001	University of South Alabama	45-19	17-10	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2002	University of South Alabama	42-19	17-5	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2003	University of South Alabama	42-19	17-7	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2004	University of South Alabama	30-28	16-8	Sun Belt
2005	University of South Alabama	35-27	15-9	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2006	University of South Alabama	39-21	16-7	Sun Belt / CWS Regionals
2007	University of South Alabama	31-26	13-16	Sun Belt
2008	University of South Alabama	32-26	15-15	Sun Belt
2009	University of South Alabama	25-30	13-16	Sun Belt
2010	University of South Alabama	32-27	17-13	Sun Belt
2011	University of South Alabama	30-28	15-15	Sun Belt

Sources

• South Alabama bio
• 1972 Baseball Guide