How many active college baseball coaches have 1,000 wins? Taking a look at the winningest HCs on the diamond
Over the years, college baseball has seen some incredible head coaches make their mark in the sport. Some of them have transformed programs' fortunes around, tasting success through several victories in their respective tenures.
One of the major milestones a head coach can achieve is securing 1,000 wins in their career. During the 2023-24 season, 11 coaches achieved this distinguished feat.
However, the retirements of Minnesota Golden Gophers' John Anderson, Missouri State Bears' Keith Guttin and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers' Gary Gilmore at the end of this season reduced this list to eight.
Here is a closer look at the eight active coaches with more than 1,000 wins in college baseball.
8 active head coaches who have 1,000 wins in college baseball
#1. Dave Van Horn (Arkansas)
Van Horn took his first head coach job in 1989 by taking up the job offered at Texarkana. While he has enjoyed success in different programs, he is well known for his exploits with the Arkansas Razorbacks since he became their head coach in 2003.
He tops this list with 1,468 career wins. He has led the Razorbacks to three SEC regular season titles, the 2021 SEC tournament title and 20 postseason appearances. The Razorbacks have also made seven College World Series appearances under Van Horn's leadership, finishing runners-up in 2018.
#2. Danny Hall (Georgia Tech)
Hall served as head coach of the Kent State Golden Flashes before moving to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1994, a job he has held since then. The Yellow Jackets veteran is second on the list with 1,411 wins.
During his time, he has led Georgia Tech to five ACC tournament titles, five ACC regular season titles and 24 postseason appearances. They also won six NCAA regionals and made the College World Series thrice, finishing runners-up in 1994. He also won ACC Coach of the Year accolade on four occasions.
#3. Elliott Avent (NC State)
The retirements of Anderson, Guttin and Gilmore put Avent third on this list with 1,260 wins. He has been a cornerstone of the NC State Wolfpack's baseball program, leading them to six NCAA Regional victories and three NCAA Super Regional victories. They also reached the College World Series thrice, but have never reached the final in Omaha.
#4. Rich Hill (Hawaii)
Prior to becoming the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors' head coach, Hill created a lasting legacy as the San Diego Toreros' head coach for 23 seasons. In his coaching career, he has notched 1,173 wins. He won six WCC Tournament titles and five WCC regular season titles with the Toreros, taking them to the postseason eight times.
#5. Steve Owens (Rutgers)
The Scarlet Knights head coach recorded his 1,000th career win in college baseball on April 4, 2023, when they beat the Hofstra Pride 5-0 at Bainton Field. Overall, he has 1,046 wins in his career as a head coach.
#6. Rick Heller (Iowa)
Iowa's head coach achieved the feat just a month after Owens when the Hawkeyes demolished the Ohio State Buckeyes 15-3 on May 6, 2023. He currently has 1,041 wins as a head coach.
#7. Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt)
The Commodores' head coach was one of two head coaches to achieve the feat this year when they beat the Eastern Michigan Eagles 6-2 in Hawkins Field on March 5. The two-time College World Series winner's career wins currently stands at 1,027.
#8. Mike Bianco (Ole Miss)
The Rebels' head coach is the most recent addition to this elite list of active coaches. He recorded his 1,000th win when they stunned the Georgia Bulldogs 3-2 in Athens. Bianco's feat also earned him a $250,000 bonus, with his total career wins totaling 1,006 at the end of this season.