On Monday, West Virginia University Athletic Director Wren Baker announced that Randy Mazey will be retiring after the 2024 WVU baseball season concludes. Mazey will not go far despite the retirement announcement, as he will take on a role as a senior advisor within the baseball program.
“I love WVU Baseball, and I am very proud of what we accomplished in my time here,” Mazey said. “Amanda, Weston, Sierra and I have fallen in love with Morgantown, the people here, the fans, and the entire state of West Virginia. This is our home, and I will continue to help the baseball program within the community and the state to the best of my ability.”
Mazey is credited for bringing in a new era of success for the WVU baseball program, as the Pennsylvania native has posted a 336-250 record in his 11 years in Morgantown thus far, while also getting the program to NCAA Regional play in 2017, 2019, and 2023. Mazey and company also got the program to new heights in 2019 by hosting an NCAA Regional for the first time since 1955.
Mazey is coming off perhaps his best season at the helm for WVU, leading the Mountaineers to their first 40-win season in his tenure while winning a share of the Big 12 regular season title. The 2023 team broke the season attendance record in program history with 59,894 people coming out to Monongalia County Ballpark during the spring. The 2023 team also saw the best average game attendance in program history and the single game attendance record was broken against Oklahoma with 4,387 people showing up to see the Mountaineer baseball team.
Mazey has also helped the development of his players, as he has coached 14 All-Americans during his tenure, more than half of the program’s total number across 131 seasons. 37 Mountaineers have been drafted during the Mazey era, including the likes of MLB pitchers Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays, John Means of the Baltimore Orioles, and Michael Grove of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Taking the reins of the program will be associate head coach Steve Sabins, who is WVU’s current third base coach and head recruiter. Sabins is credited for organizing four top-40 recruiting classes since 2020, while also bringing in the program’s first top-25 recruiting class in 2018.
Sabins was previously on staff for Big 12 rival Oklahoma State as an assistant coach, working with outfielders and serving as first base coach for the Cowboys before making his way to Morgantown.
“Coach Sabins has been an integral part of the program’s success and has been involved in all aspects of its operation,” WVU athletic director Wren Baker said. “He has been by coach Mazey’s side for eight successful years, and as we solidify the future of Mountaineer baseball, continuity is the strength and key that will keep our program at the top of the Big 12.”
With one season left in the tank, Mazey left Mountaineer nation with a message: “Since next season will be my last on the field, I do ask our great fans for their support to help make it our best season yet. Let’s Go!”
