In 2013 when Randy Mazey accepted the West Virginia baseball head coach position, the program was nowhere near where it is today.
At the time the Mountaineers hosted games at Hawley Field, a stadium constructed in 1971 that had a capacity of 1,500. Today, West Virginia calls Kendrick Family Ballpark at the Monongalia County Baseball Complex Home. The venue was built during Mazey’s tenure in Morgantown and officially opened in April of 2015, a ballpark with more than double the capacity of Hawley Field, 3,500.
However, Mazey’s lasting impact on the WVU baseball program extends far beyond physical structures. He built a winning culture that West Virginians could be proud of.
In the 2024 season alone, West Virginia baseball saw records broken, including their first NCAA Super Regional appearance. Although the season didn’t end in storybook fashion, it is most certainly not something Mountaineers everywhere should hang their heads about.
In a season headlined as Mazey’s last, West Virginia sold more season tickets than ever before. They also saw their most conference wins in history and shattered the team’s season home run record.
Mazey fielded a team fans were excited about and it showed. The single-game attendance record was broken when WVU hosted Rival Pitt on April 16 and the series attendance record was broken against conference opponent Baylor later in April.
Mazey attended Clemson University where he was an outfielder/pitcher for the Tigers from 1985-1988 and was drafted in the 28th round of the 1988 MLB Draft by Cleveland. Following a brief two-year stint in the minors, he made the transition into coaching, returning to Clemson as an assistant.
After four years as an assistant coach at Clemson, Mazey got his first head coaching job at Charleston Southern in 1994, when he was just 27 years old. After a disappointing first two seasons, CSU made their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance in 1996 under Mazey.
After the 1996 season, Mazey became Georgia’s recruiting coordinator and pitching coach, helping the Bulldogs record their lowest ERA in four seasons while setting a strikeout record. Then, he became the recruiting coordinator and an assistant at East Carolina, before taking the same job he had at Georgia, for Tennessee where he spent four seasons.
Mazey returned to ECU in 2003, this time as the program’s head coach, a position he held for a few seasons, before spending 2007-2012 at TCU as an assistant, where he was then promoted to associate head coach for his final three seasons in Fort Worth. With Mazey’s help, the Horned Frogs found a wealth of success, including six regional appearances, three super regionals appearances and one trip to the College World Series.
All of this led him to West Virginia, which he called home for 12 years, before announcing before the season that 2024 would be his last in coaching. Mazey finished with a 372-274 record as WVU’s head coach, the third-most winningest coach in the program’s history.
Beyond the wins and losses, Mazey’s legacy is defined by his mentorship and the lasting impact he has had on countless young athletes. His commitment to academic excellence and character development ensured that his players excelled not only on the field but also in life. His emphasis on integrity, hard work and perseverance left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of playing under his guidance.
37 Mountaineers have been drafted to the MLB under Mazey, with JJ Wetherholt soon to join them in next month’s draft as a projected first-round pick. In 2019, he was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year Coach of the Year, coaching the Mountaineers to 38 wins and hosting their first regional since 1955.
Mazey will hand over the reins to his assistant Steve Sabins, leaving the program in better shape than he found it. Mazey, will still get to see WVU baseball up close however, as his son Weston committed to play collegiately for West Virginia.
All in all, Mazey’s career in baseball is a testament to his love for the game, his dedication to his players and his commitment to excellence. As a coach, mentor and leader, he has left an enduring legacy that will continue to influence and inspire future generations of West Virginia baseball players and coaches. His contributions to WVU are immeasurable and his impact will be felt for years to come. Randy Mazey’s name will forever be synonymous with passion, integrity and success in the world of college baseball.
