University of Richmond Athletics
Atkins Leading Richmond Resurgence
03/21/2001 | Baseball
March 21, 2001
RICHMOND, Va. - Success comes in swarms for Richmond baseball coach Ron Atkins, but conceit does not.
Atkins is quick to write off credit and acknowledges longevity as the secret of his prosperity. He taught at J.R. Tucker High School for 17 years and in seven seasons at the helm, guided the Tigers to four state Group AAA titles on the diamond. Atkins has compiled 480 wins in 16 seasons at Richmond, the most among the six skippers who led the Spiders' program in its 86-year history. He surpassed Malcolm Pitt (434 wins in 37 years), Richmond's home-field namesake, in career victories two seasons ago.
"I am proud of that," Atkins says. "It's something that you can't do without good coaches around you and good people supporting you."
His aura of success is not limited to the win column. The ding of aluminum bats and the snap of rawhide that greet Marsh Hall residents each spring have been produced by a unique band of ball players. Spider players under Atkins' direction have gone on to become major and minor league standouts, All-Americans, CAA Players of the Year, All-CAA and All-East Region selections. Professional clubs drafted 17 Spiders and obtained several others via free agency in the past 11 years. Two players were drafted after wearing Richmond uniforms in 2000, Nic Jackson (Chicago Cubs) and Mike Smith (Toronto Blue Jays).
Atkins went through the 1990s with 10 straight winning seasons, four trips to the NCAA tournament, six CAA regular season and two CAA tournament titles and two CAA Coach of the Year honors.
His players also made their mark in the classroom. "I tell the kids, `no matter how good you are, baseball is going to end for you,'" Atkins says. "They are always going to benefit from a good education."
That point has been well taken. In the past 15 years, 120 of 121 players who completed their eligibility graduated, including Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sean Casey and Atlanta Braves outfielder Brian Jordan. Both returned to Richmond to complete their degrees amid professional success.
With a move to the Atlantic 10 Conference looming on the horizon, Atkins looks to the 2001 campaign - and beyond - with great anticipation. "I think our future in the A-10 as far as being competitive and being in the hunt each year should be the same as it is in the CAA," he notes.
The Spiders are looking to improve on last year's 25-29 finish. With a solid pitching corps and a young cast of hitters, including freshman Adam Tidball (team-leading .350 batting average), Richmond has high hopes for another winning season.
"We've got a good group of young men and I like their attitude," says Atkins. "I anticipate good things will happen this year. And those good things should continue well into the future."
Atkins said the Spiders signed six out of the seven recruits they sought in the fall. Coupled with their current young personnel, Richmond will continue to be an imposing force on collegiate baseball's landscape.
