UAB baseball’s Casey Dunn named American Conference Coach of the Year

UAB baseball head coach Casey Dunn has been crowned the American Conference Coach of the Year, leading a remarkable charge that saw six Blazers earn all-conference honors. The announcement, which dropped Tuesday afternoon, highlights a historic turnaround for the program.

Defying the Odds

While the AAC preseason poll projected the Blazers to finish dead last, Coach Dunn steered the team to a fourth-place conference finish. UAB wrapped up its regular season with a 15-12 league record and a 31-24 overall mark. With seven total conference honorees this season, the Blazers have reached their highest recognition total since 1995, when the program saw 10 players selected.

Now in his fifth season at the helm of the UAB program following a successful 17-year stint at Samford, Dunn has the Blazers knocking on the door of history. One more victory will give the team its highest win total in a single season since 2015.

Chasing Postseason Glory

The Blazers shift their focus to the American Conference tournament, hosted at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. UAB takes the field on Thursday, awaiting the winner of the Memphis-Charlotte matchup to kick off its tournament run.

Postseason aspirations are riding high, with the team currently in the mix for an NCAA regional selection. The Blazers are currently listed in the “Four to Watch” category by D1 Baseball and the “Next Four Out” group by Baseball America, making a deep tournament run crucial for their national prospects.

Standout Performers

Sophomore outfielder John Paul Head and junior catcher Max Price led the charge as first-team All-Conference selections. Head etched his name into the record books, becoming the first Blazer to tally 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases in a single campaign. Price, meanwhile, anchored the lineup with a .968 OPS and six home runs, splitting backstop duties with freshman Austin Pierzynski.

Sophomore designated hitter Landon Beaver earned second-team honors after leading the squad with a .322 batting average. The future looks bright in Birmingham as well, with Pierzynski joined on the All-Freshman team by teammates Baylor Roberts (shortstop) and Carter Samuelson (pitcher).