Mitch Gaspard Position: Head Coach Experience: 10th Year Alma Mater: Louisiana Lafayette, 1988

MITCH GASPARD - Head Baseball Coach

Mitch Gaspard, who served the last two seasons assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, has agreed to be the Crimson Tide's next head baseball coach. Gaspard agreed to a 3-year contract that is subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System.

"Mitch Gaspard has agreed to take over leadership of the program," Mal Moore, Alabama's Director of Athletics said. "We are confident that our program - with its tremendous heritage and tradition - will continue to be competitive at the highest level. Mitch is uniquely qualified to take over our program at this time. We're very fortunate to have a coach and recruiter of Mitch's quality already on the staff. I am confident and excited about the direction of our baseball program. We are having an excellent year in recruiting and fall practice is getting started."

Gaspard is a veteran coach on the college level with deep ties to the Alabama program. The 2010 season will be Gaspard's 10th as a member of the Crimson Tide staff.

"First of all, I want to thank President (Robert) Witt and coach Mal Moore for having the confidence in me to lead the Alabama baseball program," Gaspard said. "My background as a head coach for six years and being an assistant here for so many years have prepared me to be the coach of the Crimson Tide. Also, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jim Wells.

"He is without a doubt one of the best baseball coaches I've ever been around. His service to the University has been exemplary, not only the way his teams played on the field but in the way his teams conducted themselves in the classrooms and in the community. Lastly, I look forward to having the opportunity of working with our current players who are already here and recruiting more top-notch student-athletes to come represent the University of Alabama."

In 2009, Gaspard completed his second season as the Tide's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He returned for his second stint with the Crimson Tide in 2008 after six years as head coach at Northwestern (La.) State in Natchitoches, La., where he compiled a 211-128 (.622) record. During those six years, he led the Demons to a pair of Southland Conference championships, one SLC Tournament championship and a berth in the 2005 NCAA Baton Rouge (La.) Regional. In 20 years of coaching, Gaspard has worked with teams that have won eight conference championships, eight conference tournament championships, played in 16 NCAA Regionals and three College World Series berths.

Gaspard was a member of Wells' original staff at Alabama in 1995 and was a pivotal figure as an ace recruiter and a shrewd tactician in the remarkable revival of the program. Alabama had four SEC wins in 1994, but after Wells and Gaspard arrived, the Tide won the SEC Tournament in 1995 and was one win away from the College World Series. By the time Gaspard returned to NSU, Alabama had earned six NCAA Regional appearances and three College World Series berths, including a national championship game loss to LSU in 1997. In each of his first seven seasons at Alabama, Gaspard helped mold the Tide into one of nation's finest defensive units. As the chief recruiter, he helped land five successive Top 20 recruiting classes, including three Top 10 finishes in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

An all-state shortstop at Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas, Gaspard led his team to the Texas state title as a senior and then became the starting second baseman in 1985 for the first Skip Bertman-coached LSU team to advance to NCAA Regional play. He played his final two collegiate seasons as a starter at second for the University of Houston, where he became an assistant coach in 1988. Gaspard served as an assistant coach at Louisiana-Lafayette from 1989-92, helping the Ragin' Cajuns reach three NCAA Regionals and win three conference titles.

Gaspard and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Brae and Paeton.