North Alabama Lions baseball

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North Alabama Lions
2026 North Alabama Lions baseball team
Founded1932
Overall record1671-1214-16
UniversityUniversity of North Alabama
Head coachJad Prachniak (4th season)
ConferenceASUN Conference
Gold Division
LocationFlorence, Alabama
Home stadiumMike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium
(capacity: TBD)
NicknameLions
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
College World Series appearances
Division II
1999
NCAA regional champions
Division II
1999
NCAA tournament appearances
Division II
1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2012
Conference tournament champions
Gulf South
1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999
Conference regular season champions
ASUN
2026
Gulf South
1992, 1993

The North Alabama Lions baseball team represents the University of North Alabama, which is located in Florence, Alabama. The Lions are an NCAA Division I college baseball program that competes in the ASUN Conference. They began competing in Division I in 2019 and joined the ASUN Conference the same season.

The North Alabama Lions play all home games on campus at Mike D. Lane Field. Under the direction of Head Coach Jad Prachniak, the Lions are entering their 2nd season under full Division I membership. In the program's 35 years in Division II, the Lions played in 12 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the College World Series once in 1999.

Since the program's inception in 1932, 5 Lions have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 3-time World Series champion and 2013 All-Star Sergio Romo. Since 1982, 15 Lions have been drafted, most recently in 2018 when the Baltimore Orioles selected Tyler Joyner in the 30th round.

Conference membership history

Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium

Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium is a baseball stadium on the North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama. It is a part of the Bank Independent Stadium complex. It is scheduled to be open for the 2025 season. It is built on the site of their previous stadium, Mike D. Lane Field, which shares the same namesake.

Head coaches

Records taken from the UNA Baseball Record Book following the 2025 season. UNA began its baseball program in 1932 but records are incomplete or nonexistent for many of the early seasons. This results in incomplete records for Eddie Flowers and George Weeks. [2]

Season Coach Years Record Pct.
1932-1949Eddie Flowers1823-19-3*.544
1950-1971George Weeks22163-159*.506
1972Jackie Pedigo110-19.345
1973-1974Ricky Lindsey233-26.559
1975Mike Dean112-23.343
1976Tommy Jones115-26.366
1977-1978Mike Knight255-65.458
1979Gary Elliott118-17.514
1980–1983Mike Galloway472-87.453
1984–2008Mike Lane25908–398–12.693
2009–2018Mike Keehn10308–201–1.510
Division I Era
2019–2022Mike Keehn438–132.224
2023–presentJad Prachniak487–131–1.400
Totals 12 coaches 95 seasons 1742–1303–17 .572

Program achievements

Gulf South Conference League Championships 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999
Gulf South Conference Division Champions 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005
NCAA Division II Regional Tournament Appearances 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2012
NCAA Division II Regional Championships 1999
NCAA Division II National Championship Appearance 1999

Lions in the Major Leagues

= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer
Athlete Years in MLB MLB teams
Cedric Landrum 1991–1993 Chicago Cubs, New York Mets
Jim Czajkowski 1994 Colorado Rockies
Terry Jones 1996, 1998–2001 Colorado Rockies, Montreal Expos
Josh Willingham 2004–2014 Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals
Sergio Romo 2008–2023 San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins

Taken from the 2024 UNA Baseball Record Book.[3] Updated February 22, 2024.

See also

References

  1. "University of North Alabama Branding Guide" (PDF). February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. "2026 UNA Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  3. "2024 UNA Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved February 23, 2024.