JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Flagler College filled a major coaching vacancy by hiring Greg Gulliams on Friday morning to lead its baseball program. Gulliams is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division II history.
He’s headed to St. Augustine to replace an iconic coach in Dave Barnett, who spent 37 years at Flagler and retired after this season with 1,054 wins. Barnett is a legend at program and a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Hall of Fame and the Flagler College Hall of Fame. Gulliams has spent the last 17 seasons at Valdosta State. In 34 years of coaching, Gulliams is 1,178-580-2.
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“What a privilege it is follow hall of fame coach Dave Barnett and the success he has built here at Flagler College,” Guilliams said in a release. “It’s an opportunity to not lead out front, but to lead together with Director of Athletics Jud Damon; and embrace the current players and lift them up. I am honored to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Gulliams has been not only successful, but extremely consistent in his career. In his 34 seasons across the Embry-Riddle (16 years), VSU (17 years) and Penn State-Behrend (one year), he’s had just three that have resulted in a sub-.500 record. His career winning percentage is a robust .670. His time at Embry-Riddle was notable because the Eagles and Saints were longtime college rivals during the NAIA days. Gulliams averaged 41 wins a season with Embry-Riddle.
Gulliams ranks second among active coaches in NCAA Division II in career wins behind Ashland’s John Schaly (1,314), and right in front of Sonoma State’s John Goelz (1,174).
“We are truly excited to have one of the all-time winningest college baseball coaches coming to Flagler to lead our program,” Damon said in a release. “More than the competitive success, though, Greg’s greatest strengths can be seen in his character — the way he leads and the lives he impacts. His abilities as a recruiter and a developer of players, along with his energy and work ethic, have been the keys to his success and we’re thrilled to have him apply those here at Flagler.”