Lee Driggers

One of the great things about the men's basketball trip to Wheaton, Ill. has been reconnecting with former McMurry baseball coach Lee Driggers. Driggers re-birthed the baseball program in 1996 and coached the first 13 years leaving following his fourth ASC title in 2008. Driggers compiled more than 300 wins at McMurry and will be known for his work and commitment to the school and the program. He took the head coaching job at Wheaton College following the 2008 season, and it worked out well for he and his wife Sharon because their son Austin had just agreed to play football at Wheaton from Abilene's Cooper High School.

Everywhere Drigers has gone as a baseball coach including a AA coaching stint with the Pittsburg Pirates, he's been a winner. So it was no surprise last season when he not only took the Thunder to their first ever conference tournament appearance, but took them to the championship game as well.

Driggers admits advantages to both places when he's compared Wheaton and McMurry. Wheaton's facilities overall are incredible and the athletics facilities are top grade. However, as far as baseball is concerned, it would be hard to beat Walt Driggers Field on McMurry's campus because it is one, if not the, premiere NCAA Division III baseball facility in the nation. However, Driggers has already begun fund-raising work to help improve the baseball facilities, much like his efforts to build the field named after his uncle in Abilene.

All in all, Driggers is a good man, and he now carries his influences to the students, faculty and staff at Wheaton.

Good luck coach, it's been good to catch up, and you have been missed.