Not many baseball coaches have won over 900 games, coached hundreds of student-athletes and had a stadium named after them. But not many coaches are Buddy Bolding. Since being named head baseball coach in 1978, Bolding has guided the Longwood program from its humble Division III beginnings into the formidable Big South Conference. These are just a few of the things that Bolding has been able to accomplish over his career. He has been the face of Longwood baseball since its inception.
After the 2013 season, his 35th year at Longwood, Bolding will hand over the reins of his cherished baseball program to someone else in order to enjoy a life of retirement.
“I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve and at the forefront was arriving in a [Division I] conference,” said Bolding. “It’s time for this old coach, who built this program from scratch to pass the baton along to a younger person who has the energy, enthusiasm and capacity to be successful.”
He made it clear that his decision to retire is not about him, but about the ongoing betterment of the Longwood baseball program.
There is no word on who will replace Bolding, and although he says he is “grooming a coach” he said the decision rests in the hands of Longwood Director of Athletics Troy Austin.
Bolding, 64, came to Longwood in 1978 after graduating from Staunton River High in Bedford County and then going on to Milligan College where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation. After college, he went back to Staunton River and began coaching for the school for four years where he enjoyed success.
To Bolding, “success” didn’t always mean winning games. He said, “I wanted to leave a legacy of something that was worthwhile, clean and something that was based on making better men and not necessarily winning, although we have won a few ball games.”
Not just a few, 927 to be exact. And throughout those wins and losses, Bolding has impacted the life of every player he has coached, an impact that some say changed their life forever. “He taught me what hard work was and also taught me how to be a man,” said Assistant Coach Brian McCullough, who pitched for Bolding at Longwood and graduated in 2007. “He gave me a lot of responsibilities and made me a captain, which really taught me how to be a leader.”
Bolding, who is known for being tough on his players, insists that it brings the best out of them and makes them into hard workers.
“It is my belief that baseball requires a kind of mental toughness that has to be taught. You have to put players through the rigors of becoming mentally tough to get results,” said Bolding.
That belief has resulted in a .640 winning percentage over the course of his career and more importantly, molded high-quality men in the process.
“I will never forget his intensity and passion for the game of baseball. It brings about the best in all of us,” McCullough said.
Bolding, who has built his career on doing the right things and playing the right way, believes that he has been able to mold his players into better husbands, better employees and better citizens.
“I feel like he has impacted my life and baseball career already, and I just got here last year,” said sophomore pitcher Aaron Myers.
Bolding seems to have that effect on people. He has put in countless time and effort over the years and says that he has thrown around eight million baseballs in batting practices over the years. That is why he believes that Longwood has been such a good hitting program.
But with this upcoming season being his last, he realizes that even though he might not be coaching anymore, Longwood will always be a part of him. “I don’t look at it as leaving, I am just becoming what I have made many men into, and that is an old timer,” he says.
Bolding added that he is, and always will be, an avid supporter of Longwood University, and he will do everything within his power to help the school prosper, whether it’s in an official capacity with the school or just cheering on the Lancers on from his seat.
Bolding said that he still plans on attending the games but will not be one of those people who “is yelling from the stands.” He will let the coaches coach and the players play.
Bolding has a legacy that will live forever, whether it’s in the hearts and minds of all Lancers, or physically on the 500-seat stadium south of campus that bears his name.
“The ‘Coach Bolding Way’ will always be a part of us,” said McCullough. ”He might be stepping aside, but he will never truly be gone.”
