North Alabama Lions baseball
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.
| North Alabama Lions | |
|---|---|
 2023 North Alabama Lions baseball team | |
 | |
| Founded | 1932 |
| University | University of North Alabama |
| Head coach | Jad Prachniak (1st season) |
| Conference | ASUN Conference |
| Location | Florence, Alabama |
| Home stadium | Mike D. Lane Field (Capacity: 750) |
| Nickname | Lions |
| Colors | Purple and gold[1] |
The North Alabama Lions play all home games on campus at Mike D. Lane Field. Under the direction of Head Coach Mike Keehn, the Lions are transitioning from Division II to Division I and are not eligible for postseason play. 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 (Division I only)
- 2019–present: ASUN Conference
Mike D. Lane Field
Mike D. Lane Field is a baseball stadium on the North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama that seats 750 people. It was opened in 1984. It was dedicated to former head coach Mike D. Lane on March 11, 2008, to a crowd of 1,874.[2]
Head coaches
Records taken from the 2020 UNA Baseball Record Book[2]
| Season | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2022 | Mike Keehn | 14 | 346–333–1 | .510 |
| Totals | 1 coach | 14 seasons | 346–333–1 | .510 |
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–present | San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins |
Taken from the 2020 UNA Baseball Record Book.[2] Updated February 25, 2020.
References
- "University of North Alabama Branding Guide" (PDF). February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- "2020 UNA Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2020.