Coaching Staff

Rushing, a 1976 graduate of Union University, is coming off his best season ever at Union with a 42-15 record.  He enters his thirteenth season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Last season saw Rushing lead the Bulldogs to a regular season TranSouth Conference Championship along with a trip to the Region XI Tournament hosted at Union's new facility.  Rushing's Bulldogs finished the 2000 season ranked #8 in the NAIA poll.  With his second 40 win season in three years, Rushing hopes the success will continue into the 2001 season. The Bulldogs hope to once again participate in the regional tournament and aspire to qualify for the NAIA World Series, the national tournament event which is qualifies the fewest participants in the NAIA.

Rushing began his coaching career at South Side High School in Jackson. There he won a pair of district championships and compiled a 59-34 record. Rushing then turned his attention to the collegiate level by serving as head coach for four years at Lambuth College. While at Lambuth, Rushing was named the 1987 TCAC Coach of the Year while leading the Eagles to a school record 27 victories and a first ever playoff appearance.

As a player at Union, Rushing was named the Most Valuable Player in 1976 while batting .378 and earned his third Outstanding Defensive Player award. During his playing career at Union, Rushing played all nine positions, but found his talents best suited the catching spot. Rushing served as Union's team captain for two seasons before heading to Memphis State University where he received a master's degree in 1980.

Rushing has compiled a 15-year coaching record of 491 wins and 348 losses (59%) earning his 400th career win against Lipscomb University on April 10, 1998. His 12-year Union record is 407-250 (62%). Rushing has been named TCAC Coach of the Year (1995), NCCAA MidEast Region Coach of the Year, has led the Bulldogs to four conference tournaments, one conference co-championship, five district tournaments, and two regional tournaments. He has served as Chairman of the Conference Baseball Committee for eight years.

He is married to the former Susan Clark and has three children, Amy, Jennifer, and Kelly.

Assistant Coach
Brent Fronabarger

Brent Fronabarger is now in his fourth season as assistant coach for the Bulldogs.  Fronabarger spent the 1996 season at Huntingdon High School where he helped coach the Mustangs in both football and baseball.  Fronabarger, a 1996 graduate of Union University, plans to share his experiences as a collegiate pitcher to help the Bulldogs pitching staff maintain their exceptional national reputation again in 2000.

Fronabarger, the 1995 Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, holds the school records for Most Victories in a Season (13), Most Victories in a Career (33), Most Strikeouts in a Career (306), and Most Innings in a Season (117.2).  In 1995, Fronabarger led the team with the lowest earned run average (1.97) and had a incredible 11-2 record.

Brent received a Bachelor of Science in physical education and health from Union in 1995 and received a Master of Education degree from Union in 1998.  He is married to the former Sandy Cothran.

Graduate Assistant Coach
Danny Giles

Danny Giles begins his first season as graduate assistant for the Bulldogs after spending the last two years as the starting second basemen for the Bulldogs.  During his two seasons with Union, Giles hit .292 with 30 doubles, 11 homeruns, and 106 RBI's.  He was selected second team All-Conference in 2000.

Giles played his high school baseball at North Side High School as well as basketball and track.  He was named Player of the Year at North Side during his junior and senior seasons.  Giles was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round on the 1996 Amateur Baseball draft.  Danny attended the University of Arkansas where in 1997, he started 31 games as their shortstop.  After his sophomore season, he transferred to Union to finish out his college career.