When determining the active high school baseball coach with the most career wins, it depends on how you ask the question. If you are looking for the coach who has won more baseball games, regardless of season, the answer is easy and it's not even close: Billy Jack Bowen of
Silo (Okla.) with 2,228 career wins.
However, if you include the spring season, then you have a whole other answer altogether. Bowen coaches baseball in the fall and the spring. His spring totals are 1,138-189 while his fall totals are 1,090-236. The actual spring-only leader in the state of Oklahoma is Larry Turner of
Owasso with 1,222 wins.
The spring-only national active leader is Mike Turo of
Monroe Campus (Bronx, N.Y.). He begins the 2023 season, his 46th, with 1,428-231 record for a career winning percentage of .861. He is 36 wins ahead of John Lowery of
Jefferson (Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.), who has 1,392 wins in his 52 years of coaching.
The longest-tenured coaches both hail from Wisconsin. Joe Vitcenda of
Royall (Elroy) and Marty Paulsen of
Fond du Lac rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the all-time career wins list in the state. Both began coaching in 1969 and begin their 55th seasons in the dugout.
MaxPreps endeavored to find any active coach with over 600 career wins entering the 2023 season. We came up with a list of 157 names and their win totals (we included losses when available).
Sources for the list include Tim Baugh of
Texas High School Baseball, Mark Tennis and Nelson Tennis of
Cal-Hi Sports Record Book, Tennessee Baseball Report, coaches associations from Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa, state association record books, the American Baseball Coaches Association milestones list, Georgia Dugout Preview and the coaches themselves.
Any additions or corrections, please email kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Mike Turo of Monroe Campus in the Bronx is the spring-only national leader in active coaching victories. His career record is 1,428-231 as Turo enters his 46th season. (Photo: Michael McLaughlin)
Record: 2,228-425*# (spring/fall combined)
Year started: 1987
Current school: Silo (Okla.)2. Mike Turo
Record: 1,428-231
Year started: 1978
Current school: Monroe Campus (Bronx, N.Y.)3. John Lowery
Record: 1,392-361-3#
Year started: 1971
Current school: Jefferson (Shenandoah Junction, W. Va.) 4. Larry Turner
Record: 1,222-274# (spring-only state leader)
Year started: 1983
Current school: Owasso (Okla.)5. Mac Whitaker
Record: 1,189-370#
Year started: 1978
Current school: Harrison County (Cynthiana, Ky.)
6. William Booth
Record: 1,158-501#
Year started: 1987
Current school: Hartselle (Ala.)
7. Steve Chapman
Record: 1,116-251-5#
Year started: 1983
Current school: Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas)
8. Bill Krumplebeck
Record: 1,074-456-1
Year started: 1977
Current school: Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.) 9. Dave Pishkur
Record: 1,071-294#
Year started: 1980
Current school: Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.)10. Bobby Howard
Record: 1,043-339# (Georgia)
Year started: 1980
Current school: Mosley (Lynn Haven, Fla.) (coached at St. Anne Pacelli in 2022)
11. Glenn Cecchini
Record: 1,011-213-1#
Year started: 1987
Current school: Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
12. Ronald Vincent
Record: 985-282#
Year started: 1971
Current school: J.H. Rose (Greenville, N.C.)
13. Jody Hamilton
Record: 968-376-1
Year started: 1986
Current school: Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro, Ky.)
14. Tommy Pharr
Record: 947-289-3
Year started: 1990
Current school: Christian Academy of Knoxville (Tenn.)
15. Mike Napoleon
Record: 938-359-6
Year started: 1985
Current school: New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.)
16. Stacy Hester
Record: 934-273
Year started: 1988
Current school: Manchester Academy (Yazoo City, Miss.)
17. Walter "Spud" O'Neil
Record: 930-313-1
Year started: 1980
Current school: Lakewood (Calif.) 18. Bill Huisman
Record: 929-529
Year started: 1977
Current school: Moravia (Iowa) 19 (tie). Ken Frank
Record: 919-326-3#
Year started: 1978
Current school: Toms River South (Toms River, N.J.) 19 (tie). Larry Watkins
Record: 919-297
Year started: 1977
Current school: Sacred Heart (Hattiesburg, Miss.)21. Donnie Hoffman
Record: 902-481*
Year started: 2002
Current school: Ripley (Okla.) 22. David Turner
Record: 900 wins
Year started: 2004
Current school: First Baptist Christian (Pasadena, Texas)23 (tie). Robert Shields
Record: 896-262
Year started: 1988
Current school: Bridgeport (W. Va.)
23 (tie). William Murrell
Record: 896-476
Year started: 1974
Current school: Athens Bible (Athens, Ala.)
25 (tie). Brad Gore
Record: 878-557*
Year started: 1994
Current school: Enid (Okla.)
26 (tie). Jake Burton
Record: 878-467-1
Year started: 1981
Current school: Twin Lakes (Monticello, Ind.) 27. Dan Griesbaum
Record: 871-487-3
Year started: 1984
Current school: Grosse Pointe South (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) 28. Terry Gobert
Record: 863-237
Year started: 1988
Current school: Jasper (Ind.) 29. Jay Thompson
Record: 862-270-2
Year started: 1982
Current school: Harrisburg (Ill.)
30. Jeff Hartt
Record: 857-414
Year started: 1985
Current school: Glenn (Bay City, Mich.) 31. Clay Weller
Record: 855-449*
Year started: 2001
Current school: Tupelo (Okla.) Record: 814-399
Year started: 1984
Current school: Sacred Heart Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.)
41. Brian Dudley
Record: 809-311
Year started: 1984
Current school: Wapahani (Selma, Ind.)42. Jack Campbell
Record: 807-687
Year started: 1971
Current school: Chesterton (Ind.)43. Tom Dutkowski
Record: 803-522-10
Year started: 1982
Current school: Powers Catholic (Flint, Mich.)
44. Pete Savage
Record: 801 wins#
Year started: 1995
Current school: Reno (Nev.)45. John Waddle
Record: 798-359
Year started: 1984
Current school: Coon Rapids-Bayard (Coon Rapids, Iowa)
46. Tim McDonald
Record: 797-270-9
Year started: 1993
Current school: Bay City Western (Auburn, Mich.)
47. Greg Dikos
Record: 794-281
Year started: 1988
Current school: Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) 48. Sam Royse
Record: 793-440-1
Year started: 1986
Current school: Glasgow (Ky.) 49. Kelly Gaunt
Record: 791-405
Year started: 1991
Current school: Clinton (Okla.)
50. Steve Fish
Record: 788-416
Year started: 1985
Current school: Marion (Iowa)51. Michael Groves
Record: 787 wins
Year started: 1981
Current school: Monterey (Calif.) 52 (tie). Luke Epple
Record: 785-237
Year started: 1994
Current school: Mt. Pleasant (Mich.) 52 (tie). Tony Reeder
Record: 785-358*
Year started: 1993
Current school: Collinsville (Okla.)54. John McNeal
Record: 780-319
Year started: 1991
Current school: Friendship Christian (Lebanon, Tenn.) 55. Tom Held
Record: 779-177
Year started: 1988
Current school: Defiance (Ohio)
56. Tim Funkhouser
Record: 770-203
Year started: 1996
Current school: Edwardsville (Ill.)
57 (tie). Dennis Woods
Record: 769-410
Year started: 1982
Current school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio)57 (tie). Michael Clay
Record: 769-367*
Year started: 2005
Current school: Rattan (Okla.) 59. Doug Miller
Record: 768-333
Year started: 1982
Current school: Canton Central Catholic (Canton, Ohio) 60. Mike Posey
Record: 765 wins
Year started: 1984
Current school: North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.)61. Eliseo Pompa
Record: 762 wins
Year started: 1987
Current school: McAllen (Texas) 62. Dave Saliba
Record: 761-367
Year started: 1984
Current school: Santa Fe Catholic (Lakeland, Fla.)63 (tie). Dave Greer
Record: 760-303
Year started: 1990
Current school: Pleasant Plains (Ill.) 63 (tie). Kevin James
Record: 760-323
Year started: 1993
Current school: Yukon (Okla.)
65. John Morgan
Record: 754-272*
Year started: 2002
Current school: Marlow (Okla.)
66. Bryan Wyatt
Record: 748-292-4
Year started: 1982
Current school: Blanco (Texas)67. Eric Regez
Record: 746-295-4
Year started: 1993
Current school: Herscher
68. Mike Long
Record: 744-447
Year started: 1980
Current school: Woodward-Granger (Woodward, Iowa)
69. Kevin Rodden
Record: 740-343*
Year started: 2000
Current school: Oktaha (Okla.)
70. Dan Hovden
Record: 738-501
Year started: 1987
Current school: North Fayette Valley (West Union, Iowa) 71. C.M. Maxwell
Record: 737-480
Year started: 1985
Current school: Dixie Heights (Edgewood, Ky.)72. Ross Taylor
Record: 735 wins
Year started: 1991
Current school: Cleburne (Texas) 73. Sam Tropiano
Record: 727-260-1
Year started: 1986
Current school: Bishop Eustace Prep (Pennsauken, N.J.) 74. Bob Foreback
Record: 723-279
Year started: 1995
Current school: Goodrich (Mich.) 75 (tie). Mike Crossley
Record: 721-404
Year started: 1988
Current school: Newcastle (Okla.) 75 (tie). Mark Brookes
Record: 721-315
Year started: 1976
Current school: Haddam-Killingworth (Higganum, Conn.)77. Kenneth Timmes
Record: 716 wins
Year started: 1989
Current school: Sunset (Dallas) 78 (tie). Shawn Streater
Record: 714-205*
Year started: 2004
Current school: Byng (Ada, Okla.) 78 (tie). Charles Oppio
Record: 714 wins
Year started: 1993
Current school: Bishop Manogue (Reno, Nev.)80 (tie). Dick Smith
Record: 711-436
Year started: 1980
Current school: Ogden (Iowa)80 (tie). Gerald Osborne
Record: 711-318*
Year started: 1994
Current school: Pryor (Okla.)82. Mack Hawks
Record: 705-386
Year started: 1990
Current school: Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 83. John Diatte
Record: 703-271-8
Year started: 1990
Current school: Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)84. Jeff Gumm
Record: 702-288
Year started: 1994
Current school: Taylor County (Campbellsville, Ky.)85. Dave Hall
Record: 696-357
Year started: 1986
Current school: Perrysburg (Ohio) 86. Pat Foster
Record: 694-266
Year started: 1992
Current school: Metro Christian (Tulsa, Okla.) 87. Randy Spangler
Record: 693-493-10
Year started: 1989
Current school: Coldwater (Mich.)88. Richy Brooks
Record: 692-414
Year started: 1990
Current school: Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.)89 (tie). Darol Salazar
Record: 689 wins
Year started: 1987
Current school: Palm Desert (Calif.) 89 (tie). Cheyenne Graham
Record: 689-433* (Fall 302-231, Spring 387-202)
Year started: 2004
Current school: Amber-Pocasset (Amber, Okla.) 91. Kevin Romine
Record: 688-414*
Year started: 2003
Current school: New Lima (Okla.) 92. Stuart Chester
Record: 687-178
Year started: 1996
Current school: Buford (Ga.) 93. Jim Steinwart
Record: 686-557
Year started: 1987
Current school: Springfield (Ill.) 94 (tie). Allen Pavette
Record: 682-332
Year started: 1990
Current school: Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.) 94 (tie). Scott Buffington
Record: 682-273
Year started: 1978
Current school: Schuylkill Haven (Pa.)96. Alan Cartwright
Record: 679-327*
Year started: 2004
Current school: Soper (Okla.) 97. Tom Muesborn
Record: 677-141-4
Year started: 1991
Current school: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 98. Edward Mervyn
Record: 675-503-5
Year started: 1980
Current school: Whittemore-Prescott (Whittemore, Mich.) 99. Dan Oliastro
Record: 669-441
Year started: 1969
Current school: Riverside (Taylor, Pa.)100 (tie). Ron Eastman
Record: 665-287
Year started: 1994
Current school: The Woodlands (Texas)100 (tie). Dean Lehrman
Record: 665-432
Year started: 1978
Current school: Heritage (Monroeville, Ind.)
102. Bobby Blackburn
Record: 664-382*
Year started: 1989
Current school: Cordell (Okla.) 103. Shawn Ruppert
Record: 659-296-13
Year started: 1990
Current school: Pine River Area (Leroy, Mich.)104 (tie). Phil Bodine
Record: 658-390-1
Year started: 1991
Current school: Plainfield South (Plainfield, Ill.)104 (tie). Rick Weber
Record: 658-398-1
Year started: 1983
Current school: Viewpoint (Calabasas, Calif.)
104 (tie). Ricky Teafatiller
Record: 658-239*
Year started: 2007
Current school: Calera (Okla.) 104 (tie). Andy Harlin
Record: 658-2221
Year started: 1989
Current school: St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta)104 (tie). Jimmy Macaluso
Record: 658-462
Year started: 1976
Current school: King (Tampa, Fla.)
109. Bill Merrell
Record: 657 wins
Year started: 1989
Current school: Boerne (Texas) 110. Bob Riker
Record: 656-287-4
Year started: 1998
Current school: Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) 111 (tie). Bill Whitely
Record: 655-304-4
Year started: 1990
Current school: Olivet (Mich.)111 (tie). Sheldon Fairchild
Record: 655-457*
Year started: 1988
Current school: Kiefer (Okla.) 111 (tie). Dave Bischoff
Record: 655-446
Year started: 1985
Current school: New Haven (Ind.) 114. Byron Peyton
Record: 654-478
Year started: 1985
Current school: Dallas Center-Grimes (Dallas Center, Iowa) 115 (tie). John Brockman
Record: 652-270*
Year started: 1998
Current school: Vian (Okla.) 115 (tie). Steve Strayer
Record: 652 wins
Year started: 1993
Current school: Crown Point (Ind.) 117. Chris Gibbs
Record: 651-331*
Year started: 1994
Current school: Antlers (Okla.) 118 (tie). Joel Hawkins
Record: 650-349
Year started: 1992
Current school: Highland (Ill.)
118 (tie). Tim Johnson
Record: 650-411
Year started: 1992
Current school: Comstock Park (Mich.)120 (tie). Curt Culbertson
Record: 647 wins
Year started: 1990
Current school: Martin (Arlington, Texas)120 (tie). Rod Stramp
Record: 647 wins
Year started: 1990
Current school: Keller (Texas) 122 (tie). Ludy Griggs
Record: 643-357*
Year started: 2003
Current school: Union City (Okla.) 122 (tie). David Riesen
Record: 643-170
Year started: 2001
Current school: Pioneer-Pleasant Vale (Waukomis, Okla.) 124. Randy Cihlar
Record: 640 wins
Year started: 1981
Current school: Midwest Central (Manito, Ill.) 125. Mike Watt
Record: 639-196#
Year started: 1985
Current school: St. Mary's-Colgan (Pittsburg, Kan.) 126. Brian Luft
Record: 638-461
Year started: 1993
Current school: Des Moines East (Des Moines, Iowa) 127. Danny Wallace
Record: 636 wins
Year started: 1994
Current school: Flower Mound (Texas)128 (tie). Tim Bordenet
Record: 635-203-1
Year started: 1991
Current school: Lafayette Central Catholic (Lafayette, Ind.)128 (tie). Joe Vitcenda
Record: 635-376#
Year started: 1969
Current school: Royall (Elroy, Wis.) 130 (tie). Armando Sedeno
Record: 632-395-8
Year started: 1986
Current school: Langham Creek (Houston) 130 (tie). Rich Van Gilst
Record: 632 wins
Year started: 1975
Current school: Westminster Christian (St. Louis) 132. Tim Terry
Record: 630 wins
Year started: 1982
Current school: South Vermillion (Clinton, Ind.)
133. Todd Hutchinson
Record: 629-298
Year started: 1995
Current school: Greenville (Ill.) 134. Dave Van Noord
Record: 628-288-1
Year started: 1991
Current school: Hudsonville (Mich.) 135 (tie). Matt Nosack
Record: 627-211-2
Year started: 1989
Current school: Santiam Christian (Corvallis, Ore.) 135 (tie). Fred Heatherington
Record: 627-218
Year started: 1991
Current school: Steubenville (Ohio)137. Matt Cimo
Record: 626-339
Year started: 1993
Current school: Auburn (Ala.) 138 (tie). Tom Dooley
Record: 625 wins
Year started: 1990
Current school: Melbourne Central Catholic (Melbourne, Fla.)138 (tie). Joey Hiller
Record: 625-128
Year started: 1997
Current school: Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.)140. Jim Strommen
Record: 622-223
Year started: 1980
Current school: Pecatonica (Blanchardville, Wis.)141 (tie). Jeff Ingles
Record: 621-223
Year started: 1988
Current school: Winters (Calif.) 141 (tie). Mark Thompson
Record: 621-270
Year started: 1990
Current school: Elder (Cincinnati)143. MIke Chiaparelli
Record: 620 wins
Year started: 1985
Current school: Mamaroneck (N.Y.) 144. Mitch Thomas
Record: 616 wins
Year started: NA
Current school: West Ouachita (West Monroe, La.)145. Mike Giovanazzo
Record: 615 wins
Year started: 1975
Current school: Bristol Eastern (Bristol, Conn.)
146. Glenn Maynor
Record: 614 wins
Year started: 1995
Current school: Haughton (La.) 147 (tie). Gordon Gesell
Record: 613 wins
Year started: 1985
Current school: Johnson (San Antonio) 147 (tie). Bill Cuthbertson
Record: 613 wins
Year started: 1980
Current school: Dighton-Rehoboth Regional (North Dighton, Mass.) 149 (tie). Marty Paulsen
Record: 611-445
Year started: 1969
Current school: Fond du Lac (Wis.) 149 (tie). Ron Murphy
Record: 611-217-1#
Year started: 1990
Current school: Rio Rancho (N.M.) 151. Jeff Timmons
Record: 608 wins
Year started: 1990
Current school: Hamilton (Texas) 152 (tie). Jake Souhrada
Record: 607-201
Year started: 1998
Current school: Wilton (Iowa) 152 (tie). Randy Brack
Record: 607-288
Year started: 1979
Current school: North Marion (Aurora, Ore.)154 (tie). Ian Hearn
Record: 603-244-4
Year started: 1988
Current school: Forest Hills Eastern (Ada, Mich.) 154 (tie). Shannon Dobson
Record: 603-249
Year started: 2000
Current school: Broken Arrow (Okla.) 156. Scott Carter
Record: 601 wins
Year started: 1991
Current school: Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, Texas) 157. Scott Tubbs
Record: 600+ (actual total unknown)
Year started: 1999
Current school: Holtville (Deatsville, Ala.)
Note: List was updated Feb. 18 to include Eric Regez of Herscher and Feb. 20 to include Dave Saliba of Santa Fe Catholic. Updated Feb. 23 to include Mike Posey of North Florida Christian.
* Oklahoma coach totals from fall and spring
# All-time leader in state
