Jan. 31, 2006

By George Starr, Lee Sports Information

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Legendary coach and NAIA Hall of Fame member David Altopp will retire as head coach at Lee University (Tenn.).

"After 35 years as a college head coach and numerous opportunities to observe fellow baseball coaches who have either retired or continue coaching on into their late 60's, I decided that I want to be able to enjoy some good years with my family while I still have good health," said Altopp. "My very good coaching colleague and friend for over 25 years, Hank Burbridge, coached for 40 years at the same university.  However, in his last season (2004), he was diagnosed with cancer and lived less than a year, passing away at 66 years of age."

The coach noted that he wanted to "hopefully, be able to have some good years with my children, grandchildren, and Phyllis, my faithful wife for over 40 years."

Altopp was hired to reinstate baseball at Lee in 1997. He had held head jobs at Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University), Greenville College (N.C.) and Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) before accepting the new challenge. In nine seasons as the skipper of the Flames, the veteran coach has directed Lee to 315 wins, an average of 35 per year. Overall, his four college teams have rewarded him with 761 victories.

"David Altopp has been the perfect coach to build our baseball program," said Lee President Dr. Paul Conn.  "He has developed the basis for a nationally competitive NAIA team.  He has not only been a winner, but he has also built the program with the values that are part of Lee University athletics at its best.  We are really pleased that he will be staying on with us in his post-coaching years."

Altopp noted that his current plans call for him to continue teaching and be a Senior Adjunct Professor at Lee.  "I also plan to do some baseball mission work with my good friend and the Director of Global Youth Baseball Federation, Jeff Siegel, in Brazil, Israel, Greece, and perhaps other international locations," said the coach.

"Obviously, we had some shaky years at Lee in the beginning," he admitted, "but eventually we rose to the level of play that I always believed that we would.  Building something of value takes time.  We all know that Rome was not built in a day, but through hard work and keeping our priorities, it happened for us."

Lee, in its very first season of competition in the Southern States Athletic Conference, won the regular-season championship. The Flames also claimed their first NAIA region title and advanced to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho for the first time.

For the past four seasons Altopp's teams have been ranked in the top 20 by the NAIA. Last season the Flames posted a school record 55 wins against just 16 defeats. "Finding ourselves ranked in the pre-season spot of No. 5 this year, nothing could possibly be better than to close out my career with a similar season in 2006," he pointed out.

"Coach Altopp has done a tremendous job starting a baseball team from scratch and in a short period of time turning it into a nationally ranked program," said Lee Athletic Director Larry Carpenter. "He did it the right way, scheduling good teams and bringing quality student athletes to campus who would be successful on the field and in the classroom."

Carpenter noted that Altopp is one of the best at keeping relationships with players who played for him 20-30 years ago and that has paid dividends as they are now sending their sons and friends to Lee. "He is known throughout the coaching circles as a man of integrity who does things the right way. We are going to miss David on the baseball field and will be forever thankful for the job he did at Lee," stressed Carpenter.

Altopp, who is already a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and a former president of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) directed Lee to two TranSouth Conference crowns (2003-04). He was named the NAIA Region XIII Coach of the Year this past season.

He added that another highlight is the fact that, during his college coaching career, he has enjoyed a 100 percent graduation rate for players who have played four years for him. "I checked to see how many of my Lee players have graduated since coming in 1996 and I discovered that 46 men who played for me at least one year at Lee have graduated," he said proudly.  

"There are several more on tap to graduate this spring, summer, or winter," Altopp added  "Yes, I have had a few of my players go on to play some professional ball, including one drafted in the seventh round, but the greatest thrill is seeing my men walk across a stage to receive their college diploma is a true highlight. I have no clue what was my biggest win because my love for my family means the most to me."

Altopp said he will be forever grateful to Dr. Conn for his confidence in hiring and giving him the opportunity to build this program from the ground up. " Also, I could not have had a better athletic director than coach Carpenter.  He has always been 100 percent supportive of me, and as a former coach himself, I believe he knew we were building the program with integrity."