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Rick Hitt Head Baseball Coach
Coach Rick Hitt begins his ninth year at the helm for SFCC. Hitt and his wife of 17 years, Jayma, have two daughters, Sydney, 12, and Cassady, 10. Off the field, Hitt enjoys spending as much time as possible with his three girls and getting in a round of golf when possible. “Baseball has always been a huge part of my life for the past 19 years as a coach and will continue to be for a long time, but the time with my family is extra special. My wife and I are enjoying watching our girls grow up and experience life.”
Coach Hitt is in his fourth year as the Southern Conference Baseball chairman and member of the Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) Baseball Committee. He also holds a national position as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Coaches Association Vice President. Hitt had the honor this past summer of coaching in the NJCAA East versus West All-Star Series in Millington, Tenn.
After accepting the challenge to rebuild the program at SFCC in 1998, the Panthers have played eight seasons under Hitt, qualifying for the post-season in 2004 and 2005, including a regional tournament berth in 2004. With 287 wins, Hitt is 13 shy of 300 victories as a head coach. “Victory can be defined many different ways, I am very proud of the 53 players who have gone on to four-year schools and the 24 who have signed professional baseball contracts as much as I am with the wins our teams have accumulated over the years.”
This past Major League Baseball season, three former Panthers all made their debuts with big league clubs. Pitchers Jesse Litsch with the Toronto Blue Jays, Darren Clarke with the Colorado Rockies, and Infielder/Outfielder Ryan Raburn with the Detroit Tigers. “Those guys getting their shot was a great feeling this past year. I think it speaks well for our program and how our players work to improve, and it says even more about the efforts and perseverance of each of these three guys. Getting an opportunity to play this great game at the highest level possible always has been and always should be considered very special. We are happy for all of them and their families and take great pride in the fact that they are Panthers.”
As a pitcher at Santa Fe Community College, Hitt helped lead the Saints to the NJCAA World Series in 1985, under NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Harry Tholen. Hitt completed his playing career at St. Thomas University playing for current Louisiana State University Skipper Paul Maineri. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration in 1988. “I look forward to the challenges a very young and inexperienced team (20 freshmen) will face as we travel this road together. With great effort and commitment, all of our goals are attainable.”
Contact me at: Phone: 863-784-7036 Email—hittr@southflorida.edu |
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PantherCoaching Staff |
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Athletic Department |
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South Florida Community College |
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Coaches Corner |
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Darrell Heckman Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Darrell Heckman begins his sixth season with the Panthers and continues to be an asset in all phases of Panther Baseball. He was formerly the head baseball coach at Fort Pierce Central and Lake Placid high schools.
Heckman lives in Lake Placid with his wife, Ruth, and son, Zach, 17. He hopes to help SFCC achieve its goal of winning the college’s first state or national championship. He would like to continue to spread his knowledge of baseball to all the players who pass through the Panther Baseball program.
Contact me at: Phone: 863-784-7036 Email—heckmand@southflorida.edu |
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Andy Polk Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Andy Polk, of Lake Wales, begins his first season as Panthers assistant coach. He assists with all aspects of the program but primarily works with the pitching staff.
As a player in 2004-05, he helped the Panthers qualify for two consecutive postseason appearances, including the 2004 FCCAA Regional Tournament. He also was a part of the 2004 team that set the school record for 38 wins in a season, and in his two years at SFCC the team won 71 games.
Following his SFCC career, Polk moved on to Division II Florida Southern College, where he helped the Moccasins to the Regional Tournament in 2006. He is now finishing his degree in sports management at Webber International University.
Following his college career, Polk signed a contract with the Charlotte County Redfish of the Independent South Coast League and will continue his professional career this summer.
Contact me at: Phone: 863-784-7036 |
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Kelly Sanders Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Kelly Sanders returns to the SFCC staff as an assistant coach for his sixth year after a previous stint as an assistant from 1998 to 2003.
Sanders and his wife, Lois, have two sons: Blake, 19, a former SFCC student, and Dylan, 15.
Sanders played at Edison Community College and Florida Southern College, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He teaches at Hill-Gustat Middle School in Sebring. As a former head baseball coach at Lake Placid High School, and three assistant coaching stints at Sebring High School, he communicates his knowledge of the game to Panther athletes. He works in all aspects of the program but primarily with hitters and outfielders.
Contact me at: Phone: 863-784-7036 |
