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Rick Hitt
AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 14, 2022 – Rick Hitt, athletic director and head baseball coach at South Florida State College (SFSC), was recently named president of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and, officially, took office on Friday, Jan. 7, during ABCA’s annual convention in Chicago.
Hitt initially joined the ABCA Board of Directors while serving as the Junior College Division Chair before being selected by the ABCA membership to serve as ABCA fourth vice president in 2018. Since that time, he has served simultaneously on the ABCA’s Board of Directors while progressing up the vice-presidential ladder. As second vice president in 2020, Hitt was tasked with arranging all of the clinic speakers for the 2021 ABCA Convention, which was held virtually.
In addition to Hitt, each of the ABCA’s vice presidents moved up one seat. Jim Schlossnagle of Texas A&M University is first vice president, Matt Noone of Babson College is second vice president, and Bob Whalen of Dartmouth College is third vice president. John McCormack of Florida Atlantic University was voted by the ABCA membership in fall 2021 to serve as fourth vice president in 2022.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to represent SFSC, Region 8 and the NJCAA in this position,” Hitt said. “The ABCA organization is an outstanding group. To have been accepted as a member of the board of directors several years ago and to serve coaches worldwide is amazing. I owe a great deal of thanks and am grateful to many people for this opportunity.
My father told me many years ago that if you feel you have something to offer, some talents, some tools, don’t be selfish and waste them on yourself. Be willing to serve others. I have never forgotten that. I am genuinely honored to serve.”
Hitt began his 24th year as the longest tenured coach in SFSC Panther Baseball history this past August. In his tenure as head baseball coach, Hitt has seen over 170 players move on to four-year schools and/or professional baseball. Hitt’s expectations of the players are simple: “Dedicate yourself to being an outstanding young man and representative of SFSC daily, commit to academic accountability and graduation, and play the greatest game in the world as hard as you can play it each day you get the chance. The growth that occurs within this process has the opportunity to stay with you as you venture on in life.”
In May 2020, Hitt was selected to be inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and he will be inducted in May 2022. He has been inducted into two additional Halls of Fame — the Santa Fe College Hall of Fame, as a member of the 1985 State Championship and National Tournament Team, and the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Hall of Fame. Hitt began his coaching career 34 years ago as an assistant coach at Sebring High School.
In the past 13 years, Hitt has completed terms as the NJCAA Coaches Association secretary, vice president, and served five years as the association’s president which included six years as a member of the NJCAA National Team staff. Hitt is currently the FCSAA State Baseball Chairperson for Region 8 in Florida and served 16 years on the FCSAA State Baseball Committee.
“All of SFSC is honored to share in Coach Hitt’s joy,” said Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel, SFSC president. “He is a natural leader and contributes willingly to advance academics and athletics from his platform, locally, as a director of athletics and from his positions on national organizations. His professional passion is baseball. Coach Hitt has been and continues to be an influence on countless students who play baseball for the Panthers and others who participate in Panther athletics. Rick willingly shares his experience through his daily discharge of duties that shape the lives of current athletes who will become future leaders when they graduate.”
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 13,000 members represent all 50 states and 33 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II, and III; NAIA; NJCAA; Pacific Association Division; High School; Youth; and Travel Baseball.
