Braves Coach Steve West...21 Years at the Helm
Coaching Experience: 21 years
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA (Great Bridge HS)
Alma Mater: Lynchburg College
Record: 318 wins - 132 losses
(6 District titles, 5 Regional appearances)
In his 21 years as head coach of the Indian River Braves, Steve West has
instilled a tradition of winning through hard work, determination... and a
lineup of strong bats. Year 22 has been more exciting than ever as Coach
West opened a brand new baseball facility this spring. It
will be the first field build specifically for varsity use in school history (the
team's home field had been shared with Pony Baseball).
Coach West, played 4 years at Great Bridge High before heading off to
Ferrum Junior College where he was an All-Conference second baseman.
After transferring to Lynchburg College where the team was the Division
II/III State Champions in 1975 and he posted an impressive .345 career
batting average, West headed down to Florida to play Independent League
baseball.
Since taking over as head coach at Indian River in 1984, Coach West has
rarely endured a non-winning season. The Braves have won 6 district titles
and reached regional play on 5 occasions. In 2003, West won his 300th
career game, by far the most in school history.
Numerous players from his teams have gone on to play college and professional baseball.
In addition, he has coached several current professional ballplayers such as Minnesota
Twins 3B/OF Michael Cuddyer, New York Mets 3B David Wright, and
Minnesota Twins 3B David Winfree (the team's 2005 Minor League Player
of the Year) at his yearly summer camps.
