Ohio Valley Conference

An All-OVC selection as a player for MTSU, John Stanford went on to play two seasons of professional baseball before hanging up the cleats to join the coaching ranks.  Coach Stanford returned to MTSU in 1974 as head baseball coach and posted an impressive 402-272-4 record.  His teams made frequent trips to the NCAA tournament and won four OVC titles under Stanford’s coaching. 

Coach Stanford was honored several times as OVC Coach of the Year.  He went on to become MTSU’s director of athletics where he helped in the upgrading of the school’s baseball facilities and golf program.  He also campaigned for the creation of the Blue Raider’s softball team and field.