Montreat College baseball coach Travis Little celebrated his 200^th career victory last Saturday, February 23^rd, with a 10-0 home win over Salem International University. 

Little himself marvels at this accomplishment at his age. He first became a head baseball coach at age 26, and seven years later, at 33, he achieved this remarkable milestone.

Little says, “One of my mentors told me one time that fewer than three percent of coaches become head college baseball coaches before they’re thirty years old. I’ve been so blessed with great mentors and student-athletes.  To have reached this milestone, at my age, is amazing.  I truly thank all our players for their achievements along the way.”

In 2004, Coach Little arrived at Montreat College and made an immediate impact in the Appalachian Athletic Conference by leading his team to a 42-8 record and the NAIA Region XII Baseball Tournament, concluding the season with a #12 national ranking in the NAIA.  Since then, Coach Little has led his teams to two more regional appearances.  Last season, Montreat concluded the 2007 campaign as runner-ups in the AAC race. 

After averaging 30-plus wins per season since his 2004 arrival, Little’s team is poised for another great season. Currently, the Cavaliers enjoy a 12-5 overall record.

The road to the 200^th milestone wasn’t traveled alone for Coach Little – he gives credit to many of his mentors who paved the way for him.

“I’ve had some great mentors. Coaches like Kermit Smith, one of my best friends who opened the college door for me, and Joe Hubbard from Concord, North Carolina who gave me my first American Legion coaching job. These great men gave me a chance and I’ll be forever grateful to them,” said Little.  “John Daniels was also a great leader and mentor for me as my first college athletic director at Bethany College in Kansas.  He believed in me… he gave the head coaching job to a young man with no head coaching experience.”

Most college athletic directors look for head coaching experience, but Daniels found the man he wanted in 26 year-old Travis Little, and knew great things would come from his new baseball coach.

“Obviously, I felt really good about Travis and his coaching leadership, but most importantly, his personal leadership.  He is a godly man who I knew would do things the right way.  He knew the game of baseball as well as anyone else, and I felt he had great potential,” Daniels says.  “To this day, he’s one of my favorite coaches. He did so much with the team and our facility while he was here. We are so grateful. Our baseball program is nationally ranked almost every year, and that’s a great tribute to him and what he started. Travis was always learning, always listening to the older coaches, regardless of what sport it was – he just wanted to learn and see how he could improve his program.  We miss him here at Bethany, but we are proud of what he’s accomplishing at Montreat.”

Montreat College Athletic Director Jonathan Bennett has similar praise for his baseball coach, “Two hundred victories is an incredible achievement, but for someone as young as Travis it’s almost unheard of.  He has proven himself as a winner and no doubt has many more wins to come.  I am excited for him and all the former players who have been apart of this great accomplishment.  He truly is putting Montreat baseball on the map.”

Coach Little’s road to his 200^th victory:
2002    27-12    Bethany College
2003    27-12   Bethany College
2004    42-8     Montreat College
2005    34-21   Montreat College
2006    32-22   Montreat College
2007    31-21   Montreat College
2008    12-5*   Montreat College (*current record)

Montreat College is a Christ-centered liberal arts institution with its main campus for four-year traditional students in Montreat. The accelerated School of Professional and Adult Studies program has campuses in Asheville, Charlotte, and Black Mountain, with courses being taught in Cherokee, Murphy and other NC locations.