LLCC Coach Ron Riggle receives 2024 NJCAA Loyalty Award

Congratualtions to Coach Ron Riggle, LLCC’s athletics director and head baseball coach, who received the 2024 Loyalty Award on April 17 at the NJCAA Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Coach Riggle has served as the athletics Ron Riggle, NJCAA Loyalty Award.director at LLCC since 1997 and is in his 34th season coaching Loggers baseball and his 22nd year as head coach.

“Throughout his impressive career as athletics director, Ron has adhered to the principle that our student athletes are first students and then athletes. He fosters an environment in the athletic department that supports students academically and athletically,” said Shanda Byer, vice president of student services at LLCC. “His leadership, along with his compassion and support of students and coaches, is certainly deserving of the NJCAA Loyalty Award.”

Under Riggle’s leadership, LLCC’s student athletes maintained an average GPA of 3.14 in 2023. As a coach, Riggle led the Loggers to two NJCAA Division II national championship titles in 1994 and 2000. He also led the baseball team to the NJCAA Division II World Series in 1993, 1995, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

Riggle played at LLCC during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. He then continued his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University where he was a member of the back-to-back Big South Conference Championship teams.

The Loyalty Award is given to an active athletic director in the NJCAA membership that has worked to uphold the ideals of the organization. It recognizes leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

Save the date: Ron Riggle Day, May 3

Ron Riggle Day, May 3, 2024, LLCCYou’re invited! Save the date for Ron Riggle Day — May 3, 2024. We will be honoring Coach Riggle for his 34 years of coaching Loggers baseball.

2:45 p.m. – Recognition of Coach Riggle
3 p.m. – LLCC Loggers vs. Danville Jaguars

Earlier this year on Feb. 17, Coach Riggle reached his 700th win versus University of Arkansas Rich Mountain with a 7-5 victory. He has been to the NJCAA National Tournament eight times (in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2000 as an assistant coach and in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021 as head coach) and has won the national tournament twice (1994 and 2000). He has been a part of five no-hitters and sent on over 200 players that continued to play baseball after their time at LLCC. During his time as head coach, there have been nine LLCC players who have advanced to play professional baseball.

In the News

Prepping for gardening season takes some planning. If you don’t have the time for a full garden this summer, Sheridan Lane, LLCC director of culinary program and operations suggests focusing on flavor bases in this week’s Epicuriosity 101 column in the Springfield State Journal-Register.

Ron Riggle, athletic director and head baseball coach, and members of the Loggers baseball team were interviewed by WICS yesterday about their season.