A Hall of Fame Career
Brian Shoop, who steered the UAB Blazers from 2007 through 2020, is set to receive the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction in January 2027, joining a select group of seven honorees.
His decade‑long tenure produced 37 victories over nationally ranked opponents and 24 wins against Power Conference programs, underscoring his ability to compete with the nation’s elite.
Beyond the win column, Shoop cultivated a pipeline of talent that includes current Major League pitchers Graham Ashcraft, Tyler Tolbert and Garrett Whitlock, while guiding 13 players into the MLB Draft.
Induction Details
The ceremony will take place during the ABCA Convention in Chicago on Jan. 8, offering a public celebration of his contributions on and off the diamond.
Early Roots and Mentorship
Before his head‑coaching posts, he assisted Ron Polk at Mississippi State, helping the Bulldogs secure three SEC championships and a College World Series appearance in 1985, and later began his career at Malone College, his alma mater, where he was later inducted into the Malone Hall of Fame in 1996.
Legacy and Recognition
His coaching philosophy, emphasized character and development, earned him the Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award in 2015 and the Big South Conference Coach of the Year in 2004, cementing his reputation as a mentor and leader.