Russell Stockton enters his 11th season as assistant coach at Houston Baptist University.
HBU captured its first-ever NCAA Baseball Championship appearance in 2015 by going 4-0 in the Southland Conference Tournament. Stockton also helped lead the Huskies to the Great West Conference Tournament title in 2013.
Prior to HBU, Stockton spent two seasons in his second stint at the University of Houston, one as assistant coach and as associate head coach in 2010. He played a large role in the success of pitchers Donnie Joseph, the 88th overall draft pick in 2009, and Jared Ray, a 38th-round selection in 2010.
Stockton was the head coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville for 10 seasons, and became the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 275-273 record. His final victory came as the Javelinas defeated top-seeded and nationally-ranked Abilene Christian to win the 2008 Lone Star Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Javelinas recorded at least 30 wins in four of his last six years, posted four consecutive 30-plus win campaigns from 2003-06 and won the regular season and tournament championships in 2004. He was also head coach at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas, where he earned several coach of the year honors and led his squad to the Junior College World Series and a runner-up showing in 1997.
While at TAMU-Kingsville, he coach Mike Adams, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers after his junior season and played 10 seasons in the majors with the Brewers, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies. Stockton also guided Garret Murdy, who led the nation in strikeouts with 158, was a first-team all-American and the NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year. Murdy was selected in the 16th round of the draft by the Houston Astros.
Stockton was a four-year letterwinner on the Cougar baseball team under his father, Bragg, who coached the Cougars from 1986-94. He was an infielder for three years as well as a relief pitcher and was a member of two NCAA Regional-qualifying teams. After his playing career, he had his first stint as an assistant at Houston on his father’s staff from 1991-94.
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Stockton holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in kinesiology from Houston. He and his wife, Linda, have five children: Zachary, Lauren, Jacob, Amanda and Peter. Lauren is an HBU alum, who competed for the Huskies’ cross country and track and field teams.
