Ron Atkins (2007) - Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame - University of Richmond Athletics

Ron Atkins

Induction:
2007

In 22 years at the helm of the Spider baseball program, Ron Atkins won more games (685) than any coach in any sport in school history. His teams made seven NCAA appearances, including a regional championship and Super Regional berth in 2002, when the Spiders won a school-record 53 games. Spider baseball during Coach Atkins' tenure recorded 14 winning seasons, five conference titles and four conference tournament championships. His teams reeled off ten consecutive winning seasons from 1990-99.

Atkins was honored as Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year twice (1991, 1999), Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (2002), Virginia State Coach of the Year (1999) and the Virginia Sports Information Director's Coach of the Year (2002). Major league players who played for Atkins at Richmond include UR Hall of Famers Brian Jordan and Sean Casey.

Atkins also coached pitcher Tim Stauffer, who became the highest drafted Spider in school history when the San Diego Padres used their first round pick and made him the fourth overall selection in 2004. Coach Atkins' ties to the Richmond community extend beyond the Spider campus. Before arriving at Richmond in 1985, he spent 17 years at nearby J.R. Tucker High School, where his teams posted an .813 winning percentage with four district championships and four state AAA crowns.

In November 2022, Atkins was named to the inaguralHall of Fame class of the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association, awarded for tremendous impact on the high school and college baseball landscape across the commonwealth.