Appleton to be Inducted Into Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame
By CSU Sports Information
ATLANTA - Columbus State University head baseball coach Greg Appleton will be inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Baseball Hall of Fame as the association announced the Class of 2020.
In his 23rd season at the helm of the Cougars, Appleton is the all-time wins leader in the storied 50-year history of Columbus State baseball. Leading the Cougars to the 2002 NCAA Division II national championship, Appleton has a career record of 803-430 in a CSU uniform.
"Being a lifelong resident of Atlanta, playing high school, college and coaching only in Georgia, being recognized by the Georgia Dugout Club is the highest honor for me," Appleton said. "When I look at the names of the coaches in the GDC Hall of Fame, it is very humbling to join this group."
In addition to the national title, Appleton has taken the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, including four trips to the Division II College World Series. CSU also reached the championship round in 2004 and 2018.
Adding to his resume, Columbus State has captured two Peach Belt Conference championships (2008, 2016) and three PBC Tournament titles (2006, 2010, 2016) under his leadership.
He has been named the National Coach of the Year in 2002 while also earning Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2018.
"I would like to be remembered as a competitor that prepared my team to play their best," Appleton said. "I want my players to know they were the source of my success."
Before taking over at Columbus State, Appleton restarted the Young Harris baseball in program in 1994. He compiled a 127-74 mark in four seasons to take his overall career coaching record to 930-504 entering the 2020 season.
Before his days as a collegiate head coach, Appleton was the pitching coach and played a key role in helping Georgia win its only national baseball championship in 1990. As an assistant, he also helped the Bulldogs win the 1987 SEC title as Georgia made the NCAA College World Series.
Appleton played for UGA from 1981-84 and served as a graduate assistant at the university during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on January 10, 2020, at the Georgia Dugout Club annual coaches convention. The full Class of 2020 includes Appleton, former Toombs County head coach Steve Janousek, North Paulding head coach Dennis Jordan, the late Dennis Payne, Marist head coach Mike Strickland, and longtime First Presbyterian Day coach Jim Turner.