Legends on and off the Field

Legends on & off the Field

In January 2021, Coach Woody Hunt, head baseball coach, officially announced his retirement from CU. After 43 years at the university and 41 seasons as the head coach, Hunt decided that it was time to hang up his coaching hat.

During his time as head coach, the CU baseball team captured three NAIA national titles in a span of 10 years, two national runners-up, 12 trips to the NAIA World Series, and 20 regularseason conference championships.

“Life is full of decisions and changes, which affect a person’s life and those around him,” said Coach Woody Hunt in his official retirement announcement. “It has been a great run and an unbelievable journey to be the head baseball coach at Cumberland,” continued Hunt. “God has blessed me beyond measure.”

Hunt’s legacy was celebrated in a ceremony in April where over 1,000 baseball alumni, fans, and friends of Coach Hunt came out to honor his leadership and commitment to the game and his players.

In addition to his already long-lasting legacy, the Coach Ronald “Woody” Hunt Endowed Fund, raised over $55,000 with the help of many generous donors which will support the Cumberland baseball program with additional scholarships, equipment, and infrastructure for years to come.

Softball players, alumni, and supporters gathered in the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena on Friday, April 23 to celebrate the 13-year career of Softball Coach Heather Stanfill. The team celebrated Senior Night and Coach Stanfill’s last game vs. Bethel after the ceremony, with alumni, friends, and community members in attendance. Stanfill has been head coach at Cumberland since 2008 and announced her resignation in February of this year.

“My time at Cumberland has been nothing short of wonderful,” said Stanfill. “I promised myself the first day I walked on campus that I would leave the program and facility better than I found it and I feel I have held onto that promise.”

That was a promise that Stanfill kept throughout her time at Cumberland. One of her many legacies left at the university is the renovations to the softball facility. Stanfill led the softball program in raising funds to improve the softball facilities, which are now named Billy Dee Ross Stadium, in honor of Stanfill’s late brother. A giving opportunity honoring the coaching career of Stanfill was created to fund the needs of the Cumberland softball program as well as create a social space for the players at Billy Dee Ross Stadium. To contribute to the softball program, visit cumberland.edu/giving and select “Softball Fund.”