UNLV REBELS

Buddy Gouldsmith

8

Position: Former Head Coach

2005 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year

UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith is in his seventh season at the helm of Rebel baseball and he has built a strong program in the desert, one that is among the premier schools in the Mountain West Conference and the West. The Rebels will be looking to be among top contenders competing for the Mountain West Conference Championship as well as a spot in the NCAA Tournament. At the top of the MWC is a position in which Gouldsmith-led clubs are used to being, as the Rebels won the MWC tournament titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as the league regular-season crown in 2004.

During his six years as head coach of the Rebels, Gouldsmith has coached 18 all-conference players, two players of the year and two All-Americans, as well seeing 20 players taken in the MLB draft. The latest player in the Gouldsmith line to earn All-America honors was Xavier Scruggs, who hit 20 home runs and drove in 65 as he was named the 2008 MWC Player of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American. He also watched as the Rebels set the school record for hits in a game, pounding out 30 in a game against Butler last year.

During the 2006 season Gouldsmith earned his 100th career coaching victory with an 8-5 win over San Diego State at the conference tournament, and he has an overall record of 173-188 (.480). His 173 career victories are the second most in school history, and not only is he the fourth coach in UNLV history to record 100 or more victories, but he is also the fastest coach to reach the milestone. Those victories have come while annually playing some of the most difficult schedules in the country, including three of the past five national champions.

In his second year at the helm Gouldsmith guided the Rebels to their third league regular-season and tournament championships and was named the 2005 MWC Coach of the Year for his efforts. UNLV played one of the toughest schedules in the nation that year and posted a 35-29 overall record, 23-7 in MWC play.

Gouldsmith continued the Rebels' run of success in his first season as head coach, guiding UNLV to a 37-24 regular-season mark, including a 26-13 record at home. With the MWC Tournament being held at the friendly confines of Earl E. Wilson, the Rebels went on to defend the crown they won in 2003, beating San Diego State 6-3 for the 2004 title. Gouldsmith coached four All-MWC performers, including Eric Nielsen, the MWC Player of the Year.

Gouldsmith's clubs have also performed at a high level in the classroom, with student-athletes earning Academic All-MWC honors 78 times in his tenure, including a school-record 18 in 2008.

Gouldsmith became the sixth head coach in UNLV baseball history on June 9, 2003, after serving as an assistant coach for two years with the Rebels. As an assistant at UNLV, Gouldsmith served as the recruiting coordinator and hitting instructor. Under his guidance, the Rebels hit .324 as a team in 2003 and in 2002 had the MWC's batting champion and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in Joe Wickman (.490 batting average in conference play).

Before coming to UNLV, he served as hitting instructor and third base coach at Tulane University for four years. Gouldsmith helped lead the Green Wave to its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2001.

Before coaching at Tulane, Gouldsmith was an assistant coach for five years at American River Junior College in California. In addition to his coaching duties, he acted as an associate scout for the San Francisco Giants from 1994-97.

From 1992-93, Gouldsmith was an assistant coach at Cosumnes River College and was the head coach of the Charles Eggen American Legion team from 1990-94.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Gouldsmith graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a degree in business administration. He received his master's degree in sport management in 1996 from the United States Sports Academy. He played at American River Junior College from 1987-89 and also attended California State University at Chico (Chico State).

Gouldsmith and his wife, Heather, have two sons, Garrett who is 10 and Gunner who is 8 and a daughter, Gabby, who is 6.

UNLV COACHING HISTORY
Year      Coach               Record
1960-66	"Chub" Drakulich      records incomplete
1967-73	Bob Doering           158-127-3 (.554)
1974-96	Fred Dallimore        794-558-2 (.587)
1997-01	Rod Soesbe            129-155 (.454)
2002-03	Jim Schlossnagle      77-47 (.621)
2004-SA	Buddy Gouldsmith      173-188 (.480)