Carlton Hardy led Savannah State University for a successful 15th baseball season
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Since Carlton Hardy joined the Savannah State University baseball team as the team’s manager, he has helped the program turn around, leading the Tigers to victory in many games. The 50-year-old coach has allowed athletes to stand out for their swing and successful saves on the baseball field.
Hardy’s history as head of the prestigious Tigers began in 2006 when he signed on to coach the boys who came off-balanced seasons. Hardy was focused on making a mark with the team from the beginning, and he did because he has set the program’s record for most wins. This gives the coach the honor as the winningest coach in the 100 years of the sports program.
When Hardy joined the team, he had to organize the lineup, find a new pair of arms and transmit that hunger for victory that defines him as a coach to his players. All this effort paid off because the team finished with solid records from 2007-2012. However, Hardy wanted to go further and fought alongside the Tigers to win the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, while also helping the team earn that year’s Co-MEAC regular season champion honors with 33 wins and 23 losses and a 17-7 conference record.
For this dedication to the team, Hardy was recognized as both the MEAC Coach of the Year and the MEAC Tournament Outstanding Coach that season. The coach also earned the Georgia Dugout Club’s Division I Coach of the Year Award.
But the coach has not only set records at Savannah State University, as prior to his time with the Tigers he excelled as the coach at Talladega College. Hardy coached the Tornadoes for two seasons, helping them to 34 wins and 18 losses over his two campaigns.
Following his resignation from Talladega, Hardy was part of Olivet College’s coaching staff from the 2000 to 2005 season. As head coach Hardy led the team to set a 105-123 record.
However, since he came onto the field with the Savannah Tigers in the 2007 season, the coach has tried to redeem the mistakes he made with Olivet. Hardy helped the team set a 30-19 overall record in that first season and maintain a .500 winning percentage. Savannah State earned a marquee win during the season, where they defeated Florida State by a score of 10-2.
With Hardy’s support, several Savannah athletes have represented the school in the major leagues. This list includes Kyle McGowin, who plays for the Washington Nationals.
After the last baseball season, the Tigers emerged victorious with 14 wins and 7 losses. With Hardy’s guidance, Savannah’s winning percentage increased to .667, which was an improvement compared to the .467 the team reached the season prior. The coach prepares to lead the Tigers into the 2022 season.
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