Bio

Tim Wallace

Head Coach

Spartanburg Methodist College head baseball coach Tim Wallace returns in 2022-2023 for his 32nd season at the helm of the Pioneers baseball program.  His previous teams have produced a 1282-480 record with NJCAA Region X Championships in 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2019.  His .728 winning percentage ranks him among the leaders of those actively coaching at the NJCAA level.  He has garnered many awards, including being named Region X Coach of the Year (1992, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019), Carolina’s Junior College Conference Coach of the Year (1992) ,Louisville Slugger Coaches Award (1993, 1996, 1997, 2001)  and Diamond ABCA Regional Coach of the Year (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013,2014) .  In 2001, Wallace earned his first Eastern District Coach of the Year award as his 49-12 club sported the best record in Grand Junction, Colorado at the NJCAA World Series. He earned his second Eastern District Coach of the Year award in 2003, when his club posted a 50-16 record. His 2007 squad earned him his third by posting a school record 54 wins while finishing third at the Junior College World Series. A fourth was awarded after the 2009 squad finished 5^th at JUCO with a school record 55 wins.  Number five came after the 2012 Pioneers again earned a trip to Grand Junction for the Junior College World Series. 2013 made it back to back trips to the World Series (Ranked #1 entering JUCO) and Wallace’s sixth District coaching award. 2014 proved to be a banner year for Wallace and the Pioneers as the team qualified for its’ 3^rd consecutive trip to the World Series (7^th under Wallace), finishing 3^rd overall for the 2^nd straight year. 2014 was also the year that Wallace reached the milestone 1000 victory mark in his coaching career. He topped the 1100 mark at the end of the 2016 season and the 1200 mark in 2019. In addition to having successful teams, Wallace has helped individuals realize their potential.  Four Pioneers have participated on the NJCAA All-Stars, a group put together to face international competition.  Of the four All-Star participants, Derrick Clay and Marty Gantt were named Offensive MVP’s of their respective groups. Eighteen players have been named NJCAA All-Americans during his tenure, while over 150 have signed professional contracts.  Of that total, 7 are actively playing and pursuing a shot at the Major Leagues. In 2002 Coach Wallace had his first player reach the majors, 1998 graduate Orlando Hudson with the Toronto Blue Jays. Hudson was a three time Gold Glove winner and four time All-Star second baseman. A second Pioneer under Wallace, Lee Gronkiewicz, made an appearance at the big league level in 2007.  Heath Hembree joined the ranks of those former Pioneers to play in the Major Leagues with his call-up in 2014 and is still active with the Cincinnati Reds. Zack Godley made his big-league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015, followed by CD Pelham with the Rangers in 2018. Also during the Wallace era, players have signed letters of intent with or gone to play at major NCAA Division I institutions such as South Carolina, Clemson, Tennessee, Kentucky, UNC, North Carolina State, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina and East Carolina (just to name a few).  Numerous others continued their careers at the NCAA Division II and NAIA level.

Prior to his coaching career, Wallace was a standout player himself.  A former second round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, he played professionally for seven years.  This included a two-year stint in Italy, where he led the league in hitting and homeruns.  While playing in the States, Wallace was named an All-Star for both the Appalachian and Florida State leagues and also was team MVP for the 1983 St. Petersburg Cardinals.  This continued a streak of team MVP awards that included two Lancaster High School, one Post 31 American Legion, one Baptist College and two Wofford College seasons.  It was at Wofford where Wallace attracted professional scouts.  During his two seasons there he posted records for career batting average (.456) and longest consecutive game hitting streak (37).  He also led NAIA District 6 and the state of South Carolina in hitting as a sophomore with a .472 average. 

Wallace has received other prestigious honors throughout the years. In recognition of his playing career he was inducted to the Wofford College Hall of Fame in 2000. His coaching accolades include induction to the SMC Hall of Honor in 2012 and also his addition to the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014.

Wallace returned to Wofford after his playing career and completed his B.A. in Sociology.  He then earned an M.A. in Physical Education from Gardner-Webb University.