National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Gold Glove program catches on in college
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By Greg Johnson
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
Fielding excellence will officially be recognized at the Divisions I, II and III levels of college baseball for the first time thanks to a partnership between the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings.
Nine student-athletes from each division — three outfielders and all six infield positions — will receive NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for outstanding defensive play during the 2007 season. Rawlings also will provide institutions with a duplicate award for permanent display on campus.
This will be the 50th year Rawlings has sponsored the Gold Glove awards in Major League Baseball, but the first the company will bestow the award at any other level.
“Our coaches are excited about it,” said Dave Keilitz, the executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association. “Anytime you can give a significant award to any of our student-athletes and to their respective programs, it is good for the game. This is another way of recognizing talented players and their programs.”
“We’re excited to be reaching out to the NCAA and its student-athletes,” said Rawlings President and General Manager Robert Parish. “We believe it’s time to recognize defensive excellence at all levels of the game.”
Nomination and voting for the NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Awards will mirror that of the ABCA’s Rawlings College all-American Awards. Coaches can nominate players by contacting their regional chair. The selection process will culminate at the final sites of the three divisions’ national baseball tournaments.
Student-athletes whose teams are still competing at one of the three final sites will be recognized at the venue. The actual awards will be received by the student-athletes at a later date.
“We ask the institution of the winners to present this award on campus at a significant event,” Keilitz said. “Some do it at the halftime of a football game or some may do it at a basketball game or an assembly. That is even better because the whole school gets an opportunity to recognize the young man.”
A student-athlete doesn’t have to be on an all-American list to qualify for a NCAA Gold Glove. The honor is purely designed to reward those deemed the best defensive players at their respective positions on a national scale.
“Every coach in the country has an opportunity to participate in this,” Keilitz said. “We think this will be another great honor for kids and baseball programs to receive.”
Nine student-athletes from each division — three outfielders and all six infield positions — will receive NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for outstanding defensive play during the 2007 season. Rawlings also will provide institutions with a duplicate award for permanent display on campus.
This will be the 50th year Rawlings has sponsored the Gold Glove awards in Major League Baseball, but the first the company will bestow the award at any other level.
“Our coaches are excited about it,” said Dave Keilitz, the executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association. “Anytime you can give a significant award to any of our student-athletes and to their respective programs, it is good for the game. This is another way of recognizing talented players and their programs.”
“We’re excited to be reaching out to the NCAA and its student-athletes,” said Rawlings President and General Manager Robert Parish. “We believe it’s time to recognize defensive excellence at all levels of the game.”
Nomination and voting for the NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Awards will mirror that of the ABCA’s Rawlings College all-American Awards. Coaches can nominate players by contacting their regional chair. The selection process will culminate at the final sites of the three divisions’ national baseball tournaments.
Student-athletes whose teams are still competing at one of the three final sites will be recognized at the venue. The actual awards will be received by the student-athletes at a later date.
“We ask the institution of the winners to present this award on campus at a significant event,” Keilitz said. “Some do it at the halftime of a football game or some may do it at a basketball game or an assembly. That is even better because the whole school gets an opportunity to recognize the young man.”
A student-athlete doesn’t have to be on an all-American list to qualify for a NCAA Gold Glove. The honor is purely designed to reward those deemed the best defensive players at their respective positions on a national scale.
“Every coach in the country has an opportunity to participate in this,” Keilitz said. “We think this will be another great honor for kids and baseball programs to receive.”
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