Roland Fanning

Roland Fanning
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamAustin Peay
ConferenceASUN
Record61–53
Biographical details
Born (1983-04-12) April 12, 1983 (age 41)
Alma materCoalgate High School, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Playing career
2002Carl Albert State
2003Northern Oklahoma Enid
2004–2006Southeastern Oklahoma
Position(s)Outfielder
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2008–2012Southeastern Oklahoma (asst)
2013–2014Oklahoma State (asst)
2015–2016Little Rock (RC)
2017–2019Kentucky (RC)
2023–presentAustin Peay
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2020–2022Oklahoma State (DoPD)
Head coaching record
Overall61–53
TournamentsNCAA: 0–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • ASUN regular season (2024)
Awards
  • Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year (2024)

Roland Lee Fanning (born April 12, 1983) is a baseball coach and former player, who is the current head baseball coach of the Austin Peay Governors. He played college baseball at Carl Albert State, Northern Oklahoma Enid and Southeastern Oklahoma.

Playing career

Fanning grew up in Lehigh, Coal County, Oklahoma, where he attended Coalgate High School, where he excelled as a Center fielder and was selected as All-State baseball player for the Wildcats, and earn letters in football, basketball, and track.[1]

On the gridiron for the Wildcats, Fanning dominated as a wide receiver and defensive back. During his junior season he set an Oklahoma Class A record [1] for most receptions (90) in a single season, this record stood for 21 years. As a Senior, Fanning was selected as District’s Defensive Most Value Player along with Special Team Player of the Year. In his high school football career Fanning had 136 receptions, 2184 receiving yards, and 21 receiving touchdowns.

Fanning was a multi season starter for the basketball team and participated in the 4x100 metres relay.

After high school, Fanning played college baseball at Carl Albert State and Northern Oklahoma Enid for a year apiece, before finishing his career as a two-year starter for Southeastern Oklahoma.[2]

Coaching career

Fanning began his coaching career at the conclusion of his playing career, joining the staff of his alma mater, Southeastern Oklahoma. He would spend 5 years with the Savage Storm, helping them win the Lone Star Conference championship in 2011. In the fall of 2012, Fanning was named the volunteer assistant for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.[3]

In July, 2014, Fanning joined the Little Rock Trojans staff, to serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.[4] Just two years later, Fanning left Little Rock for the same position with Kentucky.[5] He returned to Oklahoma State from 2020 to 2022, where he served as the Director of Baseball Operations. [6]

In late May 2022, Fanning was named the 12th head baseball coach of the Austin Peay Governors.[7]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Austin Peay Governors (ASUN Conference) (2023–present)
2023 Austin Peay 26–32 15–15 T-7th
2024 Austin Peay 35–21 20–10 T-1st ASUN tournament
Austin Peay: 61–53 35–25
Total: 61–53

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ Jeff Cali (June 2, 2022). "Even now, Rolo is just a kid from Coal County". www.finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo!. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Jeff Cali (July 25, 2014). "So long, Stillwater: Roland Fanning headed to Little Rock". www.theadanews.com. The Ada News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Fanning Joins Cowboy Baseball Staff". www.okstate.com. Oklahoma State University Athletics. September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "UALR hires assistant baseball coach from OSU". www.abc7amarillo.com. ABC 7 News. July 25, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "UK Baseball: Fanning hired as assistant coach". www.wymt.com. WYMT. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "Roland Fanning Baseball Camps". www.kjkregistrations.com/. KJK Registrations. Dec 31, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Austin Peay State University announces Roland Fanning as 12th Head Baseball Coach". www.clarkesvilleonline.com. Clarksville Online. May 30, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.