Baylor baseball coach Gene Etter and his wife Eddie stand with the Baylor baseball team Friday during a ceremony honoring the coach, who is retiring at the end of the season.
photo by M. A. Locke
Baylor headmaster Scott Wilson leads the ceremony.
photo by M. A. Locke
Baylor players bring forward a metal sign with Gene Etter's retired number.
photo by M. A. Locke
Baylor players applaud baseball coach Gene Etter.
photo by M. A. Locke
Gene and Eddie Etter and headmaster Scott Wilson.
photo by M. A. Locke
Baylor baseball coach Gene Etter poses with his family. From left are son Todd Etter, wife Eddie Etter, Gene Etter, daughter Honey Etter Hopkins. In front are grandchildren Marshall and Cal.
photo by M. A. Locke
The Baylor Red Raiders took time Friday evening to honor long-time coach, Gene Etter.
Coach Etter is retiring after 47 years at Baylor and 41 years as the head varsity baseball coach. He joined the faculty in 1968 and became the head baseball coach in 1975. In addition to his baseball duties, Etter has taught math and computer science and served as ninth grade basketball coach.
He also, as most know, was once an assistant varsity football coach, including a long tenure alongside his father, legendary coach E. B. “Red” Etter.
Etter’s career record is highlighted by over 800 wins, an average at least 20 wins per season. Red Raider teams skippered by Etter have won two state championships – 2003 and 2006 – and numerous district and region titles. Well over 100 Etter-coached players have gone on to play college baseball and several have landed in the professional ranks.
Coach Etter is a member of the Baylor Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame, and was once named the National High School Coach of the Year.
By his side for every game is Etter’s wife, Eddie, who has served as administrative assistant in the Baylor athletic department for over 25 years. The couple, who have made the name “Etter” synonymous with Baylor baseball, will celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary this summer.
“I don’t see this as something that is sad,” Etter said in brief remarks to his players when he announced his retirement in March. “I also don’t see it as an end. I see it as a beginning of a new season.”