FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
ROCK HILL, SC—Tom Riginos, who has served as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Clemson Tigers, has accepted the head coaching position at Winthrop University, it was announced on Friday by Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman.
Riginos (pronounced rih-JEEN-uhs) will be introduced to the media and Winthrop supporters during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 2:00 p.m. in the Winthrop Coliseum’s Eagle Room.
He is taking over as a college head coach for the first time after serving on Tiger Head Coach Jack Leggett’s staff for the past eight years as the team’s hitting and outfielders coach and for nine years prior to that at his alma mater, Stetson University (1994-2002). He also served as Stetson’s recruiting coordinator and worked with the hitters and outfielders.
Success has followed the 42-year-old Clearwater, FL native throughout his 17-year career. While at Stetson, Riginos helped guide the Hatters to five NCAA Regional appearances. During his Clemson tenure, the Tigers advanced to two NCAA Regional tournaments, three NCAA Super Regionals and two College World Series berths. The combined record of Stetson and Clemson during Riginos’ 17-year career stands at 671-393-3 (.630). While serving at Stetson and Clemson, those teams averaged 39 wins per season and compiled a combined nine years with 40 or more victories.
In his two years as Clemson’s recruiting coordinator (2008-10), Riginos brought in top-20 recruiting classes both years. The 2009 class was ranked #9 by Collegiate Baseball while the 2010 class was ranked #20 by Baseball America. At Stetson he recruited eight classes that gained national recognition and he also recruited six All-Americans and 10 freshman All-Americans while with the Hatters.
“We had a very strong pool of candidates for our head baseball coaching position, and in Tom Riginos we believe we have hired one of the top coaches on the collegiate level,” said Hickman. “Coach Riginos has had tremendous success in attracting talented players to both Stetson and Clemson and then developing those players into championship caliber student-athletes. We believe he will continue to bring that success to Winthrop.”
Not only has Riginos been successful in the coaching profession, he also had an outstanding playing career at Stetson where he was a four-year letterman (1987-90) and helped lead the Hatters to three NCAA Regional appearances and three conference championships. He served as team captain in 1990 and finished his 225-game career as one of Stetson’s all-time stolen base leaders with 61.
After earning a bachelor of arts degree in sports administration from Stetson in 1990, Riginos spent one year on the coaching staff of his alma mater, Countryside High School in Clearwater before enrolling in graduate school at Eastern Kentucky University. He served as the top assistant and graduate assistant for the Colonels who were coached by former Stetson head coach Jim Ward. Riginos received a master of science degree in physical education/sports administration from EKU in 1993.
Riginos is married to the former Shalleen Kelly. The couple has twin girls, Alexandra and Grace, age 9, and a son, Chatham, 14-months. Riginos also has a son, Ben, 22.
