Archie White: University of West Georgia

White was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2016.

Archie White helped build the University of West Georgia’s baseball program into a national power during his tenure. He spent 22 seasons (1969-1990) as the head coach at the school where he won 633 games.

His teams were a power at the NAIA level through 1974. When the school became an NCAA Division II member in 1975, White’s program continued to dominate.

He coached five Division II All-America players and mentored 10 players who eventually were inducted into the West Georgia Hall of Fame. He also coached 19 Gulf South Conference players even though the school didn’t join the league until 1984.

White graduated from Mississippi where he was also inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame as a player in 2012. He was a pitcher under legendary coach Tom Swayze from 1953-1956 and was a member of the first Mississippi team to participate in the College World Series, helping the Rebels reach the pinnacle of college baseball in 1956.

During his four years on the mound for the Rebels, White compiled an impressive 11-2 career record to go with his 3.18 earned run average. Appearing in 29 games, he averaged almost one strikeout per inning as he struck out 106 hitters while pitching 113 innings.

“I was very fortunate to be around people like Tom Swayze who were so instrumental in the baseball program at Ole Miss,” White said. “When they told me I was being inducted I was flabbergasted.  The more you are around Ole Miss, the more you appreciate it.”

White was drafted by the Braves in 1956 where he played minor league baseball until 1964.