Skip Fite: University of West Georgia
Fite was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2014.
A very successful small college coach, Skip Fite was a coaching staple in Georgia for more than three decades. Fite was successful at Brewton Parker and Augusta State before taking over at West Georgia in 2009. He retired from West Georgia after the 2019 season.
He started his coaching career as an assistant coach at West Georgia from 1978-81 before leading Brewton Parker for four years.
Fite took over at Augusta State in 1985. He finished with a 624-667-1 mark and took the Jaguars to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional.
He was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame in 2014. Fite holds a career mark of 878-915-1.
"I feel humbled to be included on this distinguished list of coaches," Fite said. "I want to thank the Lord for blessing me with supportive friends, coaches, players and most importantly a supportive family. I couldn't have done it without them."
Fite steadily improved a West Georgia baseball program in his 10 seasons. His best season at West Georgia came in 2016 when the Wolves finished 42-16, posting the third best record in school history. West Georgia reached the NCAA Regional.
Beyond producing victories, Fite has also produced many players who enjoyed individual success. Six of Fite’s former Augusta State players were drafted by various major league organizations. The list includes Shannon Wilkerson, an outfielder at Augusta State who was named 2009 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, and who was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.
After the historic 2016 season, Fite saw his first UWG product selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft as shortstop Caleb Lopes was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 33rd round.
Fite earned All-America honors as a second baseman while performing for the legendary Tommy Thomas at Valdosta State, also a member of the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame. He helped the Blazers to a two-year record of 46-10 and a third place finish in the NCAA Tournament.
He briefly played professionally in the Minnesota Twins organization before starting his coaching career. Fite is a 1978 graduate of Valdosta State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Science/Kinesiology. In 1981 he earned his master’s degree from West Georgia in Physical Education.