Bridgewater College

VIDEO: RAY LYNN HEATWOLE'S HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

During his career at Bridgewater College, Ray Heatwole played three sports - basketball for one year, football for two years and baseball for four years.

Heatwole played second base for the Eagles ' baseball team for four seasons and was named team captain during his senior year. He was also president of the varsity club during his senior year.

Following graduation, Heatwole embarked on a teaching and coaching career and became one of the most respected and successful high school coaches in Virginia history.

Heatwole was the head coach at Turner Ashby High School for 17 seasons where his teams posted a 303-66-2 record. His teams won 12 district titles, six regional titles and three state championships. He was the VHSCA Coach of the Year and the NHSACA District II Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1984. In 2002, he was named High School Coach of the Year by the Middle Atlantic Baseball Scouts Association.

Heatwole received the VHSCA Distinguished Service Award in 1985. The baseball field at Turner Ashby High School has been named the Ray Heatwole Field in his honor and in 2006 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Turner Ashby High School Hall of Fame.

Heatwole also coached several seasons at the college level. In 1973 he coached the Bridgewater team to the Virginia College Athletic Association championship. He was an assistant coach at James Madison University from 1986-89 before taking over the head coaching position from 1990-93. At JMU his teams compiled a 102-80-1 record. He returned to Bridgewater in 2004 and served as the team 's pitching coach until 2007. During his coaching career, he coached more than 30 players who signed professional contracts.

In recognition of his career at Bridgewater, along with his many successes as a high school and college coach, Ray Heatwole is deserving of induction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.