ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western State University Director of Athletics Andy Carter announced that Charles "Buzz" Verduzco, the head coach of the Missouri Western Baseball program since 2000, will retire at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
"I've come to the end of my run with Griffon Baseball," Verduzco said. "I'll leave with a lot of memories. I don't have the words to express the deep gratitude to those who supported this program and me through my 23 years here. My goal for this last season is to make all Griffons proud, former and present. Right now, I have one focus, and that is to empty my tank with one last season — one last Griffon team. The student-athletes have always been my priority, and this last season won't be any different."
Just the second head coach in the history of the Missouri Western Baseball program, Verduzco enters his final season with a career record of 614-514, with a 428-337 mark in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play.
"We thank coach Verduzco for his contributions to the Missouri Western Baseball program," Carter said. "His service over the last 22 seasons has laid the foundation for the bright future of Griffon Baseball."
In his 22 seasons at the helm of MWSU Baseball, Verduzco has mentored 114 All-MIAA selections, with a program record 12 coming in the 2017 season. He led the Griffons to the 2013 MIAA regular-season championship, earning MIAA Coach of the Year awards along the way, with a squad that included 2013 MIAA Pitcher of the Year Brandon Simmons, MIAA and National Player of the Year Michael Schulze, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, and Grant Fink, who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians after that banner campaign.
All three of those players have been enshrined in the Missouri Western Hall of Fame, as was Clint Gilliland, who was a three-time all-MIAA selection at pitcher; and Brooks Barkley, who earned all-America honors in 2002 after hitting .422, setting a Missouri Western record that stood for ten years.
Eight of Verduzco's players have earned All-America honors, three have been selected in the MLB Draft, two have earned Academic All-America honors, while countless more have been named to Academic All-MIAA teams, with many more receiving Academic All-Region honors.
Verduzco's Griffon teams have posted 16 winning seasons, advanced to 13 MIAA championship tournaments and four NCAA regional tournaments. The success on the field has been matched in the classroom, as under his leadership, Missouri Western Baseball teams have regularly been at or near the top of the departmental GPA rankings.
Prior to his tenure at Missouri Western, Verduzco spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Washington State, while also serving as an assistant coach for four seasons at the University of Nevada.
"I want to thank my family," Verduzco said. "My wife Tracy, daughters Sara and Samantha, along with my son Chaz for their daily sacrifice and support of me during our time at Western."
All media inquiries related to coach Verduzco's retirement should be directed to Paul Smith, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Relations at Missouri Western.
