Charles “Buzz” Verduzco heads into his 23rd official season at the helm of the Missouri Western baseball team in 2023.
Verduzco is just the second head coach in the history of the MWSU Baseball program and has an overall record of 614-514, winning his 500th game at the MIAA Tournament in a memorable 2016 season. Verduzco has led the Griffons to one MIAA Regular Season Championship (2013) and four NCAA Regional berths. Through his first 18 seasons leading the program, the Griffons have experienced just four losing seasons and only two since 2001. Verduzco was named MIAA Coach of the Year after the team won the 2013 MIAA Regular Season Championship.
One-hundred-fourteen Griffons have been named All-MIAA under Verduzco, including a program record 12 All-MIAA selections in 2017. Verduzco coached 2013 MIAA Pitcher of the Year Brandon Simmons and MIAA Player of the Year Michael Schulze. Schulze was also named the Daktronics National Player of the Year. Five different Griffons were named to All-American teams in 2013 and became five of the eight Griffons to be named All-American under Verduzco. Three of Verduzco's players have been selected in the MLB Amateur Player Draft, most recently Michael Schulze (19th round-St. Louis) and Grant Fink (23rd round-Cleveland) in 2013.
Countless student-athletes have also received Academic All-MIAA status under Verduzco with many more receiving Academic All-Region honors. His baseball team is regularly recognized for having the highest team GPA among Missouri Western Athletics teams.
A native of Stockton, California, Verduzco came to Missouri Western from Washington State University where he was an assistant for the Cougar program for over 10 seasons. He served as the Cougars’ hitting and outfield coach as well as the primary recruiting coordinator. Verduzco also directed the Cougar baseball camps and was the coordinator of alumni relations for the NCAA Division I program. Verduzco earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Washington State in 1985. Verduzco played and coached under legendary coach “Bobo” Brayton at Washington State.
Verduzco has previous coaching experience at the University of Nevada from 1987-90, working with the outfielders and hitters and assisted in recruiting and fund-raising. Verduzco earned a master’s degree in Physical Education while at Nevada. In addition to coaching the Wolfpack, Verduzco was the head coach of Athletes in Action West Coast team in 1989. His St. Albert (Alberta) Tigers 1993 summer league team won the league’s zone championship.
Verduzco became just the second head baseball coach in Missouri Western history on June 30, 1999, replacing long-time Griffon mentor Doug Minnis who had started the program in 1970.
Verudzco and his wife Tracy have three children: Sara, Samantha and Chas and reside in St. Joseph.
VERDUZCO’S RECORD
2000 - 21-31, 13-18 MIAA
2001 - 21-23, 12-18 MIAA
2002 - 25-20, 15-16 MIAA
2003 - 29-22, 16-14 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2004 - 33-18, 17-14 MIAA
2005 - 33-22, 21-10 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2006 - 31-25, 21-9 MIAA - MIAA Tournament & NCAA Regional
2007 - 28-23, 21-14 MIAA
2008 - 25-24, 22-14 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2009 - 34-22, 22-16 MIAA
2010 - 22-23, 16-22 MIAA
2011 - 26-25, 24-19 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2012 - 34-17, 26-12 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2013 - 40-12, 28-5 MIAA - MIAA Regular Season Champions, NCAA Region & MIAA Tournament
2014 - 32-20, 24-14 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2015 - 29-21, 22-14 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2016 - 38-20, 26-13 MIAA - MIAA Tournament, NCAA Central Regional
2017 - 32-22, 25-11 MIAA - MIAA Tournament, NCAA Central Regional
2018 - 29-24, 20-16 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2019 - 21-24, 17-16 MIAA - MIAA Tournament
2020 - 8-15, 3-3 MIAA - Season canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 - 10-29, 8-25 MIAA
2022 -13-32, 9-24 MIAA
Overall Record: 614-514
MIAA Record: 428-337
