Former UAB + BSC coach named to new ABCA Hall of Fame class

Former UAB and Birmingham-Southern baseball coach Brian Shoop is heading to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame as a member of the 2027 class.

During a coaching career that spanned more than three decades in Birmingham, Shoop led Birmingham-Southern to a national championship, guided UAB to a Conference USA Tournament title and built one of the most successful coaching resumes in college baseball.

Read on for a look at Shoop’s biggest career accomplishments and why he’s joining college baseball’s newest Hall of Fame Class.

Brian Shoop earns spot in ABCA Hall of Fame

Shoop spent his entire head coaching career in Birmingham, compiling a 1,061-694-1 record over 14 seasons at UAB and 17 seasons at Birmingham-Southern.

Some of his biggest career accomplishments include:

• Led Birmingham-Southern to the 2001 NAIA national championship
• Guided UAB to the 2012 Conference USA Tournament title
• Finished with 359 wins at UAB, second-most in program history
• Led the Blazers to 37 victories over nationally ranked opponents
• Compiled a 699-300-1 record at Birmingham-Southern
• Won 9 conference regular-season championships + 8 tournament titles at Birmingham-Southern
• Named 2001 NAIA National Coach of the Year
• Received the Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award in 2015

How Brian Shoop built a Hall of Fame coaching career

Before becoming Birmingham-Southern’s head coach, Shoop spent seven seasons as an assistant at Mississippi State under legendary coach Ron Polk.

During his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs won three SEC championships, made six NCAA Regional appearances and advanced to the College World Series in 1985. Shoop also helped coach future MLB stars Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro, Jeff Brantley and Bobby Thigpen.