Leaves Clemson After Trip To CWS…
ROCK HILL, SC–Tom Riginos, who has served as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Clemson Tigers, has accepted the head coaching position at Winthrop University, it was announced on Friday, July 30, by Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman.
Tom Riginos
Riginos (pronounced rih-JEEN-uhs) will be introduced to the media and Winthrop supporters during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 2:00 p.m. in the Winthrop Coliseum’s Eagle Room.
He is taking over as a college head coach for the first time after serving on Tiger Head Coach Jack Leggett’s staff for the past eight years as the team’s hitting and outfielders coach. Before going to Clemson, Riginos served for nine years (1994-2002) at his alma mater, Stetson University as the recruiting coordinator and hitting and outfielders coach.
Success has followed the 42-year-old Clearwater, FL native throughout his 17-year career. While at Stetson, Riginos helped guided the Hatters to five NCAA Regional appearances. During his Clemson tenure, the Tigers advanced to two NCAA Regional tournaments, three NCAA Super Regional appearances, and made two trips to the College World Series in 2006 and again this past season. The combined record of Stetson and Clemson during Riginos’ 17-year career stands at 671-393-3 (.630). While serving at Stetson and Clemson, those two schools averaged 39 wins per season and compiled a combined nine years with 40 or more victories.
In his two years as Clemson’s recruiting coordinator (2008-10), Riginos brought in top-20 recruiting classes both years. The 2009 class was ranked #9 by Collegiate Baseball while the 2010 class was ranked #29 by Baseball America. At Stetson he recruited eight classes that gained national recognition and he also recruited six All-Americans and 10 freshman All-Americans while with the Hatters.
“We had a very strong pool of candidates for our head baseball coaching position, and in Tom Riginos we believe we have hired one of the top coaches on the collegiate level,” said Hickman. “Coach Riginos has had tremendous success in attracting talented players to both Stetson and Clemson and then developing those players into championship caliber student-athletes. We believe he will continue to bring that success to Winthrop.”
Not only has Riginos been successful in the coaching profession, he also had an outstanding playing career at Stetson where he was a four-year letterman (1987-90) and served as captain of the 1990 squad. During his Hatters career, he helped lead that school to three NCAA Regional appearances and three consecutive conference championships. He finished his 225-game career as one of Stetson’s all-time stolen base leaders with 61.
After earning a bachelor of arts degree in sports administration from Stetson in 1990, Riginos spent one year on the coaching staff of his alma mater, Countryside High School in Clearwater before enrolling in graduate school at Eastern Kentucky University. He served as the top assistant and graduate assistant coach for the Colonels who were coached by former Stetson head coach Jim Ward. Riginos received a master of science degree in physical education/sports administration from EKU in 1993.
Riginos is married to the former Shalleen Kelly. The couple has twin girls, Alexandra and Grace, age 9, and a son, Chatham, 14-months. Riginos also has a son, Ben, 22.
(Winthrop Release)