Dr. Carroll Land has been the Director of Athletics at Point Loma Nazarene University since 1968, when the school was still Pasadena College. Beginning in 1961, he also served as the school’s baseball coach, after finishing an outstanding career as a pitcher for the Crusaders. He retired as baseball coach after the 1999 season to assume fulltime duties as Director of Athletics.

Dr. Land is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, has served as the 1983 NAIA President, and was named 1993 NAIA District 3 Male Administrator of the Year by the San Diego City Club. He was elected NAIA Region II Chair in 1995 and re-elected in 2001. Pasadena/Point Loma Nazarene College elected him to their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. Dr. Land is a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. He is a past President of the ABCA, was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1998, has served as Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors since 1998, and was re-elected in 2001.

As head coach of the Crusader baseball team, his squad won back-to-back NAIA District 3 and Far West Region titles. Point Loma finished fifth at the 1994 NAIA College World Series and third in 1993. He graduated from Pasadena College in 1961, received his M.S. in Education from U.S.C. in 1963 and his Ph.D. from U.S.C. in 1977. His wife, Barbara, and children, Brian and Cheree, all attended Point Loma Nazarene College.

In 1998, the Crusader field was designated America’s Most Scenic Baseball Park, as acclaimed by Baseball America, when the park was named Carroll B. Land Stadium by Point Loma Nazarene University.

The Lefty Gomez Award is sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods.