Get to Know the 2022 ABCA Officers

January 12, 2021

The new calendar year along with the conclusion of the ABCA Convention signals the annual transition of ABCA Officers. The 2022 ABCA President is 24-year ABCA member Rick Hitt, head coach at NJCAA Div. I South Florida State College.

Hitt officially took over duties as President on Friday, January 7th following the ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet. Hitt initially joined the ABCA Board of Directors while serving as the Junior College Division Chair before being selected by the ABCA membership to serve as ABCA Fourth Vice President in 2018. Since that time, Hitt has served simultaneously on the ABCA's Board of Directors while progressing up the vice presidential ladder. As Second Vice President in 2020, Hitt was tasked with arranging all of the clinic speakers for the 2021 ABCA Convention, which was held virtually.

In addition to Hitt, each of the ABCA's Vice Presidents moved up one seat while John McCormack, who was voted by the ABCA membership in Fall 2021 to serve as 4th Vice President in 2022, officially stepped into his new role. Second Vice President Matt Noone and Third Vice President Bob Whalen are tasked with arranging the clinicians for the 2023 ABCA Convention scheduled for January 5-8 in Nashville!

Here's a look at all of the 2022 ABCA Officers...

ABCA Board of Directors

The ABCA Board of Directors is the group in charge of leading the largest amateur baseball coaching association in the World. The mission of the Board of Directors, as outlined in the ABCA Bylaws, is to establish the policy and principles of conducting the affairs of the Association, act on Constitution and Bylaw revisions, adopt proposed budgets and oversee financial affairs of the Association and employ the ABCA staff to efficiently conduct the business of the organization. The Board of Directors meets four times annually, twice during the ABCA Convention and twice in June.

The ABCA Board of Directors consists of the following:

• All Past ABCA Presidents


• Current ABCA President
  • Rick Hitt, South Florida State College
  
  
• Current ABCA Vice Presidents
  • First Vice President: Jim Schlossnagle, Texas A&M University
  • Second Vice President: Matt Noone, Babson College
  • Third Vice President: Bob Whalen, Dartmouth College
  • Fourth Vice President: John McCormack, Florida Atlantic University
  
  
• Three Divisional Chairs from the ABCA Executive Committee
  • Jim Cahill, North Forsyth High School (GA)
  • Rob Hahne, Westfield High School (VA)/Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League
  • Scott Laverty, Chapman University

ABCA Executive Committee

The ABCA Executive Committee is charged with reviewing the business and affairs of the Association and its committees in accordance with the policies of the Association and Board of Directors. In addition to the ABCA President, most recent Past President and all four Vice Presidents, each division within the ABCA is represented by a Chair on the Executive Committee. The Chairs hold their position for a three-year term and are eligible to be re-elected for a second three-year term. The Chairs run the annual divisional meetings at the ABCA Convention and recommend various business items and policies for action in their respective divisions. The Chair of the ABCA Diversity Committee also serves on the committee and focuses specifically on bringing forth recommendations for expanding minority opportunities within all levels of the sport. The group meets twice annually at the Convention and the committee elects three representatives from the divisional chairs to serve on the ABCA Board of Directors.

Several Divisional Chair votes were held at the 2022 ABCA Convention during the Thursday evening Divisional Coaches Meeting. NAIA Chair and 16-year ABCA member, Brian Wede (Northwestern College) was re-elected for his second term by the NAIA membership while 20-year ABCA member and LSU Eunice head coach, Jeff Willis (Junior College), and 25-year ABCA member and Duke head coach Chris Pollard (NCAA Div. I) were voted to represent their respective divisions.

Youth Baseball Division Chair Rob Hahne (Westfield High School/Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League) was voted by the Executive Committee to serve on the ABCA Board of Directors joining High School Division Chair Jim Cahill (North Forsyth High School) and NCAA Div. III Chair Scott Laverty (Chapman University).

ABCA Standing Committee

The ABCA Standing Committee assists in setting the association's budget and planning for the upcoming year, ensures Board meetings take place as outlined in the ABCA Constitution and represent the voting Board of Directors between regularly scheduled meetings. The group also evaluates the ABCA Staff annually. The committee is comprised of the Chairman of the Board, current ABCA President as well as First and Second Vice Presidents and three past ABCA Presidents selected by their peers on the Board of Directors. 

The committee meets twice annually, once at the ABCA Convention and once in June. The Chairman of the Board conducts the Standing Committee Meetings. The President and Vice President seats on the committee rotate annually. The terms of the Past Presidents on the Standing Committee are for three years, unless the elected member no longer serves as a member of the voting Board of Directors, and Past Presidents are eligible to be re-elected for one additional three-year term at the conclusion of the first term.