The 72nd annual ABCA Convention was the largest ever, with more than 5,600 coaches registered for attendance at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The clinics regularly drew more than 5,000 into the Delta Ballroom and the ABCA Trade Show had a record number of exhibitors and attendees.
"This was an incredible convention and really showed what a great group of people make up the American Baseball Coaches Association," said ABCA Executive Director Craig Keilitz. "We had an extremely positive response to our clinic presenters. We had a record number of coaches and exhibitors attend the convention and the feedback has been great.
"I can't thank our Board of Directors enough for their leadership in allowing us to grow this great organization. I also want to thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their huge role in this event. The Gaylord Opryland is a phenomenal venue and we look forward to seeing everyone again in Anaheim next year."
ABCA Second Vice President Jeff Messer of Slippery Rock University ran a fantastic clinic speaker session, which was led off by Brian O'Connor of Virginia and included two other reigning national champion coaches as well as many other successful baseball minds, including MLB Hall of Fame inductee John Smoltz.
The ABCA Trade Show had a record amount of activity with more than 320 companies displaying state-of-the-art equipment, products and innovations. Several new products were unveiled for the first time during the Trade Show.
The ABCA/Diamond Hall of Fame/Coach of the Year Banquet included the 2016 Hall of Fame class of Bob Babb (Johns Hopkins), Augie Garrido (Texas), Sam Riggleman (Spring Arbor) and Ray Tanner (South Carolina) as well as 2016 ABCA/Wilson Lefty Gomez Award winner Dusty Rhodes and the 2016 ABCA/Diamond National Coaches of the Year.
At the ABCA Honors Luncheon Presented by Diamond Kinetics, Smoltz and Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price received the Honor Award, Brad Bohannon received the ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year Award, Mike Gustafson received the Meritorious Service Award and the 25-year coaches were honored. Turface Athletics honored the Field Maintenance Award winners and Diamond Kinetics announced new technology awards and scholarships.
The 2017 ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 5-8, 2017 in Anaheim, California.