One of the most successful baseball coaches in southwest Virginia, and maybe the state, is hanging up his clipboard.
Auburn’s Eric Altizer is stepping down after 39 years of coaching.
Altizer, who led this year’s team to another postseason run, has won four state championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2025), was runner up in 2023 and semi-finalist from 2022 to 2024. He was also a 2022 Salem/Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.
His son, Matthew, graduates this year and will play at Concord University. Coach Altizer cited that for one reason to step aside.
“I want time to watch him play,” he said.
“There will be five former players playing in college next year so I would like to watch them. We also have three grandchildren and one on the way. I would like to help take care of them as much as their parents will allow me too,” he said.
He will finish his coaching career with 323 wins and 129 losses.
“We (the coaching staff) established a program that is well respected in the state as being one of the best 1A programs. We played a fundamentally sound game relying on pitching, defense and being disciplined at the plate,” Altizer said.
The search for his replacement has begun.
