The North Alabama Lions baseball team represents the University of North Alabama, which is located in Florence, Alabama. The Lions are an NCAA Division I college baseball program that competes in the United Athletic Conference. They began competing in Division I in 2019 and joined the ASUN Conference the same season before moving to the UAC after the 2026 season.
The North Alabama Lions play all home games on campus at Mike D. Lane Field. Under the direction of Head Coach Jad Prachniak, the Lions are entering their 2nd season under full Division I membership. In the program's 35 years in Division II, the Lions played in 12 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the College World Series once in 1999.
Since the program's inception in 1932, 5 Lions have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 3-time World Series champion and 2013 All-Star Sergio Romo. Since 1982, 15 Lions have been drafted, most recently in 2018 when the Baltimore Orioles selected Tyler Joyner in the 30th round.
Conference membership history 1973–2018: Gulf South Conference 2019–2026: ASUN Conference 2026–present: United Athletic Conference
Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium
Mike D. Lane Field at Bank Independent Stadium is a baseball stadium on the North Alabama campus in Florence, Alabama. It is a part of the Bank Independent Stadium complex. It is scheduled to be open for the 2025 season. It is built on the site of their previous stadium, Mike D. Lane Field, which shares the same namesake.
Head coaches Records taken from the UNA Baseball Record Book following the 2025 season. UNA began its baseball program in 1932 but records are incomplete or nonexistent for many of the early seasons. This results in incomplete records for Eddie Flowers and George Weeks. 1932-1949 Eddie Flowers 18 23-19-3* 1950-1971 George Weeks 22 163-159* 1972 Jackie Pedigo 1 10-19 1973-1974 Ricky Lindsey 2 33-26 1975 Mike Dean 1 12-23 1976 Tommy Jones 1 15-26 1977-1978 Mike Knight 2 55-65 1979 Gary Elliott 1 18-17 1980–1983 Mike Galloway 4 72-87 1984–2008 Mike Lane 25 908–398–12 2009–2018 Mike Keehn 10 308–201–1 Division I Era 2019–2022 Mike Keehn 4 38–132 2023–present Jad Prachniak 4 87–131–1 Totals 12 coaches 95 seasons 1742–1303–17
Program achievements
Gulf South Conference League Championships 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999 Gulf South Conference Division Champions 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005 NCAA Division II Regional Tournament Appearances 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2012 NCAA Division II Regional Championships 1999 NCAA Division II National Championship Appearance 1999
Lions in the Major Leagues
= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer
Athlete Years in MLB MLB teamsCedric Landrum1991–1993Chicago Cubs, New York MetsJim Czajkowski1994Colorado RockiesTerry Jones1996, 1998–2001Colorado Rockies, Montreal ExposJosh Willingham2004–2014Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City RoyalsSergio Romo2008–2023San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins Taken from the 2024 UNA Baseball Record Book. Updated February 22, 2024.
See also List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
References