New Baseball Head Coach Named For River Ridge High School

WOODSTOCK, GA — River Ridge High School has announced Jeff Runion as the next head coach for the varsity baseball program.

Runion has been on staff at River Ridge High School for 10 years, serving the last six years as lead APEX facilitator. This role has involved him working closely with counselors, teachers and administration in assisting at-risk students with navigating their way through their high school academics. Runion has also served as a de facto graduation coach.

Runion has also been on staff with the River Ridge High School baseball program since the 2011 season, serving as the pitching coach. During his 10 years, he has assisted players in preparation for their next-level in baseball. Additionally, Runion has had several All-Region and All-State selections develop under his guidance. He was part of two Final Four appearances, two Sweet Sixteen appearances and most recently, River Ridge baseball’s first region title. The 2021 season produced four pitchers who were selected for all-region and nominations for all-state recognition.

During his school days, Runion played basketball and baseball at Riverdale High School in Clayton County. He was part of multiple final four basketball teams and received collegiate offers thereafter, but baseball was his true calling. Runion fielded several Division I offers but chose to sign with Robert Sapp at Middle Georgia, which was the top junior college team in America at the time.

Runion was a seventh round selection by the Texas Rangers in 1992 Major League Baseball draft and passed on his opportunity at Middle Georgia to play professionally for the Texas Rangers. As a right-handed pitcher, he was a part of the Texas Rangers organization for six years, where he was under the guidance of pitching coach Tom House.

A series of shoulder surgeries plagued Runion, but his rehab stints allowed him to work with and learn from House, gaining him knowledge in the art of pitching until he ultimately ended his professional baseball career in the Independent Northern League. Struggling through tough times in the minor leagues as part of the Rangers organization gave him the opportunity to pass down his knowledge of the game to his players once he became a coach.

Immediately after Runion’s professional baseball career ended, he completed his degree from Auburn University in accounting. He spent several years away from the game, but always felt a desire to re-engage and help young men pursue their baseball dreams. He ultimately decided to leave his career in taxation with a mid-sized CPA firm to pursue a coaching and teaching opportunity. Runion enrolled at Liberty University and earned his master of education in 2012.

River Ridge High School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director David Dyer said he believes "Jeff Runion is the perfect candidate to lead the River Ridge Baseball program."

"The decision allows us to keep continuity in our program, our coaching staff, and amongst our players," Dyer said. "Coach Runion will continue to build on the success the program has experienced and more importantly, impact the lives of the young men in the program in a meaningful way.”

Runion has been married to his wife, Shay, for 17 years. Shay is also a graduate of Auburn University and Villanova University. She is employed by Arrow Exterminators as their chief human resources officer and senior vice president of professional development. Runion and his wife have three children, Zeb, 13, Eason, 12, and Judd, 7 months.