Former NC State star baseball player Jim Toman, who spent more than 30 seasons as a college coach, has died. He was 64.
Toman died Aug. 4 following “a courageous and hard-fought battle with glioblastoma,” according to his obituary.
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A Pennsylvania native, Toman played baseball at NC State from 1981 to 1984, serving as a team captain his junior and senior seasons.
The highlight of his career came in 1984 when he set ACC tournament records for home runs (4), doubles (4), and total bases (25), according to a release from NC State.
Toman started his coaching career at the high school level before getting his first college assistant job at Florida International. He went on to coach as an assistant at NC State and South Carolina, working under legendary college baseball coach Ray Tanner.
Toman landed the head coaching job at Liberty in 2008 and led the Flames to the NCAA tournament twice during his nine seasons leading the program.
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He then worked for a season as an assistant at College of Charleston before being hired as the head coach at Middle Tennessee.
Toman led the Blue Raiders program from 2019 to 2022 before retiring.
Tanner, who won two national championships during his time at South Carolina, remembered Toman in a statement.
“I coached you at N.C. State. You became team captain, and I knew you were destined for great things. You joined me in the dugout at State, and when we made the move to Columbia, I knew Gamecock Baseball needed you here with me,” Tanner said.
“Together, we built on the foundation. Even though you weren’t in the dugout when it happened, we don’t win back-to-back national championships without you. … We will miss you, Jim, but we will never forget you. Rest in peace my friend.”
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