Sports

Athletics


Twitter Facebook ASun NCAA USCU Newsletter
 
 
 

  Russell Triplett

Russell Triplett

Player Profile

Hometown:
West Columbia, S.C.

Last College:
Clemson

Position:
Assistant Coach

Years at Upstate:
2nd

Graduated:
2004

Quickly becoming recognized as one of the best recruiters and hardest workers in mid-major collegiate baseball, Russell Triplett is set to begin his fourth season as an assistant coach with the USC Upstate baseball program. Triplett works primarily with the infielders and hitters and coordinates the recruiting efforts for the Spartans.

In three seasons with the Spartans, Triplett has recruited three players that have gone on to receive postseason freshman awards, with two earning A-Sun All-Freshman Team nods and another earning Ping! Freshman Team honors. In 2009, the Spartans infused three freshmen into the everyday lineup and two more entered the weekend rotation, with Austin Moyer earning A-Sun All-Freshman honors.

In his second year, the Spartans infused three freshmen into the everyday lineup, the Spartans won 25 games in their first season of Division I play and finished in fifth-place with a 17-16 record in the 12-team Atlantic Sun Conference. Along the way, two of Triplett's first signees, Blake Green and Keith Bisgounis, earned some attention with Green taking a slot on the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team and Bisgounis earning Honorable Mention Ping! Freshman Team honors.

In his first year with Upstate, Triplett immediately helped the Spartans to a 34-win season, helping the team hit .289 during the season. The Spartans reached a DII national ranking as high as 18th and posted a school-record 15 Peach Belt Conference wins.

Triplett came to Upstate from Clemson University where he was a Volunteer Assistant on the Tiger coaching staff for one season. He was responsible for working with the hitters and infielders, as well as serving as the first base coach. He was part of the coaching staff that led the Tigers to an appearance in the 2006 College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Clemson claimed the Regional and Super Regional Championships, and won the regular season and ACC Tournament titles. He also coordinated the hiring of the winter and summer baseball camp staff and assisted with the organization of the camps.

In addition to his experience working at Clemson, Triplett has served as a professional baseball instructor at the Blue Chip Baseball Academy.

Triplett was a standout player and four-time letterman at Clemson from 2000-04, earning his bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. He served as a Team Captain his junior and senior seasons. He red-shirted his first year at Clemson in 2000 and played in 37 games as a freshman in 2001. He had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2002, earning Second-Team All-ACC honors as a utility player. He hit .301 in 58 games and helped lead the Tigers to an appearance in the College World Series and a third-place finish in the nation.

Triplett took over the reigns at shortstop as a junior in 2003, earning his second consecutive Second-Team All-ACC selection. He hit .335 with seven home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .414 on-base percentage. He hit .304 with 17 doubles, four home runs, and 41 RBIs as a senior in 2004 and was the only Tiger to play in and start all 65 games.

For his career, Triplett played in 222 games and hit .312 en route to leading the Tigers to four NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances, and an appearance in the 2002 College World Series.

Triplett played in the New York Mets organization in 2004 and 2005. After playing for the Kingport Mets (Rookie League) and Brooklyn Cyclones (Short Season A) in 2004, he was promoted to Single-A Hagerstown to start the 2005 season. He moved up to Double-A Binghamton during the summer, hitting a combined .286 with 15 doubles, four home runs, and 25 RBIs with Hagerstown and Binghamton.

The West Columbia, S.C., native was a four-year standout and letterman at Brookland-Cayce High School. He was named the High School Sports Report 3A State Player of the Year and the region Player of the Year as a junior in 1998 in leading his squad to the 3A state championship. He was also a standout quarterback on the football team.

Triplett resides in Boiling Springs, S.C.

The Triplett File

BORN: Jan. 18, 1981

HOMETOWN: West Columbia, S.C.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 2004 Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education Clemson University

COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE 2006 Volunteer Assistant - Clemson 2007-Pres. Assistant Coach - USC Upstate

AS AN ASSISTANT COACH Year Position Highlights 2006 Vol. Asst. - Clemson ACC Champions and CWS team. 2007 Asst. Coach - USC Upstate School-record 15 Peach Belt wins. 2008 Asst. Coach - USC Upstate Two freshmen on postseason teams 2009 Asst. Coach - USC Upstate One freshman on postseason team.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE 2000-04 Infielder - Clemson 2004 Shortstop - Kingsport (Rookie); Brooklyn (Short-Season A) 2005 Shortstop - Hagerstown (Class A); Binghamton (Class AA)

AS A COLLEGIATE PLAYER Year Record Post-Season Highlights 2001 41-22 NCAA Super Regional Hit .291 in 79 at bats. 2002 54-17 College World Series First full-year as starter. 2003 39-22 NCAA Regionals Hit .335 with seven homers. 2004 39-26 NCAA Regionals Hit .304 with 41 RBIs.

AS A PROFESSIONAL PLAYER Signed by New York Mets as undrafted free agent on June 28, 2004. Year Team Class Stats 2004 Kingsport RL .288, 32R, 57H, 13 2b, 1HR, 13RBI, 2SB Brooklyn A (Short) 2 games, .000 2005 Hagerstown A .265, 20R, 36H, 9 2b, 3HR, 18RBI, 2SB Binghamton AA .333, 11R, 21H, 6 2b, 1HR, 7RBI

 
USC Upstate Baseball
 
  Printer-friendly format   Email this article