Veteran Santa Fe College coach baseball coach Johnny Wiggs is stepping down.
Wiggs, a former Florida Gators standout pitcher and member of UF’s first College World Series team in program history in 1988, announced his retirement, effective Aug. 3.
In 20 seasons as coach at Santa Fe College and 28 seasons overall as a Junior College coach (Wiggs coached at Polk State from 1998-2006), Wiggs posted 825 career victories.
Wiggs’ 20-year run at Santa Fe College has included 626 wins, nine conference championships, two state titles and two trips to the Junior College World Series appearances, including a National Runner-Up finish in 2009.
“I am so grateful for all the outstanding players and assistant coaches that made my job so enjoyable and successful,” Wiggs said. “I am so proud of all that we accomplished in our time here.”
Under Wiggs, hundreds of former players moved on to compete at the four-year level at Division I, and five have reached the pinnacle of the sport by making it to the Major League Baseball. That includes current New York Yankees relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, who played for the Saints in 2011.
Wiggs was inducted in 2025 to the National Junior College Athletic Association Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and is a member of the Polk County Hall of Fame.
“I am so thankful for all Coach Johnny Wiggs has done for Santa Fe Baseball,” Santa Fe Athletics Director Chanda Stebbins said. “After having worked with him for 200plus years, I am sad to see him retire and also happy for him as I know personally that all our coaches and him specifically pour their hearts and souls into our programs.”
Wiggs’ retirement comes at a time when the Santa Fe will soon break ground soon on a baseball/softball fieldhouse, a facility should enhance the recruiting efforts for both programs.
“The best is yet to come for the Saints,” Wiggs said.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Santa Fe College baseball coach Johnny Wiggs stepping down after 20 seasons
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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