Point Loma Nazarene University’s Director of Athletics Carroll Land has accomplished many things in his 39-year career as the university’s baseball coach. But even in retirement, Land can’t seem to stay away from the game, leading the US Military All-Star Baseball team from May to August.
“I coached the team previously in 1995 and then the past two years. My connection with the All Stars goes back to 1994 when they used our field (Carroll Land Stadium) and then I managed the team in 1995 for a month.” Land said.
The US Military All Stars, the only “joint” armed forces baseball organization in the world, can trace its origins back to the Civil War.
“Our team is a mix of all the branches of the services but it is mostly U.S. Navy and most of our players (80%) have been deployed to Iraq at least once in the past three to four months.” Land said.
On July 2, Land led the All-Stars to a 10th Armed Forces title in the 17th Annual U.S. Military All Star Game, defeated the Cape Cod Baseball League 11-10 and competed against the Golden Baseball, Coastal Plain, Central Plains, Western and Sun leagues.
The former Marine (1957-1959) has had a monumental career at PLNU. He served as its baseball coach from 1961 to 1999, winning back-to-back NAIA District Three and Far West Regional Titles and placed fifth in the 1994 NAIA World Series, and as its Athletic Director since 1968. Land was a former member of the US Olympic Committee, a member of the American Baseball Coaches (ABCA), NAIA and PLNU Hall of Fames. He also served as President and the Board of Directors of the ABCA, NAIA Region Two Chairman in 1995 and 2001, and named Citizen of the Year by the San Diego City Club.