Baseball's Al Austelle: Where Are They Now?
12/2/2020 5:26:00 PM | Baseball, General
First, show us a married couple who has worked a total of 83 years (and counting) at Lipscomb. Next, show us a man with a more diverse job history on campus than this one. There are few who can match the Lipscomb resume' and talents of Al Austelle. He began as a baseball assistant coach, helped manage the construction of Dugan Field at Marsh Stadium, and recently retired with 40 years of vivid memories from departments across campus. You'll enjoy some of the favorite memories he shared when he sat down this week with LipscombSports.com.
What years did you work for Lipscomb, and what positions did you hold?
I worked at Lipscomb for forty years – from 1980 through August 2020 – in a wide variety of positions; including coaching baseball, classroom teaching, campus and faculty support staff, and even campus facilities/maintenance during some summers early in my career.
Here's the official list:
- Assistant baseball coach (1980 – 1988)
- Associate head baseball coach (1989 – 1992)
- Assistant/Associate professor – Computing and Information Technology (1981 – 2020)
- Academic technology support (1992 – 2012)
- Faculty support – Center for Teaching and Learning (2012 – 2020)
What individuals were most memorable, and why?
- Administrator: Willard Collins – He was a people person, he knew everybody, and he did not mind laughing at himself.
- Coach: Ken Dugan – He had high standards and expectations for those who were part of his program.
- Players: I have been blessed to work with many players in our baseball program, and all were memorable in their unique ways.
Prior to working on campus, did you have a connection to Lipscomb?
I grew up in Green Hills and graduated from nearby Hillsboro High School before attending and graduating from Lipscomb, so I was familiar with Coach Dugan and the Bison Baseball program. After graduation, I went to work for Metropolitan Nashville Schools as a teacher and coach for several years. I worked summer baseball camps prior to being hired by Coach Dugan, but he finally persuaded me to come to work as his assistant baseball coach.
Why did you choose to work at Lipscomb?
Coach Ken Dugan offered me the job to be the assistant coach, and he had the ability to be a very convincing salesman. I'm glad, too. Education has always been valuable to me, and his invitation allowed me to work for 40 years on a Christian campus and to earn two Master's degrees.
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
Athletics places athletes (and coaches) in memorable situations where they experience emotional highs and lows, opportunities, and challenges. In no particular order, here are some of mine:
- I had the opportunity to spend a summer in Antwerp Belgium with Ken Dugan teaching baseball skills. We worked with different age groups, including the Belgian national team. I learned how to work with people who had different cultural perspectives on life and baseball.
- I experienced Scott Shannon going from being an All-American pitcher preparing for the major league draft to his dying of cancer several months later. Scott was a great athlete and a great person.
- I saw first-hand the emotional high of the 1984 Bison baseball team winning 34 straight games and then the emotional low of dismissing several players for violation of team rules, ending their opportunity to compete for a national championship.
- I attended national conventions where I witnesses first-hand the great respect for Ken Dugan and the Lipscomb baseball program held by college coaches across the nation.
- I experienced being with players who worked to improve their skill set every day. I knew they would be successful, regardless of their career choice.
- I saw games where our teams were successful because we kept our emotions under control and the other teams lost their perspective.
- I had the opportunity to keep the clock for basketball in McQuiddy Gym. To experience the fan support for Don Meyer's teams was unique. I am not sure there was another school the size of Lipscomb that had two nationally recognized coaches on staff at the same time.
Who most influenced your time on campus?
Ken Dugan – I learned from him how to work with people and that helped me to be a better coach, regardless of whether I was working with a baseball player or – later in my career – a faculty member trying to improve his or her skills.
What's the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb?
I learned that you treat every person fairly and as you teach/coach them, you help each one to be a better person.
Where was your office located?
I shared my first office with Frank Bennett and Lynn Griffith on the west side of McQuiddy Gymnasium. Our office was located on the main level beside the men's restroom, and we frequently joked with each other about the number of males who burst into our offices eagerly expecting to find the restroom. It was a memorable first office shared with two good friends.
Later I moved to the Computer Center in McFarland Hall, and finally to Computing and Technology support in Beaman Library.
What do you do now?
I retired from Lipscomb in August, just a few months ago. I had a different vision for life in December 2020, but the virus has impacted my plans. I am trying to adapt to the "new normal."
Tell us about your family:
My wife, Kay, is the computer teacher at the Lipscomb Academy Elementary School. She has been a Lipscomb employee for 43 years. Claire, our daughter, is the computer teacher at Cole Elementary in Nashville; and her husband, Jeff Thweatt, works at Ezell-Harding Christian School in Nashville.
FAST FINISH
- Favorite food: Steak
- Favorite TV show: NCIS
- Favorite Bible scripture: John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- Favorite sports team: Tennessee Football
- Pet peeve: People who think "It is all about me"
- Person I most admire: Jesus Christ
- Person I'd most like to meet: General George Patton
- Rather ride or drive? Drive
- Pick one – salad or dessert: Dessert
- Dream vacation spot: Hawaii
- Early morning or late night person? Early morning
You can reach Al via email at Austelleal@gmail.com.
