Rick Whitman

Rick Whitman is the longtime head baseball coach at St. Albans High School a position he has held since 1998. A former St. Albans athlete and West Virginia State University player, he has built the Red Dragons into one of the state’s premier Class AAA programs. 

Under Whitman, St. Albans has claimed three AAA state championships (2017, 2019, and 2026). The 2026 title came with an 11-3 victory over defending champion Ripley in the final at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field, capping a strong season. He has also guided the program to 10 sectional titles and 8 regional titles. In his 30 years at the helm he has 5 teams win over 30 games and has only  had two losing seasons. In the 2026 season he reached the milestone of more than 600 career wins. Whitman was named WVSSAC/NFHS State Coach of the Year in 2019.  He has been recognized numerous times as the MSAC and Kanawha Valley coach of the year. 

He has seen over 75 of his former players go on to play collegiatly at the next level. Whitman has been a longstanding member of the WVBCA and has coached the North/South game numerous times as an assistant and Head Coach. He has been a member of the WVSSAC Baseball Committee for over 12 years and has been instrumental in working with the WVSSAC to facilitate the expanded eight-team state tournament format that debuted in 2026. He also serves as athletic director at St. Albans and has coached the school’s golf team. 

Whitman is part of a prominent local coaching family. His late father, Dick Whitman, retired as the all-time winningest football coach in Kanawha County history (primarily at DuPont and Riverside). He is the proud father to sons Drew and Jackson, and his daughter Avery. Rick coached his son, Drew, during St. Albans’ successful runs, including the 2019 state title. Known for emphasizing team success and community pride, Whitman has helped elevate St. Albans baseball into a consistent contender.