Greg Appleton will be entering his 15th season as head baseball coach at Columbus State University during the 2011-12 year. Appleton has built upon a great winning tradition at CSU in his tenure holding a 518-284 record in his first 14 seasons. His 518 victories are the most all-time by a Cougar coach and he is one of only 33 active Division II coaches with 500 or more victories. Appleton’s 500^th victory in a Cougar uniform came against Ohio Dominican on March 11, 2011 as the Cougars defeated ODU 2-1.

In his 18 years as a head coach, including four seasons at Young Harris College, Appleton has a career record of 645-358. Appleton’s 600^th career victory came on February 28 after CSU’s 19-7 victory over Lynn University.  

Appleton has led the Cougars to eight NCAA postseason appearances, three Division II College World Series appearances and two Peach Belt Conference championships in his 14 years at CSU.

Appleton also led the Columbus State to their first ever National Championship in 2002 as the Cougars finished the year with a 48-15 record. In the World Series, the Cougars fell in their opening game to Central Missouri but rebounded to win five straight games, including three in their final at-bat. CSU defeated Cal State-Chico 5-3 in the championship game to bring the title home to Columbus.

In 2007, the Cougars set a new school record for victories with a 51-19 mark as Appleton led CSU to the championship game before falling to Tampa.

During his 14 year tenure, Appleton has coached 43 All-Conference players, 10 All-American players and 22 players that have signed professional contracts. Additionally, Appleton has coached 3 Peach Belt Players of the Year (Bouras 2000, Pittmon 2004, Rogers 2010), 2 Peach Belt Pitchers of the Year (Pierce 1999, Noles 2008), a Peach Belt Freshman of the Year (Bouras 1998), and a NCAA DII Pitcher of the Year (Noles 2008).

In addition, Appleton was named the National Coach of the Year in 2002 and the South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2007.

Columbus State had another outstanding season in 2011 as the Cougars won the Peach Belt Conference West Division. The Cougars finished the season with a 32-19 record and advanced to the Southeast Regional for the second consecutive season.

Appleton came to CSU from Young Harris College in Young Harris, GA, as he was selected to rebuild the program in 1993. The first season of competition was in 1994, and just one year later, Appleton's Mountain Lions made their first of three straight appearances in the Georgia Junior College State Tournament. In fact, the team made it to the finals before falling to perennial national power Middle Georgia College. At Young Harris, Appleton compiled a record of 127-74 in four seasons, an average of just under 32 wins per year.

Prior to assuming his duties at YHC, Appleton was an assistant coach at the University of Georgia from 1987-92. He was the pitching coach for the Bulldogs and helped lead the team to the 1990 NCAA National Championship. He also helped guide the Bulldogs to the 1987 Southeastern Conference crown and a trip to Omaha for the NCAA College World Series. Prior to becoming a full-time assistant at UGA, Appleton served as a graduate assistant for the 1985 and ‘86 seasons. He was a player for the Bulldogs from 1981-84 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, as well as a Masters of Education in Sports Management, both from UGA.

Appleton, born in Chicago but a lifelong resident of Atlanta, is married to the former Anne Ferrell of Snellville, Georgia. The Appletons have a daughter, Kaylee.

Patrick Collins is in his 10th year as an assistant since re-joining the CSU coaching staff in 2003.  He was a student assistant for the Cougars and Greg Appleton in the 1999 season while obtaining his degree. Collins is currently the hitting instructor for the CSU baseball program, works defensively with infielders, and serves as the recruiting coordinator.

Collins played for and coached with Appleton at Young Harris College, where he was an All-Conference second baseman, team captain, and team MVP in 1995. After a back injury ended his playing career, he became an assistant coach and later served as the interim head coach at YHC after Appleton accepted the CSU position in 1998.

Prior to CSU, Collins served as recruiting coordinator and worked with hitters and infielders at Division I Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.  He helped lead the team to an appearance in the 2000 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship and then through two years of transition to Division I status. During the transition years, GWU advanced to the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) World Series.

Collins is in his 16th year of coaching overall and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from CSU and a Master's Degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb. He is married to the former Amanda Rains of Snellville, and has one daughter, Carson and son, Logan.

Sammy Styers is in his eighth year as an assistant with the baseball program. Styers serves as the first base coach for the Cougars, works defensively with the outfielders, assists with the hitters, as well as recruiting. He is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Ragsdale Field.

Styers, a former four-year starter at Gardner-Webb University, is ranked among the top in career games played. He was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-Region and honorable mention All-American teams his senior season. 

Styers holds a Business Administration degree from Gardner-Webb and an M.B.A. from Columbus State. He is married to the former Emily VanMeter of Wilkesboro, NC. They reside in Columbus, where Emily is a teacher at Northside High School.