Jim Toman, a standout college baseball player who went on to spend more than three decades coaching at the collegiate level, has died at the age of 64. He passed away on August 4 following a difficult fight with brain cancer, according to his family’s obituary.
Toman, a native of Pennsylvania, grew up in Monroeville and graduated from Gateway High School in 1980, where he served as captain of both the baseball and football teams.
He went on to play baseball at North Carolina State University from 1981 through 1984, earning team captain honors during his junior and senior years.
His standout season came in 1984, when he set ACC tournament records for home runs, doubles, and total bases, a mark that still stands out in the program’s history.
A Coaching Career That Spanned Decades
After his playing days ended, Toman built a long career on the coaching side of the game. He got his start at the high school level before landing his first college assistant position at Florida International. From there, he worked as an assistant coach at both NC State and the University of South Carolina, spending time alongside respected coach Ray Tanner at both programs.
In 2008, Toman took over as head coach at Liberty University, a role he held for nine seasons. Under his leadership, the Flames reached the NCAA tournament twice and won a Big South tournament title in 2013, part of what many consider the program’s most successful stretch.
He later spent a season as an assistant at College of Charleston before being named head coach at Middle Tennessee State, guiding that program from 2019 until his retirement in 2022.
Tributes Pour In From Baseball Community
News of Toman’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from those who knew him best. Ray Tanner, who coached alongside Toman for years at both NC State and South Carolina, shared a heartfelt message noting that Toman deserved credit for the foundation that helped South Carolina capture back-to-back national championships, even though he wasn’t in the dugout at the time.
Nick Pierce, a broadcaster with the Liberty Flames Sports Network, also honored Toman publicly, describing him as unforgettable to work with and offering prayers for his wife, Caroline, and his children, Tucker and Charlie Mac.
A private burial is planned at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Monroeville. Instead of flowers, Toman’s family has asked that memorial donations be made to the National Brain Tumor Society.
