The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
A Story of Success on the Diamond and the Hardwood
2/28/2018 9:54:00 AM | Baseball
Whether on the diamond or the court, UAB women's basketball head coach Randy Norton has always excelled. That high level and love for the game was what made it possible for him to succeed at the collegiate level in both basketball and baseball.
"In high school, my goal was always to play Division I basketball and baseball and I wanted to be a two-sport athlete because I loved both sports," Norton said.
While the mission was clear, obtaining it would prove to be difficult because the schools pursuing Norton saw him playing just one or the other.
Originally, one school offered Norton the chance to play both, Creighton. But the Iowa City, native stayed committed to his goal of playing in his home state and that commitment paid off as his hometown Hawkeyes made a last minute decision and allowed Norton to fulfill his dream of playing at Iowa.
"I got a call the night before I was supposed to sign at Creighton from Duane Banks, the Iowa baseball coach, saying that he wanted to come over with Coach Lute Olsen, the basketball coach, and together they had discussed it and they would allow me to play both sports," Norton said. "It was a dream come true."
Upon arrival at Iowa, Norton found immediate success on the hardwood as the Hawkeyes won the Big 10 Championship in 1979 and then made a run to the Final Four in 1980.
But it was baseball that Norton found his niche. After suffering what was almost a career ending injury playing basketball as a sophomore, Norton decided to focus his attention on the diamond and just played baseball his junior and senior years.
"I dislocated my shoulder playing basketball as a sophomore so after two years, Coach Banks turned my full ride for basketball into a full ride for baseball, which is pretty special," Norton commented.
Following a successful four-year tenure at Iowa, Norton continued his baseball career, playing three seasons of professional baseball. He spent the first season with the Utica Blue Sox, an independent member of the New York Penn League, before getting picked up by the Montreal Expos for his final two seasons.
Following his professional career, Norton turned his attention to achieving another goal: becoming a coach.
"I was really blessed to play for some outstanding coaches in my career where I learned so much about how to play the game," Norton said. "I did not know if I was going to coach baseball or basketball, but to be surrounded by all of those men and be able to learn from my coaches was a huge blessing."
Norton began being coached by Hall of Fame coaches in high school, when he played for his uncle. He followed that by competitng for Banks, a member of the baseball Hall of Fame, and Olsen, a member of the basketball Hall of Fame, at Iowa. Norton was also fortunate enough to spend a summer playing for Moby Benedict, a long-time baseball coach at the University of Michigan, who, like many other of his coaches, holds a spot in the Hall of Fame as well.
Now in his fifth season at UAB, Norton is at the helm of one of the best women's basketball teams in school history while producing 13 All-Conference USA Team members and ten Conference USA All-Freshman Team Honorees.
As for who he is pulling for when the UAB baseball team faces Iowa in three-game series at Regions Field this weekend, well that one is easy for Norton.
"I'm pulling for UAB, I'm proud to be a Blazer," Norton said. "Iowa is where I went to school and I am proud to be a Hawkeye, but when they are playing the Blazers I don't care who they are because I'm pulling for my Blazers."
Norton and the women's basketball team will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Sunday where he will get to throw out the first pitch. The first pitch between the Blazers and Hawkeyes is set for 12 p.m.
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball). To stay up to date with the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBBALL), on Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB_WBB).
"In high school, my goal was always to play Division I basketball and baseball and I wanted to be a two-sport athlete because I loved both sports," Norton said.
While the mission was clear, obtaining it would prove to be difficult because the schools pursuing Norton saw him playing just one or the other.
Originally, one school offered Norton the chance to play both, Creighton. But the Iowa City, native stayed committed to his goal of playing in his home state and that commitment paid off as his hometown Hawkeyes made a last minute decision and allowed Norton to fulfill his dream of playing at Iowa.
"I got a call the night before I was supposed to sign at Creighton from Duane Banks, the Iowa baseball coach, saying that he wanted to come over with Coach Lute Olsen, the basketball coach, and together they had discussed it and they would allow me to play both sports," Norton said. "It was a dream come true."
Upon arrival at Iowa, Norton found immediate success on the hardwood as the Hawkeyes won the Big 10 Championship in 1979 and then made a run to the Final Four in 1980.
But it was baseball that Norton found his niche. After suffering what was almost a career ending injury playing basketball as a sophomore, Norton decided to focus his attention on the diamond and just played baseball his junior and senior years.
"I dislocated my shoulder playing basketball as a sophomore so after two years, Coach Banks turned my full ride for basketball into a full ride for baseball, which is pretty special," Norton commented.
Following a successful four-year tenure at Iowa, Norton continued his baseball career, playing three seasons of professional baseball. He spent the first season with the Utica Blue Sox, an independent member of the New York Penn League, before getting picked up by the Montreal Expos for his final two seasons.
Following his professional career, Norton turned his attention to achieving another goal: becoming a coach.
"I was really blessed to play for some outstanding coaches in my career where I learned so much about how to play the game," Norton said. "I did not know if I was going to coach baseball or basketball, but to be surrounded by all of those men and be able to learn from my coaches was a huge blessing."
Norton began being coached by Hall of Fame coaches in high school, when he played for his uncle. He followed that by competitng for Banks, a member of the baseball Hall of Fame, and Olsen, a member of the basketball Hall of Fame, at Iowa. Norton was also fortunate enough to spend a summer playing for Moby Benedict, a long-time baseball coach at the University of Michigan, who, like many other of his coaches, holds a spot in the Hall of Fame as well.
Now in his fifth season at UAB, Norton is at the helm of one of the best women's basketball teams in school history while producing 13 All-Conference USA Team members and ten Conference USA All-Freshman Team Honorees.
As for who he is pulling for when the UAB baseball team faces Iowa in three-game series at Regions Field this weekend, well that one is easy for Norton.
"I'm pulling for UAB, I'm proud to be a Blazer," Norton said. "Iowa is where I went to school and I am proud to be a Hawkeye, but when they are playing the Blazers I don't care who they are because I'm pulling for my Blazers."
Norton and the women's basketball team will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Sunday where he will get to throw out the first pitch. The first pitch between the Blazers and Hawkeyes is set for 12 p.m.
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball). To stay up to date with the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBBALL), on Instagram (UAB_WBBALL) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB_WBB).
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