St. Ambrose University Director of Athletics Mike Holmes announced today Tony Huntley has been named the University's head baseball coach. Huntley takes over for Jim Callahan, who is now the Director of Athletic Enrollment. Huntley has been the head assistant coach since the 1997 season.

"There are few people who have the history with St. Ambrose baseball that Tony Huntley does. He has dedicated his playing and coaching career to the Fighting Bees, and I am confident he will pursue the head coaching job with a passion that exemplifies his commitment to SAU," said Holmes. 

Huntley hails from Rock Island, Ill., where he played four varsity seasons for Rock Island Alleman High School. He started his collegiate career at Waubonsee Community College, where he was a two-time All-American. He then transferred to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where he played under former Chicago Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger.

In 1995, Huntley came to St. Ambrose and played shortstop for the 1996 NAIA National Runner-up Fighting Bees. He was a two-time All-Conference member before graduating in 1996 with a Sport Management-Business degree.

"I am very excited to finally have the opportunity to be the head baseball coach at St. Ambrose University," said Huntley. "It is an absolute honor to be the head coach at the institution I played for. Thank you to the St. Ambrose University President, Athletics Director, administrators, alumni, and student-athletes who have confidence in my abilities to lead this baseball program. I am very excited about the future of SAU baseball."

Huntley played three seasons of professional baseball for the Evansville Otters, the Anderson Lawmen, and the DuBois County Dragons. He also spent 10 days with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at a Pre-Spring Training camp.

Huntley spent five years coaching a collegiate summer league team in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League. He was one of two field managers for the Chicago Wildcats Baseball Organization that traveled throughout the Midwest. Huntley was named Co-Manager of the Year in the 2008 season, along with Sam Hampstra Jr. The pair led the Wildcats to a Southern Division Championship and an overall record of 49-8.

Huntley was also St. Ambrose University's athletic facilities director. He graduated in May 2005 with his Master's in Organizational Leadership.

Tony and his wife Ellen reside in Eldridge, Iowa. They have three sons, Alex, Maxwell, and Jax.