Steve Sabins: The Relentless Ascent
Steve Sabins’ coaching career is a masterclass in tenacity, belief, and bold decision-making. As he wraps up a decade-long tenure at West Virginia University in 2025, his journey stands as a vivid reminder that chasing what you want—despite the odds—can lead to lasting impact and transformation. But his story didn’t begin in a stadium under bright lights. It began with a phone call, a surprising warning, and a gut decision that would set everything in motion.
It was 2015 when Randy Mazey, then head coach at WVU, reached out to Sabins with a job offer: a volunteer assistant position with the Mountaineers. At first glance, it was the kind of offer an ambitious young coach should jump at. But Mazey—grizzled by years in the game—wasn’t selling a dream. He was honest, even blunt: “You don’t want this job. It doesn’t pay. It’s hard. You’ll struggle.”
Sabins listened—but didn’t flinch. While many might have backed away, Sabins leaned in. He didn’t hear warning bells. He heard opportunity. He saw a chance to be part of something meaningful, to grow under Mazey’s wing, and to push beyond conventional limits. So, he accepted.
That decision—reckless to some, brave to others—became the defining pivot of his career.
From unpaid assistant to associate head coach, Sabins proved himself through relentless work, genuine leadership, and a sharp baseball mind. He didn’t just learn the system—he helped evolve it. Sabins became a vital architect of WVU’s baseball resurgence, contributing to the program’s national relevance, player development pipeline, and its gritty, never-back-down identity.
His decade in Morgantown is marked by steady progress. Sabins helped lead the Mountaineers to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, mentored countless players to professional careers, and earned the reputation of a coach who not only understands the game but teaches it with clarity and conviction.
Beyond the numbers, Sabins brought an emotional intensity that galvanized those around him. He believed in his players the same way he once believed in himself when no paycheck or promise awaited. He turned “no guarantee” into “no doubt.”
Now, as he closes his WVU chapter, Sabins isn’t stepping away from the game—he’s stepping into his next challenge with the same mindset that’s carried him so far: go for what you want, even when the road looks steep. He leaves behind not just a résumé, but a legacy—one that began with a phone call and a caution, and became a decade of proof that trusting yourself is never the wrong play.
Steve Sabins bet on himself. And West Virginia Baseball was better because of it.
