Former MTSU baseball coach, South Carolina assistant Jim Toman dies at 64

Former Middle Tennessee State baseball coach Jim Toman died on Aug. 4 from complications related to brain cancer. He was 64.

Toman, who coached the Blue Raiders from 2018-22, had been battling cancer since being diagnosed in 2025.

"We are saddened to learn of Jim Toman's passing," MTSU athletic director Chris Massaro told the Daily News Journal. "Jim cared deeply about the game of baseball and about the young men he coached. During his time at Middle Tennessee, he worked tirelessly to move our program forward and invested himself in our student-athletes.

"On behalf of MTSU Athletics, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former players, and all who knew him during this difficult time."

Ray Tanner, the former longtime South Carolina coach and later AD, was included in the school's social media post about Toman, saying "We spent 11 years together at Sarge Field. We won a lot. We carried on the proud tradition of Gamecock Baseball. I always knew how deeply you cared about our program. Gamecock Nation saw the passion and fiery competitiveness that our team witnessed every day.

"We are all indebted to you for the impact you made on our lives − players, coaches, staff and fans alike."

Rest in Peace, Coach Toman. pic.twitter.com/4dmnp9dau6

— South Carolina Baseball (@GamecockBSB) August 4, 2026 Toman, who resigned from MTSU in August 2022 after he was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence , was 78-102 in his four seasons with the Blue Raiders.

After taking over the Blue Raider program in June of 2018, saw MTSU win its most games since 2015 after a 29-26 finish in 2022. The Blue Raiders made the Conference USA tournament for the second consecutive year and had five all-conference players.

Toman was an assistant coach at College of Charleston for two seasons prior to coming to MTSU. He was the coach at Liberty (2008-16), including being named Big South Coach of the Year (2014).

Monte Lee, who coached with Toman at the College of Charleston, posted on X: "RIP Storm. We all loved working with you, and getting to call you a friend. No one impacted Gamecock baseball more. Your impact is tremendous!"

Prior to that he was an associate head coach under Tanner at South Carolina for 11 seasons, helping the Gamecocks reach the College World Series three times.

Toman was named the National Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Baseball America in 2002 while with the Gamecocks.

Toman played high school baseball in Pennsylvania before playing four years at North Carolina State as a catcher (1981-84).

Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Former MTSU baseball coach, South Carolina assistant Jim Toman dies at 64

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