Before BYU
- Prepped at Glendale High
- Was all-state as a senior
- Coached by Jack Watson
- Played at Grand Canyon College, 1963
- Played at Arizona Western Junior College, 1966
- Was an all-conference shortstop at Arizona Western JC
Personal
- Born in Phoenix, Arizona
- Served an LDS church mission to Mexico
- B.A. in Spanish from BYU, 1969
- M.S. in physical education and health science from BYU, 1975
- Played baseball at BYU from 1967-68
Before BYU
As a player
- Prepped at Glendale High
- Was all-state as a senior
- Coached by Jack Watson
- Played at Grand Canyon College, 1963
- Played at Arizona Western Junior College, 1966
- Was an all-conference shortstop at Arizona Western JC
As a coach
- Finished education at BYU
- Spent five years with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a player and a coach
- Coached at UVSC
- Became the Athletic Director at UVSC
After BYU
- Served a term as president of the American Baseball Coaches Association
- Co-authored The Baseball Coaching Bible and Teaching the Complete Baserunner
Post BYU Honors and Societies
- Inducted into the BYU hall of fame in 2007
Stats
Year Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB
1967 .242 47 157 35 38 4 2 3 17 55 31 17 2
1968 .395 48 176 54 60 6 3 7 34 93 30 29 9
Coaching Stats
- Under him, the team won seven Western Athletic Conference Titles and 15 division crowns
- Led his team to nine NCAA Regional Tournaments
- Ranked 16th among active NCAA Division I coaches with 913 wins upon retirement
- Named District Coach of the Year four times
- Named WAC Coach of the Year nine times
- Diamond Division I Baseball Coach of the Year, 1985
- Inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame, 2007
Mission
- , Mexico
2007 BYU Hall of Fame
Gary Pullins transformed the BYU baseball team into a powerhouse throughout his coaching career. As the seventh head baseball coach at BYU, Pullins ranked 16th among active NCAA Division I baseball coaches with 913 wins upon retirement.
Under Pullins' direction, the Cougars won seven Western Athletic Conference titles and 15 division crowns. He also led the baseball team to the NCAA Regional Tournament nine times.
Pullins' talent did not go unnoticed during his coaching career. As a result of his success, he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004. In addition Pullins was also named District Coach of the Year four times, WAC Coach of the Year nine times and Diamond Division I Baseball Coach of the Year in 1985.
In 1983, Pullins guided his team to the Cougars' only No. 1 ranking in program history as they entered the NCAA Tournament with a 25-game winning streak.
Pullins' success at BYU started long before his coaching career. He played baseball as a Cougar during his college days after transferring in 1966. A two-year starter at second base, Pullins helped his team get to the 1968 College World Series. A natural team leader, the team captain hit .341 and earned second-team all-district honors.
After graduating, Pullins spent five years with the Los Angeles Dodgers as both a player and a coach. He then returned to Utah and pioneered the baseball program as both a coach and athletic director at UVSC.
Pullins earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from BYU in 1969 and a master's degree in physical education and health science in 1975. He and his wife, Kathey, are the parents of four sons.
After retiring, Pullins maintained his passion for baseball, serving a term as president of the American Baseball Coaches Association and co-authored The Baseball Coaching Bible and Teaching the Complete Baserunner.
- Set school record with 31 walks in a season
- All-District Second Team
- All-WAC Northern Division First Team
- Led the team in hitting
- Set season record with 54 runs
- Played second base for BYU's first College World Series team
- Captained the team with Steve Davis