With the 2020-21 University of Southern Indiana Athletic seasons postponed due to COVID-19, we wanted to take this time to re-introduce the Screaming Eagles coaches and staff members.

Today features, USI Baseball Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. Archuleta, USI's all-time leader with 482 victories, has led the Screaming Eagles to two NCAA Division II national championships in his 14 years at the helm. He also has been recognized as the 2010 and 2014 Division II ABCA National Coach of the Year and the 2011 and 2014 GLVC Coach of the Year since taking over the program in 2007.

Archuleta and the Eagles recorded their fifth NCAA II Midwest Regional title and appeared in the NCAA II Baseball Championship in 2018. The Eagles rebounded from a slow start to complete a 36-23 campaign and a 15-9 mark in the GLVC. 

The 2017 season saw Archuleta reach another milestone, surpassing the 400-win mark at USI, while leading the Eagles to a seventh GLVC division title, fourth in the East Division. The Eagles also advanced to the GLVC and NCAA II Tournaments.

The 16-year head coach with USI and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside earned his 500th career win in 2016 while leading the Eagles to their fourth NCAA II Midwest Regional title and a fifth-place finish in the NCAA II Baseball Championship. The Eagles were 38-21 overall and captured the GLVC East Division title on the final weekend of the regular season with a 20-8 conference mark. USI also concluded the 2016 campaign ranked 12th nationally. 

Archuleta's Eagles soared in 2014, winning the NCAA II national championship, the NCAA Midwest Regional crown and the the GLVC East Division title. USI surpassed the 40-win plateau for the third time during his tenure, while producing the eighth-straight winning season during the run to the national championship. The 2014 Eagles also had 10 All-Conference honorees and eight region award winners. 
 
The Eagles' first ever national championship came under Archuleta's direction in 2010. USI broke 13 team records during the championship run, including wins in a season (52), winning percentage (.788, 52-14), and winning streak (15). The Eagles also won their third-straight GLVC West Division title and its first GLVC Tournament crown since 1993.
 
The 2010 Eagles also featured two All-Americans, three All-Region performers, and seven All-GLVC players. Six Eagles also earned Academic All-GLVC honors. 

Archuleta pulled the Eagles onto the national stage during his first season in 2007. The Eagles made their first appearance in the final four of the 2007 NCAA Division II National Baseball Finals and won the program's first ever NCAA Division II Midwest Regional championship. USI also set a school record at that time by posting 43 victories -- 25 wins better than the year before.

In Archuleta's 14 seasons, USI has won two NCAA II national championships and five NCAA II Midwest Regional titles; won three GLVC West crowns and three GLVC East banners; one GLVC Tournament championship; and appeared in six NCAA II Regionals. Archuleta's Eagles also have featured 15 All-Americans, three Academic All-American, 34 All-Region performers, and 57 All-GLVC players.

USI also has sent 10 players into professional baseball during Archuleta's 13 years at the helm. The notable USI alumni to advance to play in the major and the minors includes Darin Mastroianni, Jeremy Kehrt, Taylor Dennis, Jonathon Wandling, Justin Watts, and Logan Brown.

Archuleta came to USI after five seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside that featured a pair of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and a pair of 40-win seasons. UW-Parkside also advanced to the NCAA II North Central Regional title game in 2005 and was 148-124 (.544) during Archuleta's tenure.

In his tenure at UW-Parkside, Archuleta coached the Rangers first All-American, Regional Player of the Year, GLVC Player of the Year, and he had two players sign professional contracts and 11 players earn All-Region honors. He was tabbed GLVC Coach of the Year in 2004.

Archuleta served as an assistant coach for five seasons at Wayne State College (Nebraska) and Central Missouri State University at the NCAA II level before taking the top spot at UW-Parkside.

The native of Iliff, Colorado, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver and has a master's degree in education from Wayne State College. He and his wife, Stephanie, have four children, Mikaela, Alex, Samuel, and Toby.
 
Here is a little more about USI's baseball head coach:
 
Hometown/What was the best part of growing up there? Iliff, Colorado (Really Proctor, Colorado),  Home of the Caliche Buffaloes; Thanks to my Mom and Dad for giving me the opportunity to be raised in a small community that instilled family values. 

Alma Mater: Metropolitan State College of Denver (BA); Wayne State College (NE) (MSOM)

Favorite Athlete All-Time: Fernando Valenzuela and Michael Jordan

Favorite Team(s): Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Dodgers

Favorite part of USI? Why?  Our Fans!!! The support and pride the city of Evansville and the Tri-State have in USI.

If you weren't a coach/athletic administrator, what career would you have? Professional Golfer (not because of my ability), Caddie for "The Mechanic" Miguel Angel Jimenez on the PGA Tour Champions , or Professional Bass Fisherman (because of my ability).
 
Your go to activity during COVID-19? Driving my wife Stephenie CRAZY!! (Because I was at home) and golfing at Oak Meadow with the boys!!
 
Your go to food? NO Question TACOS!!!

If you were a fictional character, who would you be? Why? Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy.  If you seen the movie, you know why.

If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask?  What did the 2010 Northern Kentucky Team or Coach Asalon have on our closer Wandy Rosario?  Because every time they faced Wandy, they hit absolute rockets off him (not many did this). It's been 10 years Coach Asalon just tell me!!

When did you know you wanted to be a coach or athletic administrator? When I was in high school with Coach Debus, Coach Dederick, Coach Manuello and Coach Ross!!!  I enjoyed every year I played for them and they showed me how to love the game! I also had many great coaches along the way like Coach Porreco, Coach Manganaro, Coach Hill and Coach McDermott. All helped me so much, but I could not have of done anything without the support of my family.