Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

One of the best high school baseball coaches to ever occupy a third base coaches box or fill out a lineup sheet is retiring.

West High officially announced that long-time coach Charlie Stumpff has submitted his resignation and will retire from coaching with a press release on Thursday.

Stumpff racked up an incredible 877 wins in his 37 years as a head coach, the last 32 of those years coming at West High.

“We appreciate everything that coach Stumpff has done not only for the baseball program at West, but also for everything he has done for the West High Community,” West High Athletic Director BJ Mayer wrote in the release. “He has been a mentor to me as a coach and many other coaches at West. He is always willing to help out, whether it be at football games, at basketball games and at track meets. We wish him the best in his retirement and hope to continue to see him at West events.”

For more than three decades Stumpff led a West High baseball program that ranked among the best in the state.

Stumpff recorded an astounding 803-445 record in 32 seasons at West High leading the Trojans to the state tournament 12 times.

West High was Class 4A runner-up five times under Stumpff, reaching the title game in 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Trojans won 11 Mississippi Valley Conference titles under Stumpff who was named MVC coach of the year 10 times.

Stumpff was named district coach of the year eight times and earned state coach of the year honors.

In his 32 seasons at West High Stumpff coached 26 first-team all-state players and is a member of the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“When I was coaching, there wasn’t a colleague I respected more than coach Stumpff,” West High principal Mitch Gross wrote in the release. “He was extremely successful but more importantly he did things the right way. As a principal, I can say that nobody embodies the excellence of West High more than Charlie. The impact he has had on our school and our students is immeasurable.”

West High was 20-22 last season and advanced to the Class 4A substate title game.

A search for a replacement for Stumpff will take place immediately.

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