Bragg Stockton Biography

Dr. Bragg Stockton first emerged as a successful coach at Jesse H. Jones High School in Houston as his teams won four district titles from 1965 to 1969.

In 1970, he took over the head duties at San Jacinto Junior College and led his teams to eight conference championships, five Region 14 titles and three trips to the National Junior College World Series through 11 seasons. His teams went 424-112 over that span, and Stockton earned District Junior College Coach of the Year honors three times.

Stockton left San Jacinto in 1980 when he was named assistant coach at the University of Houston. He helped guide the Cougars to a 117-49-3 record, including a trip to the NCAA West Regional in 1982.

Following the 1983 season, Stockton was named head coach at TCU. He led the Horned Frogs to a 91-68 mark in three seasons before returning to the University of Houston as head coach following the 1986 season.

Dr. Bragg Stockton, one of the pioneers of the UH program, guided the Cougars to 283 wins and two NCAA Regional berths during his tenure as head coach from 1987 to 1994 (averaging over 40 wins per season). In addition, 80 of his former players have played on some level of professional baseball and more than 25 former players have served as head coaches on the high school, junior college and NCAA levels.

Coming out of retirement prior to the 2002 season Stockton returned to UH as a volunteer assistant coach to Rayner Noble,one of his former standout players who played pro ball in the Astro's organization. Working primarily with the pitchers Stockton guided the Cougar pitching staff to one of the finest seasons in school history.

Cougar hurlers set a new school record with 548 strikeouts and posted the second-highest mark in Conference USA history. On consecutive nights in mid-April, Cougar pitchers set new UH and Conference USA single-game records with 19 strikeouts against league rival Memphis.

UH also finished fifth nationally with a 3.20 team ERA as five regular Cougar pitchers posted ERAs under 3.00 and seven finished under 4.00.

A junior college All-America basketball star at Tarleton State, Stockton continued to play baseball and basketball after enrolling at Sul Ross State. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees from the Alpine, Texas, school in 1962 and received a PhD in education from the University of Houston.

He continued his baseball career as a player for the Houston Colt 45s (now the Houston Astros).

Stockton ran a highly successful Skills and Drills summer baseball camp throughout Harris County which taught the fundamentals of the game to more than 10,000 players. He has written three books on the fine points of playing the game of baseball and was instrumental in developing the internationally acclaimed "Skills and Drills" video series.

In addition he served as the instructional clinician at the American Baseball Coaches Association, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Convention.

(PARTIAL) OBITUARY

Died - January 22, 2003 - Bragg Stockton, 64 ... RIP - Dr. Bragg Stockton passed away last week. Stockton is best known for his "Skills and Drills" books, videos, and clinics. He was also a player on Houston's Colt 45s, which later became the Astros. He was head coach for TCU's and University of Houston's baseball teams.

Dr. Stockton was preparing to begin his second season as a volunteer coach with the Cougar Baseball program, working with the Cougar pitching staff, when he passed away.

Stockton is survived by his wife Judy and four children: Rebecca Lee, Rachelle Maraffa, Russell and Rosemary Fortenberry and 10 grandchildren.

Rayner Noble, current Cougar head coach, guided the team through an emotional stretch before the year even began when his former head coach at UH and volunteer assistant coach to him died about 10 days before the season began.

A quote from one of Stockton's "Skills and Drill" summer baseball camp attendees summed up Dr. Stockton quite well when he said, "My son and I have had the good fortune to attend a couple clinics Bragg taught. He was a man who loved teaching the game of baseball. Folks involved with baseball in Texas will sorely miss him!"

Some of his accomplishments are:

Head Coach at TCU - 3 seasons
Led the TCU Horned Frogs to a 91-68 mark in three seasons
One of the pioneers of the University of Houston program
Head Coach at University of Houston - 7 seasons
Guided the Cougars to 283 wins and two NCAA Regional berths
Averaged over 40 wins per season as head coach at UH
Assistant Coach at UH - 3 seasons
Helped guide the Cougars to a 117 wins
Trip to the NCAA West Regional in 1982
(Volunteer) Assistant Coach at UH - 1 season
Guided Cougar pitching staff to one of the finest seasons in school history
Cougar hurlers set a new school record with 548 strikeouts
Posted second-highest mark in Conference USA history On consecutive nights
UH pitchers set new Cougar and Conference USA single-game records with 19 strikeouts against league rival Memphis
UH pitching staff finished fifth nationally with a 3.20 team ERA
Five regular Cougar pitchers posted ERAs under 3.00 - seven finished under 4.00
Head coach at San Jacinto Junior College - ll seasons
Led his San Jacinto teams to eight conference championships, five Region 14 titles and three trips to the National Junior College World Series
His San Jacinto teams went 424-112 over that span and Stockton earned District Junior College Coach of the Year honors three times
Head coach at Jesse H. Jones High School in Houston - 5 seasons
Won four district titles
80 former players have played on some level of professional baseball
More than 25 former players have served as head coaches on the high school, junior college and NCAA levels
Played for the MLB Houston Colt 45s (now the Houston Astros)
Taught the fundamentals of the game to more than 10,000 players
Instrumental in developing the internationally acclaimed "Skills and Drills" video series
Served as the instructional clinician at the American Baseball Coaches Association, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, Louisiana Baseball Coaches Convention