Elon University Athletics

Robbie Huffstetler, a 1999 team MVP and 2001 graduate of Appalachian State University, enters his 20th season on the Elon baseball staff in 2023. After serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater for two seasons, Huffstetler joined the Phoenix as a volunteer assistant prior to the 2004 season. He was promoted to assistant coach two years later, then elevated to associate head coach before the 2016 season. He works with Elon’s infielders and hitters.
 
In Huffstetler’s tenure, the Phoenix has produced 38 MLB Draft picks and had 46 players earn either first- or second team all-conference accolades. The program has also boasted a CAA Freshman of the Year, two CAA Co-Rookies of the Year, two SoCon Freshman of the Year award winners, two SoCon Pitchers of the Year, three SoCon Player of the Year recipients and a CAA Pitcher of the Year selection.

The Phoenix has won 625 games since Huffstetler’s arrival for the 2004 season. During that span, Elon has won 40-plus games three times, including a school-record 45 victories in 2006. Huffstetler has helped Elon capture four regular-season Southern Conference titles, one CAA regular-season title, two SoCon Tournament crowns and five NCAA Regional bids.

Huffstetler helped lead the Phoenix to a program high, three top-25 wins including two at Latham Park over No.2 Wake Forest and No.9 Campbell in 2023. The 2023 Phoenix matched the 2019 team for the most wins overall and in CAA play with 33 and 19 respectively. 

Elon captured its first CAA regular-season title in 2019 as the maroon and gold posted a 19-5 record in league play and won seven of eight conference series, including four via sweeps. The team also advanced to the CAA Championship final for the first time in program history and saw four players taken in the MLB Draft, including a first-round selection in 2019 CAA Pitcher of the Year George Kirby.

In 2013, the Phoenix won its second SoCon Tournament title and advanced to NCAA Regional play, where it reached the regional final.

Elon won its fourth SoCon regular-season crown in 2011 with a 23-7 league mark.

In 2009, the Phoenix took home the regular-season SoCon title for the second straight year and third time in four years. Elon finished the SoCon season with a 22-3 record and went 41-18 overall. Elon earned a berth as the No. 2 seed in the Atlanta Regional of NCAA Tournament play. The team also collected the program’s first top-25 finish at the Division I level, ranking 24th in the final Baseball America poll.

In 2006, Huffstetler was a part of Elon’s first-ever Southern Conference regular-season title with a 21-6 league record. The team also collected its second NCAA Division I Tournament berth in five seasons, participating in the Clemson Regional as the No. 2 seed. In the regional’s opening game, the Phoenix defeated third-seeded Mississippi State 5-4 for the first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in any sport at Elon. 

As head coach of the Coastal Plain League’s Thomasville Hi-Toms, Huffstetler guided the Hi-Toms to consecutive playoff appearances in 2003 and 2004. In 2002, Huffstetler was an assistant coach for the Hi-Toms. In 2003, his squad compiled a 32-16 regular season, tying the league record for wins and winning percentage. As manager of the Hi-Toms in 2004, he coached the team to the West Division title with a 26-24 overall record.

In the summer of 2005, Huffstetler led the Mankato Moondogs to their best-ever finish and a team-record 32 wins.

Huffstetler and his wife, Rikki, have three daughters, Reese, Rylee, and Reagan.