PORTALES, N.M. – Interim Athletic Director Jeff Long has selected Riley Price as the fourth head coach in the history of the Eastern New Mexico baseball program.

Price takes over the Greyhound baseball program following one season as the head assistant at Minot State University, during which time he helped lead the program to new heights during the 2019 campaign. Prior to his time at Minot State, Price served in assistant roles at Lone Star Conference foe Angelo State, Baker University and Washburn University following a playing career at three different institutions in Washburn, Southern Arkansas and Allen Community College.

"I'd like to thank President Elwell, Dr. Jeff Long and Matt Grawrock for navigating this process and giving me the opportunity to lead the Greyhound baseball program," Price said, "I am incredibly honored to be the head coach at Eastern New Mexico University and truly grateful for the kind of administrative support I know I will receive from this athletic department."

Price was instrumental in a historic year for Minot State last season as the program recorded a season record in wins (36) and set the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference all-time single season record for stolen bases as a team with 164, which ranked second nationally. As the lone position player coach on staff, Price was tasked with all offensive and defensive development within the program and directly contributed to an improved offensive season for a Beaver's club that lead the NSIC with 46 home runs for the year and made an appearance in the NSIC Tournament Championship game.

"I am delighted that Riley Price has accepted our offer to become the next head coach of the Greyhound baseball team, " said Jeff Elwell, President of Eastern New Mexico. "I believe that the committee did a great job and that Riley is going to bring new energy and invigorate our baseball program."

That record-setting club for Minot State finished the year with 89 more stolen bases, 44 more runs scored, 45 more hits and 49 more RBI's under Price's direction than the previous season. Price also assisted in fundraising efforts for the program and served as the Camp/Showcase Coordinator for the club as well.

Prior to his success at Minot State, Price served as an Assistant Coach at Lone Star Conference power Angelo State, amassing a total record of 76-33 during his two years in San Angelo and was apart of a staff that led the Rams to the 2017 Lone Star Conference regular season championship and a no. 1 ranking in the South Central Region standings at season's end. He worked primarily with infielders and catchers and also acted as the Travel Accommodations Coordinator and Equipment Coordinator for the program.

He served in assistant roles at both Baker University and Washburn University prior to his appointment to the staff at Angelo State, gaining valuable experience as the head coach of the Junior Varsity program at Baker and helped create an atmosphere at Washburn that awarded the program as "The Best College for Baseball in 2015-NCAA Division II" by Next College Student Athlete (NCSA).

A national-respected recruiter, Price captured four championships in four seasons while coaching in various collegiate summer leagues, including three years in which he served as the head coach for the Fort Collins Foxes and the Windsor Beavers. His success at Fort Collins led to his recent induction to the Fort Collins Foxes Coaches Hall of Fame.

Price will succeed David Gomez as head coach of the Greyhound baseball program following Gomez's six year run as skipper of the Hounds, during which time the program finished with a record of 123-169 and won their first ever Lone Star Conference Tournament game in 2018. Eastern New Mexico posted the second most wins in program history (32) in Gomez's fourth year.

"Having coached in the Lone Star Conference I understand what it takes to be successful and am excited for the challenge to compete against the newly added schools, which has made this conference even more competitive," coach Price said, "I will be dedicated to upgrading every aspect of the baseball program making it a respected model for holistic player development and one that competes for championships. I am eager to meet the young men I will be coaching so that we can begin to create a championship culture where success is expected both on and off the field and in everything we do. My goal is to give each player a first-class experience as a student-athlete and to empower them with the tools and knowledge to become better ball players and better men."

A native of Berryton, Kansas, Price competed for two top clubs at the Division II level, leading Washburn University in batting average (.370) and RBI's and was a member of the 2012 Great American Conference regular season and tournament championship teams at Southern Arkansas University. He also competed at the junior college level at Allen Community College, earning All-Conference honors at second base after finishing the year with a batting average of .403.

He earned a master's degree in education in 2018 from Angelo State and graduated Cum Laude from Washburn with a bachelor's degree in education as well. He also earned an associate's degree of arts from Allen Community College in 2011.

"I can't wait to build relationships with the baseball alumni and community members of Portales as they will be a huge part of our program's success," coach Price said, "I want to offer my sincere thanks to all the players and coaches that have helped me get to this point. I'm fired up to get started."