The inception of the Copperheads can be traced back to a 2001 conversation between friends. Dr. Andy Kreutzer, director of the Ohio University sports administration program, and Alan Geiger, assistant to the president of Ohio University. Their chat about how it would be nice to have summer baseball to watch slowly around the community, and the idea of a summer team in Athens and southern Ohio started to gain momentum. It really picked up when Joe Carbone, head Ohio University baseball coach, recommended the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League (GLSCL) because it was coming to town for a weekend in the summer of 2001.
On July 15, 2001, Team USA and the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Stars played an exhibition game at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium. Around 1,000 fans came out to enjoy a day of summer baseball. Dr. Andy Kreutzer said, "We received a lot of really positive feedback from the all star game and the success led us to believe that southern Ohio would support a team."
Slowly, the group started to grow through phone calls and recruitment. John Wharton, chairman of the board of directors, was recruited because of his ties to Ohio University baseball. "I have been a lead fundraiser for the OU team, I'm friends with Coach Carbone and I've always been a big supporter of local baseball," said Wharton.
A steering committee was organized including leaders from the University and from Southeast Ohio’s business communities. After three months of planning and with the strong support of Dave Palmer, owner of WATH and WXTQ radio, the GLSCL gave the approval to go ahead with the Southern Ohio baseball team based in Athens. "The summer months here are slower paced and more relaxed," Palmer said. "I saw this as an opportunity to bring an athletic event to the summer months that will really enrich the region's life."
The Copperheads worked with MBA students during an annual student competition, where the team received consultation on their business plan. Three sports administration students worked closely with the Copperheads board for eight weeks and to produce a 157-page business plan.
That winter, the team named its head coach, Scott Googins, then the assistant coach at Miami University. An elementary student contest determined the Copperheads team name and local artist Tad Gallaugher designed the team’s logo.
Sports administration students were called upon to take the lead in finding sponsorships, selling tickets and various other duties. To assist Kreutzer, who was named the team's general manager, a handful of sports administration students took positions with the team. Nathan Kievman, a second year sports administration graduate student, was named assistant general manager. Two first year students were also named assistant managers: Steve Frohwerk, operations, and Chris Boggs, merchandise and concessions.
The Southern Ohio Copperheads played their first game on June 12, 2002. The formation of the Copperheads was truly a complete community effort. The Copperheads have been winning over the hearts of the people of Southeast Ohio ever since!
Since their inception, the Copperheads have made the postseason over a dozen times, made the league’s championship game three times, and won the championship game once in 2018.
The Copperheads clinched the 2018 Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Championship with a 10-8 victory against the Saginaw Sugar Beets. It was the first title in franchise history and the third trip to the final series. Including the postseason, the Copperheads went 35-10 that year.
| Record type | Record achievement | Player(s) |
|---|---|---|
| At Bats | 178 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Batting Average | .404 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Hits | 72 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Doubles | 26 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Triples | 4 | Ethan Newton (2011)Mike Fish (2012) |
| Home Runs | 11 | Kyle Raliff (2022) |
| RBI | 52 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Stolen Base | 23 | James Coates (2013)Phillip Tomasulo (2017) |
| Run Scored | 45 | Blaine Crim (2018) |
| Hit By Pitch | 13 | Carson Shepard (2022) |
| Walks | 32 | James Coates (2013) |
| Inning Pitched | 59.0 | Dallas Puskar (2005) |
| Wins | 5 | Chris Hansen (2003)Justin Brantley (2012)Jordan Peterson (2013)Wade Martin (2016)Michael Darrell-Hicks (2018)Zach Iverson (2018) |
| Saves | 9 | Clint Ford (2002)Chuck Boring (2007)Anthony Misiewicz (2013) |
| ERA (min 25 inn) | 1.36 | James Rook (2006) |
| Strikeouts | 57 | Zach Iverson (2018) |
| Year | Coach | Win–Loss Record | Place Finish in Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rocky Brunty | ||
| 2024 | Rocky Brunty | ||
| 2023 | Jonathon Shiver | 13-22 | Tied, 6th |
| 2022* | TJ Lanning | 15-23 | 7th |
| 2019* | Austin Dunfee | 23-18 | 3rd |
| 2018 | Phil Butler | 35-10 | 1st |
| 2017 | Phil Butler | 24-17 | 2nd |
| 2016 | Phil Butler | 20-22 | 5th |
| 2015 | Jonathan Nichols | 22-17 | 4th |
| 2014 | Jonathan Nichols | 23-16 | 2nd |
| 2013 | Jonathan Nichols | 25-15 | 1st |
| 2012 | Chris Moore | 22-17 | 4th |
| 2011 | Chris Moore | 29-13 | 1st |
| 2010 | Mike Florak | 24-16 | 3rd |
| 2009 | Mike Florak | 20-18 | 5th |
| 2008 | Ted Tom | 19-21 | Tied, 6th |
| 2007 | Mike Deegan | 23-15 | 6th |
| 2006 | Stas Swerdzewski | 20-19 | 6th |
| 2005 | Andrew See | 17-25 | 7th |
| 2004 | Brad Bohannon | 16-23 | 8th |
| 2003 | Todd Linklater | 19-20 | 6th |
| 2002 | Scott Googins | 18-22 | 7th |
*There was no season in 2020 nor 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Year(s) | General Manager(s) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Nick Medvitz and Kali Osborne |
| 2024 | Roberto Lemus and Sadie Rudduck |
| 2023 | Charlie Clegg |
| 2022 | Christopher Marks and Charlie Clegg |
| 2019-2021* | Kayla Hunter |
| 2017-2018 | Kaleb Sislowski |
| 2016 | Grant Canning |
| 2015 | Andy Szabo |
| 2014 | Brent Miller |
| 2013 | Ethan Saporito |
| 2012 | John Bollinger |
| 2011 | Patrick Villafane |
| 2010 | Jessica Martin |
| 2009 | Alex Vitanye |
| 2008 | Brian Colopy |
| 2007 | David Bamford |
| 2006 | Wade Martin |
| 2005 | AJ Poole |
| 2004 | Dusty Kilgour |
| 2003 | Joel White and Chris Hafling |
| 2002 | Nathan Kievman, Steve Frohwerk, and Chris Boggs |
*There was no season in 2020 nor 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.