When people talk about Union University and what sets it apart from other colleges, two words that come up are "family" and "community."
 
This applies not only to the professors and students but also to the athletic department and individual teams, particularly the baseball program.
 
Andy Rushing, the current golf coach at Union, has deep ties to the baseball team. He played baseball at Union from 1972-1976 and was the head coach of the program from 1989-2005. His record was 580-362-2, and during his time as head coach at Union, he led the Bulldogs to two conference championships and one conference co-championship and participated in five district tournaments and six regional tournaments. He won 664 games in his 21 years as a college baseball coach overall.
 
He coached numerous players at Union over his 17-year career, including Brian Pace, Jeff Chavies, and Tommy Cepparulo. These men are significant in that not only did they play baseball at Union but now their sons are playing at Union as well.
 
"It really makes me feel good that the dads had a good enough experience here that they wanted their sons here," Rushing said. "That's the best part of it for me."
 
When Brian's son Canyon got old enough to be recruited, Rushing was one of the first people that Brian reached out to.
 
"He opened doors, and he evaluated Canyon, even coming to watch him play early in the process," Brian said. "In every visit or move-in, Coach Rushing always stopped by to make sure Canyon was good, and to this day, should Canyon need him, for anything with baseball or school, Coach would be there for him. That is what sets him apart from most: he cares. He loves the game; he poured himself into Union baseball and the university and continues to do so when most can't even see it. Coach Rushing will forever be something more than just my old college coach."
 
Although he didn't get to play for Rushing, Canyon still feels support from his dad's old coach.
 
"I met Coach Rushing whenever I came up here for one of my visits, and he's a great guy," Canyon said. "It really just made me want to come here even more, just knowing that I had a bunch of support up here that I didn't really think that I had."
 
Jeff looks back fondly on his time at Union playing for Coach Rushing, and he's glad that his son Carson is getting the chance to be there as well.
 
"I have a lot of great memories from my time playing at Union," Jeff said. "Coach Rushing built a great program, and I learned so many lessons about work ethic and perseverance that have been very valuable in life. Looking back at how impactful those years were for me, it's exciting for Carson to get a chance to experience similar life lessons."
 
"Coach Rushing had a big impact on my dad, I'd say," Carson said. "I think the coaches here now are having a big impact on me, so maybe I'll pass that impact down to my kids, and they'll end up coming here sometime."
 
Tommy credits Rushing in helping him become not only a better baseball player but also a better man. It means a lot to him that his son Hudson chose to go to Union as well.
 
I'm so thankful that Coach Rushing gave me the opportunity to play college baseball," Tommy said. "Little did I know that not only would he help me develop as a college pitcher but would instill in me the Christian values I still carry today. I'm so thankful that Hudson decided to follow in his dad's footsteps. It's such a cool thing to see your son playing for your alma mater and carrying on the Bulldog tradition."
 
Tommy made sure to tell Hudson about the impact his old coach had on him and the memories he made as a Bulldog. Hudson soaked up what his dad told him and factored it into his decision to call Union home.
 
"Growing up and listening to dad and how he spoke highly of Coach Rushing and the Union baseball program has definitely been an influence to why when Union offered me to play, I chose to play baseball at Union," Hudson said. "Also, when I signed to Union, Coach Rushing was one of the first people to congratulate me and express how excited he was to see me continue the legacy my dad had started."
 
One other current Bulldog, Mitch Sisk, is the son of a former player for Rushing, but not at Union. Jeff Sisk played for Rushing at South Side High School in Jackson and then played college ball when Rushing had a short coaching stint at Lambuth.
 
Jeff said, "I was always impressed by his dedication to his craft and his desire to win. He was an influential figure in my life. When it became apparent that my son (Mitch) might have an opportunity to play in college, I sent him to Coach Rushing for hitting and pitching lessons. Mitch still uses some of those fundamental principles he learned from Coach."
 
"Coach Rushing has always been a well-known name in West Tennessee baseball", Mitch Sisk said. "Hearing my dad and Uncle Brian talk about him made me respect him before I ever knew him. Up until this year, I had only taken lessons from him but having him in class this year made it seem so surreal that I got to be a part of something he had been a part of. West Tennessee baseball at all levels is in a lot better place because of Andy Rushing."
 
Rushing's life and baseball impact have been woven into the Jackson community since his early days of playing as a child. Sisk was key in creating a way to cement Rushing's name in the town's history. Jeff Sisk, along with Donald Glenn (former UU baseball player for Coach Rushing and now an attorney in Jackson) came up with the annual 'Andy Rushing Award'. This is given each year to the Madison County public high school baseball team with the best intra-county record.
 
Rushing feels honored that the sons of his former players wanted to follow in their fathers' footsteps. It speaks to the legacy that he has been able to leave in his lengthy career at Union and the impact that he made on the men he coached.
 
"It's about as cool as it gets for me at this stage," Rushing said. "It makes me feel good that their dads' experience was good enough that they wanted their sons to have the same thing. I don't know what more you could want."

Grace White is currently a graduate assistant in the Union Sports Communication Department. She is a 2023 graduate of Union where she played four seasons of softball.