Hall of Fame
Phillip Agricola graduated from Alabama College in 1966 with a degree in physical education and was the first athlete from Alabama College/Montevallo to be drafted by a professional team. Shortly after graduation in 1966, Agricola was drafted to Major League Baseball by the Boston Red Sox. He was a four-year letterman at Montevallo from 1962-1966. During his time on the baseball team, Agricola served as team captain, was named the team MVP in 1965 and was selected to the Alabama Collegiate Conference All-Conference First Team in 1964. Agricola came to Alabama College in 1961 as part of the first wave of male students and helped lay the foundation for the modern athletics program. In a game against Southern Union on May 5, 1962, Agricola drove in eight runs, a mark that is second all-time in today's record book. Across campus, Agricola was instrumental in forming social clubs that would later turn into the fraternity system at Montevallo. He specifically helped with the formation of, and was a member of the A Club, a social club for athletes, and the Delta Social Club. Col. John W. Schmidt, class of 1969, said, "Phillip was blessed with natural athleticism, he trained hard and his baseball feats were legendary. For example, he once threw a baseball over the water tower in front of Ramsey Hall." While playing baseball, Agricola served in the Birmingham Unit of the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Vietnam era. After a brief stint in the pros, Agricola was hired as the first full-time assistant coach at Livingston University under Montevallo Hall of Fame Coach Bob Riesener and earned his master's in education in 1967. Following his collegiate coaching career, Agricola went on to teach and coach football at Columbiana High School from 1967-1968. Agricola passed away from a tragic canoeing incident in the fall of 1968.
