UPIKE Athletics

Robert Staggs enters his 19th season in 2021-22 as the head coach of the softball program at UPIKE, first taking the job from 2003 to 2014, before returning to the dugout in 2016.

This is Staggs’ 24th season as part of the Pikeville athletic department in various roles, including being named athletic director in May of 2014. Staggs’ previous three years were spent as Associate Athletic Director and head softball coach.

In his time at UPIKE, Staggs has been head volleyball coach and an assistant with the football, baseball and men's and women's basketball teams.

The Pikeville native had been the school's athletic director for two years previously, starting in 2010, before devoting his full-time commitment to softball.

Through 18 seasons, Staggs has amassed 310 wins overall. His most wins recorded in a season came in 2019 when the Bears finished 26-24, while the 2016 season included the most Mid-South Conference wins in program history at 12-16.

He was also the 2018-19 recipient of the Mid-South Conference Coaching for Significance award.

Staggs has coached 54 All-MSC selections, two MSC Gold Glove Winners, and had eight players named MSC Player of the Week.

Staggs is an alumnus of then Pikeville College and has received numerous accolades in athletics, including being named the MSC Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2007 and the Kentucky High School Athletics Association Football Official of the Year in 2008.

On Aug. 1 of 2015, Staggs added the honor of being inducted into the Pikeville High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his multiple accomplishments in a wide variety of sports at the prep level.

Staggs and his wife Nanette reside in Pikeville.