Johnny Reagan
Encyclopedia
Johnny Reagan is a former American college baseball coach. In 36 years (1958–93) as head coach of the Murray State
Thoroughbreds, Reagan amassed a record of 776-508-11, including 11 Ohio Valley Conference
championships. He is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Murray State, American Baseball Coaches Association, Missouri Athletic and Bismarck (Missouri) High School halls of fame. Murray State's and Bismarck High School's baseball fields bear his name.
, "Red" Reagan was a standout athlete at Bismarck High School. He enrolled at Murray State during World War II
and quickly earned a place on the basketball and baseball teams. Reagan in his first year on the varsity (1944–45) led the team in every statistical category. He also led Murray State in scoring in three of his four seasons and finished his career in 1948 with 973 points, a school record at the time. He is one of nine players to have his Murray State basketball jersey number retired, as his No. 20 hangs in the rafters of the school's CFSB Center
.
He began a career in professional baseball after graduation and spent two years in the St. Louis Cardinals
minor league system.
His first team at Murray State posted a 14-5 record and won the OVC regular-season championship. His teams would win or share 10 more conference titles, the last in 1991. He also led Murray State to 27-straight winning seasons and its first two NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
appearances, in 1975 and 1979. His 1975 team finished the season with a 40-9 record, was ranked No. 23 in Division I and led the nation in batting average (.332). His 1979 team (27-10-2), ranked 17th in Division I, came one win from advancing to the College World Series
. His 1973 (19th) and 1974 (28th) teams also finished the season ranked in the NCAA poll.
During his tenure as baseball coach, he was a seven-time OVC Coach of the Year and developed several professional players, including major leaguers Pat Jarvis
, Jack Perconte
and Kirk Rueter
.
While still baseball coach, Reagan served as director of athletics at Murray State from 1978 to 1987. During much of that time (1978–86), he also served as chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee.
Reagan retired from coaching after the 1993 season. The school retired his baseball uniform No. 36 shortly thereafter.
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
Thoroughbreds, Reagan amassed a record of 776-508-11, including 11 Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
championships. He is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Murray State, American Baseball Coaches Association, Missouri Athletic and Bismarck (Missouri) High School halls of fame. Murray State's and Bismarck High School's baseball fields bear his name.
Playing career
Born in Bismarck, MissouriBismarck, Missouri
Bismarck is a city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. The estimated 2008 population was 1,538. The population was 1,470 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, "Red" Reagan was a standout athlete at Bismarck High School. He enrolled at Murray State during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and quickly earned a place on the basketball and baseball teams. Reagan in his first year on the varsity (1944–45) led the team in every statistical category. He also led Murray State in scoring in three of his four seasons and finished his career in 1948 with 973 points, a school record at the time. He is one of nine players to have his Murray State basketball jersey number retired, as his No. 20 hangs in the rafters of the school's CFSB Center
Regional Special Events Center
The CFSB Center is a 8,600 seat arena located in Murray, Kentucky near the intersection of Ky. 121 and U.S. 641. The arena is the home of the Murray State Racers Basketball teams...
.
He began a career in professional baseball after graduation and spent two years in the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
minor league system.
Coaching career
Reagan began his coaching career as the baseball and basketball coach at Bismarck High School. He later began his college coaching career at Northeast Louisiana State College (now Louisiana-Monroe), where he coached basketball for two seasons before returning to Murray State in 1957 to take over as head baseball coach.His first team at Murray State posted a 14-5 record and won the OVC regular-season championship. His teams would win or share 10 more conference titles, the last in 1991. He also led Murray State to 27-straight winning seasons and its first two NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
appearances, in 1975 and 1979. His 1975 team finished the season with a 40-9 record, was ranked No. 23 in Division I and led the nation in batting average (.332). His 1979 team (27-10-2), ranked 17th in Division I, came one win from advancing to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. His 1973 (19th) and 1974 (28th) teams also finished the season ranked in the NCAA poll.
During his tenure as baseball coach, he was a seven-time OVC Coach of the Year and developed several professional players, including major leaguers Pat Jarvis
Pat Jarvis (baseball)
Robert Patrick Jarvis is a retired American professional baseball player. He was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played eight seasons for the Atlanta Braves and the Montreal Expos from to in the National League. Jarvis, who stood tall and weighed , is best known for being Nolan...
, Jack Perconte
Jack Perconte
John Patrick "Jack" Perconte is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1980-1986....
and Kirk Rueter
Kirk Rueter
Kirk Wesley Rueter is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, and is the winningest left-hander in San Francisco Giants history. Rueter played for the Montreal Expos and the Giants and made most of his career appearances as a starter. Rueter attended and played for Murray State...
.
While still baseball coach, Reagan served as director of athletics at Murray State from 1978 to 1987. During much of that time (1978–86), he also served as chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee.
Reagan retired from coaching after the 1993 season. The school retired his baseball uniform No. 36 shortly thereafter.