Ron Polk
Encyclopedia
Ronald Polk was a long-time head baseball coach at Mississippi State
and is considered the "Father of SEC Baseball". He is by far the winningest coach in school and SEC history in all sports. In 28 seasons as the coach, he has to date compiled a 1139-590-2 (.667) record. His career record stands at 1373-702-2. He currently ranks 8th on the all time wins list, and ranks 5th in terms of victories among active coaches. His teams have won five SEC
championships, including four SEC tournament
championships. His teams have made it to the NCAA tournament
21 times, and have reached the College World Series
8 times. On March 27, 2008, he announced his resignation, effective the end of the 2008 season.
From 1972 to 1975, he served as the head coach at Georgia Southern
. From 2000 to 2001, he coached at Georgia
. He has also served as an assistant coach at Arizona
, and New Mexico
.
On July 28, 2008, Polk was announced as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Blazers
baseball squad. The Blazers are coached by Polk's former MSU assistant Brian Shoop.
On March 24, 2009, Polk, along with former Mississippi State player, Rafael Palmeiro
, was elected to College Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
and is considered the "Father of SEC Baseball". He is by far the winningest coach in school and SEC history in all sports. In 28 seasons as the coach, he has to date compiled a 1139-590-2 (.667) record. His career record stands at 1373-702-2. He currently ranks 8th on the all time wins list, and ranks 5th in terms of victories among active coaches. His teams have won five SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championships, including four SEC tournament
SEC Baseball Tournament
The SEC Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Southeastern Conference . It is a double-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament...
championships. His teams have made it to the NCAA tournament
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....
21 times, and have reached 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,...
8 times. On March 27, 2008, he announced his resignation, effective the end of the 2008 season.
From 1972 to 1975, he served as the head coach at Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
. From 2000 to 2001, he coached at Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. He has also served as an assistant coach at Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, and New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
.
On July 28, 2008, Polk was announced as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
Blazers
UAB Blazers
The UAB Blazers are the forest green and old gold-swathed athletic teams at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school is one of the twelve member institutions of Conference USA and participates in Division I of the NCAA...
baseball squad. The Blazers are coached by Polk's former MSU assistant Brian Shoop.
On March 24, 2009, Polk, along with former Mississippi State player, Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985...
, was elected to College Baseball's Hall of Fame.