SEC's all-time winningest coach hangs up cleats

Just one day after returning from the College World Series for the fifth time as Mississippi State's head baseball coach, Ron Polk announced his resignation at an emotional press conference on campus.

The announcement ended Polk's 31 years as a college baseball coach, 22 of those coming at Mississippi State.

Polk informed his players of his decision to step aside at a 10 a.m. team meeting June 5, before facing the Mississippi media and more than 100 alumni and supporters gathered in the Bryan Athletic Administration Building.

Polk, who did not address the press conference, said in a prepared statement, "There were several times during this season when I thought about making my intentions known, but I did not want to take anything away from the successful season our young men were enjoying, and decided to wait until the end of the season to announce my resignation."

"I want to sincerely thank my good friend, Larry Templeton, for all his generous support since he became our athletic director," Polk said. "Dr. Zacharias and the entire university have been so supportive of me and our baseball program. I am also very thankful for the many great fans and supporters of Bulldog baseball. Last, but certainly not least, I must thank all the young men on our current team, and all the young men I have had the good fortune to coach here at Mississippi State the past 22 years. I have a lot of great memories, and I can thank the players for that fact. But, now is the time to move on to another challenge."

Polk, who was named an assistant athletic director at Mississippi State in 1994, will take a more administrative role within the Athletic Department and will assist Templeton with special projects in support of the university's sports programs.

The Southeastern Conference's all-time winningest coach reached several milestones during the 1997 season, including becoming just the 16th coach in the history of college baseball to reach 1,000 wins. He led the Bulldogs to a 47-21 record in 1997, his 12th 40-win season during his 22 years at Mississippi State, and he guided the Bulldogs to their 15th NCAA regional tournament appearance and fifth College World Series.

"For the past 22 years our baseball program has continued to move to championship levels and remain as one of the elite baseball programs in America under Ron Polk," said Templeton. "While we accept his decision to step down, we look forward with great anticipation and excitement to having him as a member of our administrative staff as a full-time assistant athletic director for special projects."

During the press conference, Templeton announced longtime assistant Pat McMahon as named Polk's successor and Mississippi State's 14th head baseball coach. McMahon has served on the Mississippi State baseball staff for 12 years, as well as five years as head coach of Old Dominion University in between stints in Starkville. He returned to Mississippi State in 1995 as associate head coach.

"We give Pat the reigns of our program with the full confidence that the time is right and the man is right to continue the competitive level and great tradition of Mississippi State baseball," said Templeton in making the announcement.

McMahon is serving this summer as the pitching coach on the USA Baseball Team.