Contact: Addie Mayfield
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A generous planned gift commitment from legendary coach Ron Polk will create an outstanding level of continuous support for Mississippi State’s baseball program and further cement his legacy at the university.
The winningest coach in all sports in SEC history, two-time National Coach of the Year and five-time SEC Coach of the Year spent 29 seasons leading the MSU baseball program (1976-1997, 2002-2008). He concluded his 35-year career as a head coach with a record of 1,373-700-2 (.662) and produced 35 All-Americans, 76 All-SEC selections and 187 professional draft picks.
During his career, which also included stints at Georgia Southern (1972-75) and Georgia (2000-01), Polk led his teams to a total of eight College World Series appearances, five SEC Championships and 23 Regional appearances. His teams have made appearances in Omaha for five decades and he is one of only three coaches in college baseball history to take three different programs to the College World Series. Polk was the first coach in any sport in the conference to reach over 1,000 victories.
Beyond Polk’s work in the collegiate ranks, he has completed seven tours as a member of the coaching staff for the USA National Baseball Team, twice serving as head coach. Two of the teams he coached represented the U.S. in the Olympics.
He is a member of six amateur baseball halls of fame including those of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Mississippi Sports and National College Baseball organizations. Named an SEC Legend in 2017, Polk also has earned the esteemed Lefty Gomez Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rube Award from the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Last spring, Polk returned to MSU to volunteer as special assistant to the athletic director. Although he has maintained his residence in Starkville since his retirement, Polk has spent the previous 12 seasons volunteering at UAB under Brian Shoop. Recently retired Shoop earlier served as an MSU assistant under Polk. Polk also plans to maintain his position as a coach in the prestigious Cape Cod League for the ninth consecutive year.
In addition to the time and service Polk is providing to MSU in his new position, he also is increasing support for the university through a meaningful financial investment. After earlier informing the MSU Foundation of his intent to support the university through a planned gift, Polk recently revised his will and outlined his intention for the designation of his bequest, which includes his home and the surrounding property, to benefit MSU.
Proceeds from the bequest will be used to procure a space to house Polk’s vast collection of baseball memorabilia, including records from former players and every team he coached during his career, near the baseball facilities at MSU. The creation of such a space on campus will serve as a lasting tribute to Polk’s legacy at Mississippi State and throughout the game of baseball.
Additional proceeds from the bequest will be used to establish the Coach Ron Polk Excellence Endowment in Baseball. The fund will provide vital support on an annual basis. Furthermore, the perpetual earnings from the endowment will provide a margin of excellence for the MSU baseball program that would otherwise not be available.
“Mississippi State is a special place, and this is home for me,” said Polk. “I wanted to make this gift because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve always preached that concept to my players. My hope is that this gift will help stir interest for others to do the same because when we give everybody benefits.”
To learn more about supporting MSU through gifts of real estate or property, contact Jud Skelton, senior director of development for real estate services, at 662-325-0643 or jud.skelton@foundation.msstate.edu. Additional information on planned giving also can be found at www.msugiftplanning.org.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.