North Carolina’s Mike Fox Wins His 1,000th Game
(With the end of the year fast approaching, we’re counting down some of the top moments from the 2009 college baseball season (in no particular order). We’ll have one a day through New Year’s Eve.)
Fox has become a fixture on the CWS podium.
It’s not like Mike Fox is the first college baseball coach to reach a milestone. In fact, when Fox’s Tar Heels beat Gardner-Webb 10-3 on March 4th in Chapel Hill he became the 51st head coach in NCAA history to reach the 1,000 win milstone. But Fox’s recent succes at UNC that got him to 1K is impressive.
That win over Gardner-Webb was #8 of what turned out to be a 48-win season and a fourth straight trip to the College World Series. Fox’s overall record now stands at 1,040-347-5, including a 500-208-1 record in 11 seasons in Chapel Hill.
Think about that for a minute. He has averaged 45 wins a year since taking over at his alma mater (he’s also one of just six men to play in and then coach his team at the CWS). Do you know how hard it is to win even 40 games a year in college baseball?
The ACC has sent at least two teams to Omaha in three of the four years Fox and his Tar Heels have gone to the CWS, and in 2008 UNC, Miami (FL), and Florida State all made it. How about the fact that in this decade ACC teams Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and Fox’s Tar Heels have all made it to Omaha at least once, while UVA is the only team on that list without multiple CWS trips in that span. (And that’s only because the Cavs didn’t get good until Brian O’Connor showed-up in 2004.)
Carolina has made 10 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and Fox’s 213 wins over the last four seasons is second to none in college baseball.
Fox had 28 former Tar Heels on MLB rosters in 2009 including: Daniel Bard (Boston), Andrew Miller (Florida) and Chris Ianetta (Colorado), and guys like Dustin Ackley and Alex White are likely to suit-up in a big league uni soon.
Like any coach Fox would be the first to tell you it’s the players who make it happen, and he’s had some good ones help him top 1,000 wins while he’s worn his alma mater’s Tar Heel blue.
Other Top Moments Of 2009
20. Illinois Shocks #1 LSU In Baton Rouge
21. Alabama’s Kent Matthes Launches Longballs
22. Freshman Levi Michael Starts In North Carolina’s Season Opener