Eastern Michigan Athletics
Head Baseball Coach Roger Coryell Announces Retirement
10/28/2007 3:53:13 PM | Baseball
Search will begin immediately for a new head coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University veteran head baseball coach Roger Coryell has announced his retirement, effectively immediately, EMU Director of Athletics Derrick Gragg announced today.
Coryell had spent the previous 30 days prior to his retirement on unpaid administrative leave after inadvertently sending an inappropriate e-mail to supporters of the EMU baseball program.
"We appreciate all of the contributions that Roger Coryell has made to Eastern Michigan University," Gragg said. "Coach Coryell has been instrumental in the continued success of all aspects of the baseball program during his long tenure as a player, assistant coach and head coach and we wish him well in the future."
Coryell just finished his 20th season as head coach of the EMU baseball program, and led his 2007 EMU team to the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship. The Eagles made it all the way to the championship game of the MAC Baseball Tournament before falling to Kent State. He had a 543-553-2 overall record as head coach and was named MAC Baseball Coach of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2007.
"Over the past year I've thought about retiring to spend more time with my family and I know this decision is the correct one for my family, Eastern Michigan University and the baseball program," Coryell said. "I will cherish all of the memories I've had here as a student-athlete and a coach."
The 60-year-old Coryell was part of the EMU baseball program for the past 40 years, and played a major role in the success of the program. He began his career as a pitcher for EMU while earning three letters from 1968-70. He was a member of the 1970 team that won the NAIA national title and was the starting pitcher in the championship game. After his college career he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but a shoulder injury ended his professional baseball career.
A 1971 graduate of EMU, Coryell returned to his alma mater in 1972 as the top assistant coach to legendary head coach Ron Oestrike and became head coach in 1987 when Oestrike announced his retirement. Coryell led the 2003 Eagles to the MAC tournament championship, earning a berth in the NCAA regional in Nebraska. He was inducted into the EMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.
Assistant coach Del Young will handle the day-to-day operations of the EMU baseball program until a new coach is hired. A national search for a successor will begin immediately.
ROGER CORYELL'S EMU HEAD COACHING RECORD
Year Overall Record MAC Record Highlights
1988 35-22-1 21-11 MAC runner-up
1989 27-28 13-16
1990 35-22 20-12
1991 28-27 16-12
1992 19-23 7-12
1993 29-23 12-16
1994 29-27 15-12
1995 22-31 18-13
1996 26-29 16-16
1997 29-25 17-14
1998 27-27 13-13
1999 21-32-1 12-19-1
2000 20-36 9-19
2001 20-33 14-12
2002 30-28 19-9 MAC Coach of the Year
2003 33-28 16-11 MAC West Division Champion, MAC Tournament Champion, NCAA Qualifier
2004 32-27 14-10 MAC Tournament runner-up
2005 22-34 8-14
2006 27-27 14-12
2007 32-24 21-4 MAC West Division Champion, MAC Regular-Season Champion,
MAC Tournament runner-up, MAC Coach of the Year
Totals 543-553-2 295-252-1
