UNC - Chapel Hill announced today that Head Baseball Coach Mike Fox has decided to retire. It was announced concurrently that Associate Head Coach Scott Forbes would assume the role of Head Coach.
As one who has known and been friends of both for years, I am pleased for and congratulate both of them. I so respect Coach Fox's decision and applaud him for taking the step when he and his wife, Cheryl, felt the time was right for them to simplify their lives and spend more time with their children and grandchildren.
Meanwhile, the program transitions to Coach Forbes' exceptionally capable and deserving hands. It is fortunate to be able to look to his continued guidance and leadership.
Here are some excerpts about Coach Fox's and Coach Forbes' careers from the official press release, the full text of which is linked below:
"Mike Fox, who elevated North Carolina’s baseball program to the upper echelon of college baseball nationally, announced his retirement after 22 seasons in Chapel Hill on Friday morning. UNC has named former assistant Scott Forbes as the program’s new head coach...
Fox began his coaching career at N.C. Wesleyan, where he led the Battling Bishops to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons. His teams made eight trips to the Division III College World Series and won the 1989 national title.
Fox finished his 37-year head coaching career with a 73.1 winning percentage (1,487-547-5). He ranks seventh all-time in wins and 15th in winning percentage.
The 2018 ACC Coach of the Year highlighted the pull of family as being a strong factor in his decision to retire...
Forbes, who has been on Fox’s staff for 19 seasons, becomes the 25th head coach in UNC program history. He is the program’s fifth head coach since 1931...
Fox had 105 of his UNC players drafted by Major League Baseball teams, including 15 first-round or supplemental round picks, and 27 players have played in the Major Leagues. He’s coached 37 first-team All-ACC selections, 32 All-Americans and a pair of National Players of the Year (Andrew Miller, ‘06 and Dustin Ackley, ‘09)."