FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Mark Hogan, the all-time winningest coach in Southeast Missouri State University baseball history, is retiring after 18 seasons, the school announced during a press conference at the Show Me Center Monday.
Hogan compiled a 526-456-1 (.536) record with one Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title (2002), two OVC Tournament crowns (1998, 2002) and the program’s only two NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 2002).
“Coach Hogan has been an extremely successful baseball coach for Southeast Missouri State University for the past 18 years. We sincerely appreciate his tenure, the legacy he provided for our baseball program, and most importantly, we thank him for his dedication to the success of our student-athletes,” said Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University. “Many young men had great collegiate baseball experiences due to Coach Hogan’s expertise, and several have gone on to professional careers. We certainly congratulate him for an outstanding career and wish him the best in his retirement.”
Southeast became one of the elite teams in the OVC with Hogan at the helm.
Not only did the Redhawks make the league’s postseason tournament 18-consecutive years, but they racked up 248 conference victories along the way. Southeast also played in the OVC Tournament title game seven times and posted 15 or more league victories in eight seasons.
“I want to thank Dr. Dobbins, our administration and all the great people I have worked with at Southeast Missouri State University over the years,” said Hogan. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and it’s been a tremendous run for myself, my family and this program.”
“It was a pleasure to get to know Coach Hogan and his family. His 18 years here at Southeast were filled with success both on and off the field,” added Southeast Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt. “His hard work has laid the foundation for this program to continue to achieve at a high level both nationally and in the OVC.”
A native of Cape Girardeau, Hogan achieved many milestones throughout his illustrious 31-year career which culminated with an overall record of 911-713-3 between the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NJCAA Division I ranks.
Most recently, Hogan picked up his 900th career win when the Redhawks beat Arkansas State on Apr. 17, 2012. Prior to that, Hogan notched his 500th victory at Southeast when the Redhawks defeated Eastern Illinois on May 20, 2011.
In 2007, Hogan surpassed the legendary Joe Uhls for the most wins in school history. He was also the first to win 30 games in a season that year, a feat he accomplished on nine occasions.
Hogan led Southeast to a school record 37 wins and was named the OVC Coach of the Year, as the Redhawks won both the league’s regular-season and tournament titles in 2002. Southeast later advanced to the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional where it beat host Alabama, giving Hogan his first postseason win.
“I’d have to say some of the biggest highlights of my career was when we won the first OVC championship at Capaha Field in 1998. It was such a phenomenal feeling of elation that year,” described Hogan. “Then, it all came together in 2002 when we won the league’s regular-season title and beat Alabama in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. Southeast is a great place to work and I’m fortunate for the great time I have had.”
The Redhawks enjoyed unprecedented success both on and off the field with Hogan as their coach.
Hogan coached a total of 80 All-OVC honorees (40 first-team selections; 30 second-team picks; 10 All-Freshman Team selections). Thirteen of his players earned either the OVC Rookie, Player or Pitcher of the Year award. He also coached 13 All-Americans, two Hall of Famers and 15 Major League Draft picks during his time at Southeast. Among that group was Trenton Moses, who became only the third player in league history to win the coveted OVC Player of the Year honor in multiple seasons (2011, 2012).
“My biggest joy was watching all these young men grow through this program and even beyond the game of baseball,” added Hogan. “This program is a big engine running and it’s amazing.”
Academically, Hogan’s teams were equally impressive.
In his last two seasons alone, Hogan had four student-athletes win the OVC Medal of Honor and 29 make the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Additionally, the Redhawks earned a Team Academic Achievement Award in 2011 for having the most student-athletes with a 3.25 or better grade point average.
Hogan initially transferred to Southeast Missouri State from Mineral Area College. He was a member of Southeast’s 1976 baseball team which finished third at the NCAA Division II College World Series. The 1976 squad was the first baseball team to be inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeast in 1997 and went on to serve as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 1978-79.
Hogan accepted his first head coaching position at Lurleen B. Wallace College in 1982. He went 230-147 in eight seasons at Lurleen and led his 1988 squad to a 38-16 record, Alabama Junior College Athletic Association title and NJCAA Region XXII Championship. Hogan was named the AJCAA Coach of the Year, as well.
In 1990, Hogan moved to the NCAA Division II level, where he coached at West Alabama. He registered a 155-110-2 record, won two Gulf South Conference Championships (1992, 1994), one NCAA Division II South Central Region Championship (1992) and finished fifth at the 1992 NCAA Division II World Series in five seasons. His colleagues voted him Gulf South and South Central Region Coach of the Year for his efforts.
He then became Southeast’s fourth head coach in 1995.
Steve Bieser was named interim head coach effective immediately and a national search will be conducted at the end of the 2013 campaign. At that time, Bieser will have an opportunity to be a candidate for the permanent head coaching position.
“First of all, I want to thank Dr. Dobbins, Mr. Alnutt, Mr. Barke and Ms. Gannon,” said Bieser. “This is a special opportunity for me to be a head coach at my alma mater. It’s been exciting for me to recruit our student-athletes over the last two years and now getting the chance to lead them as a head coach. As far as the program goes, I think the possibilities are unlimited.”
Bieser spent the last two seasons as the Redhawks pitching coach. He graduated from Southeast in 1989 and went on to play in the Major League with the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.
“After reviewing the current situation and the timing of Coach Hogan’s retirement, I felt it was best served for our baseball program to hire Steve in the interim,” said Alnutt. “I have confidence that he will continue to lead this program in a first class manner, while being competitive both in the classroom and on the field.”
Hogan By the Numbers
• 31 years, including 18 at Southeast Missouri (1995-2012)
• 1,627 games coached, including 983 at Southeast Missouri
• 911 career victories (between NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NJCAA Division I ranks)
• 526 victories at Southeast Missouri (5th in the OVC)
• .536 winning percentage at Southeast Missouri
• 248 OVC victories
• 80 All-OVC selections, including 40 first-team picks
• 43rd in the NCAA in victories among coaches at four-year colleges
• 18 OVC Tournament Appearances
• 15 Major League Draft picks
• 13 All-Americans
• 9 seasons with 30 or more wins
• 8 seasons with 15 or more OVC wins
• 5 OVC Pitcher of the Year selections
• 4 OVC Player of the Year selections
• 4 OVC Rookie of the Year selections
• 2 OVC Tournament Championships (1998, 2002)
• 2 NCAA Regional Appearances (1998, 2002)
• 2 Southeast Missouri Hall of Famers
• 1 OVC Regular-Season Championship (2002)
• 1 OVC Athlete of the Year
